Pitfalls of endovascular treatment for cerebral aneurysms]

Seventeen cases of unclippable aneurysms were treated by the endovascular balloon technique. Nine of them involved the anterior circulation, and eight involved the posterior circulation. Eleven of them were treated by parent artery occlusion with detachable balloons. Three were treated by endosaccular balloon embolization, and three cases combined with AVMs were occluded using ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVAL) including feeding arteries of the AVMs. Embolic complications occurred in one case of an IC bifurcation giant aneurysm treated by parent artery occlusion. Ischemic complications also appeared in two cases of aneurysms treated by endosaccular balloon embolization. In one case, the thrombus in the aneurysm propagated into the parent artery and occluded it later. In another case, the displaced balloon had obliterated the parent artery 6 hours after the embolization. Parent artery occlusion is a safe way to treat internal carotid giant aneurysms. However, endosaccular treatment still has some problems, i.e., 1) maintaining the balloon's position to preserve the parent artery, 2) balloon migration into the clot, 3) rupture of the aneurysm during or after treatment. Our studies indicate that endosaccular balloon embolization is still a high risk procedure and should be used only in selected cases, until new embolic agents, such as detachable coils, become available.     

Balloon embolization of a large distal basilar artery aneurysm. Case report

Interventional neurovascular techniques have advanced to a level where treatment of intracranial aneurysms by intravascular detachable balloon embolization therapy is now possible. A patient is presented who had a spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage from a large aneurysm of the distal basilar artery. The aneurysm arose at the bifurcation of the posterior cerebral arteries and measured 15 X 9 X 9 mm. With the patient fully awake, a detachable silicone balloon was passed into the basilar artery by a transfemoral arterial approach. Stenosis (greater than 60%) of the mid-section of the basilar artery, secondary to arterial vasospasm from the recent hemorrhage, was present. The stenosis was treated by transluminal angioplasty, after which the balloon was passed into the aneurysm and detached. A follow-up angiogram 3 months later demonstrated complete occlusion of the aneurysm and a widely patent basilar artery at the angioplasty site.     

Cavernous carotid artery aneurysm associated with Marfan's syndrome: treatment by balloon embolization therapy

Intracranial aneurysms arising in the region of the cavernous carotid artery are difficult to manage surgically because of the surrounding cavernous sinus. With recent advances in microballoon technology and permanent solidification agents, it is now possible to treat certain intracranial aneurysms by detachable balloons and preserve the parent vessel. A patient with Marfan's syndrome presented with severe retroorbital pain, ophthalmoplegia, and headaches. Cerebral angiography demonstrated a large cavernous carotid artery aneurysm measuring 17 X 9 X 6 mm. This was successfully treated by placing three detachable balloons within the aneurysm and preserving the carotid artery via a transvascular approach. Intravascular detachable balloon embolization may offer a form of alternative therapy for the management of surgically difficult aneurysms.     

Endovascular occlusion of intracranial vessels for curative treatment of unclippable aneurysms: report of 16 cases

Among 121 intracerebral aneurysms presenting at one institution between 1984 and 1989, 16 were treated by endovascular means. All 16 lesions were intradural and intracranial, and had failed either surgical or endovascular attempts at selective exclusion with parent vessel preservation. The lesions included four giant middle cerebral artery (MCA) aneurysms, one giant anterior communicating artery aneurysm, six giant posterior cerebral artery aneurysms, one posterior inferior cerebellar artery aneurysm, one giant mid-basilar artery aneurysm, two giant fusiform basilar artery aneurysms, and one dissecting vertebral artery aneurysm. One of the 16 patients failed an MCA test occlusion and was approached surgically after attempted endovascular selective occlusion. Treatment involved pretreatment evaluation of cerebral blood flow followed by a preliminary parent vessel test occlusion under neuroleptic analgesia with vigilant neurological monitoring. If the test occlusion was tolerated, it was immediately followed by permanent occlusion of the parent vessel with either detachable or nondetachable balloon or coils. The follow-up period ranged from 1 to 8 years. Excellent outcomes were obtained in 12 cases with complete angiographic obliteration of the aneurysm and no new neurological deficits and/or improvement of the preembolization symptoms. Four patients died: two related to the procedure, one secondary to rupture of another untreated aneurysm, and the fourth from a postoperative MCA thrombosis after having failed endovascular test occlusion. The angiographic, clinical, and cerebral blood flow criteria for occlusion tolerance are discussed.     

Treatment of unclippable giant posterior cerebral artery aneurysms with detachable balloons--report of three cases.

Three patients presented with rare giant posterior cerebral artery aneurysms, clinically manifesting as cerebral ischemia, mass effect, and subarachnoid hemorrhage. All aneurysms were partially thrombosed, originated at the P2 segment, and possessed broad necks. Surgical neck clipping was difficult but proximal occlusion of the parent artery was feasible. Aneurysm occlusion sparing the parent artery was attempted in all cases, but failed because the detachable balloon did not successfully block the aneurysmal neck. All patients tolerated test occlusion at the P2 segment, so the parent artery was occluded proximally with detachable balloons, leaving the important perforating arteries unaffected. Two transient ischemic attacks were associated with the procedure. Where surgical treatment is unusually difficult, and proximal ligation or trapping just feasible, embolization with detachable balloons is an acceptable substitute.     

Endovascular detachable balloon embolization therapy of cavernous carotid artery aneurysms: results in 87 cases

Interventional neurovascular techniques for treating patients with intracranial aneurysms are now being performed in selected cases. In certain anatomical locations that are difficult to reach surgically, such as the cavernous portion of the internal carotid artery (ICA), this technique may be especially useful. The procedure is performed from a transfemoral approach, using local anesthesia, thus permitting continuous neurological monitoring. Between 1981 and 1989, 87 patients diagnosed as having an intracavernous aneurysm were treated with endovascular detachable balloon embolization techniques. The patients ranged in age from 11 to 84 years. The presenting symptom was mass effect in 69 cases (79.3%), rupture of a preexisting aneurysm resulting in a carotid-cavernous sinus fistula in eight cases (9.2%), trauma resulting in a cavernous pseudoaneurysm in seven cases (8.0%), and hemorrhage in three cases (3.4%). Therapeutic occlusion of the ICA across or just proximal to the aneurysm neck was performed in 68 patients (78.2%). Since 1984, with the development of a permanent solidifying agent (2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) to fill the balloon, it is now feasible in some cases to guide the balloon directly into the aneurysm and preserve the parent artery; this was achieved in 19 cases (22%). Follow-up examination has demonstrated complete thrombosis with partial or total alleviation of symptoms in all patients with therapeutic occlusion of the parent vessel. Of the 19 patients with preservation of the parent artery, follow-up studies have demonstrated total exclusion in 12 cases (63%) and subtotal occlusion of greater than 85% in seven cases (37%), with clinical improvement in all cases. Complications from therapy included transient cerebral ischemia during or after therapy requiring volume expansion in seven cases, embolic symptoms requiring antiplatelet medication in two cases, and stroke in four cases; there were no deaths. Detachable balloon embolization therapy, particularly for large and giant symptomatic aneurysms of the cavernous ICA, can be an effective mode of treatment.     

颅内动脉瘤囊内栓塞治疗中并发症的分析

目的 探讨颅内动脉瘤囊内治疗中并发症的发生原因及预防和处理的方法。方法 用可控性弹簧圈栓塞治疗的动脉瘤120例（125个）,其中22例（23个动脉瘤）发生并发症25例次（包括动脉瘤破裂、载瘤动脉血栓形成或其它原因所致的闭塞以及弹簧罪状脱出动脉瘤）,对其发生的原因及预防和治疗方法进行了回顾性分析。结果 22例出现并发症的动脉瘤患者中,动脉瘤破裂出血9例次,过度栓塞7例次,弹簧圈脱出7例次,血栓形成2例次,因并发症而死亡4例（3.33%),永久性神经功能障碍2例（1.67%);一过性神经功能障碍4例（3.33%)。栓塞技术、术中判断和处理的正确与否、动脉瘤和载瘤动脉的特点以及栓塞材料与并发症的发生和结局相关。结论 栓塞技术的提高,动脉瘤和载瘤动脉解剖的深入理解,术中发生情况的正确处理、栓塞材料的改进,有助于降低并发症的发生率改善其预后。     

Review of endovascular stent‐assisted embolization for management of intracranial aneurysms

Objective: This was a retrospective review of the results using stent‐assisted coil embolization for management of intracranial aneurysms. Methods: The records of seven patients treated with stent‐assisted Gugliemi detachable coil (GDC) embolization were retrieved from the authors’ prospectively maintained database. The clinical presentation, site and type of aneurysms, treatment procedure and complications, and outcome of these identified cases were reviewed. Results: Between January 2002 and May 2004, seven patients with intracranial aneurysms, four of which were ruptured, were treated by stent‐assisted GDC embolization. Four aneurysms were located at the anterior circulation and three were at the posterior circulation. The indications for stent use were: giant aneurysm (>2.5 cm), dissecting pseudo‐aneurysm, broad‐necked aneurysm and the need for preservation of important parent arteries or branches. Concerning the technical aspect, all except one had successful stent deployment. One stent dislodged after apparent successful deployment. GDC embolization was continued and the aneurysm was partially occluded. More than 90% occlusion of aneurysm sac was achieved in six aneurysms. Intraoperative complications included over‐coagulation, failure in stent deployment, displacement of stent, coil entrapment and thromboembolism. One patient had added focal neurological deficit after the procedure, and one became vegetative due to an unrelated cause. The patient in whom the stent was dislodged suffered another subarachnoid haemorrhage 4 months later and died. Conclusion: Percutaneous intracranial stent is a new and useful device to assist embolization of cerebral aneurysms that were previously not amenable to endovascular therapy. These preliminary results suggest that this procedure could achieve satisfactory outcomes without significant complications.     

A successful treatment of giant carotid artery aneurysm by a detachable balloon technic; a child case

For the treatment of unclippable giant carotid artery aneurysms, proximal occlusion of the carotid artery is still an accepted treatment by surgical ligation, Selverstone clamp, or detachable balloon. However, proximal artery occlusion should be avoided as far as possible. Use of detachable balloons for proximal artery occlusion in the treatment of giant intracranial aneurysm in children has been reported by several authors, but no report of successfully treated cases of occlusion of the aneurysm without occlusion of the parent artery can be found. On January 1st, 1987, a-5-year old girl was admitted to our clinic with chief complaints of exophthalmos and loss of vision in her left eye. On admission, neurological examination showed palsies of the left oculomotor and abducens nerve and left internal carotid angiogram visualized a giant aneurysm in the cavernous portion. A balloon catheter procedure was carried out under general anesthesia using an intra-arterial catheter technique. A No. 9 French introducer catheter was placed through the femoral artery sheath. No filling of aneurysm without occlusion of the parent artery could be confirmed by angiogram. No. 12 Debrun detachable balloon was then detached. Postoperative course was uneventful. Subsequently, her oculomotor and abducens nerve palsies disappeared. Digital subtraction angiography taken about three months after the procedure showed complete occlusion of the aneurysm. The authors emphasized that the occlusion of the aneurysm using a detachable balloon was also the ideal method for the treatment of the children's giant aneurysm.     

Recurrence of a vertebral artery dissecting pseudoaneurysm after successful stent-supported coil embolization: case report

OBJECTIVE AND IMPORTANCE: Dissecting aneurysms of the intracranial vertebral artery are increasingly recognized as a cause of subarachnoid hemorrhage. We present a case involving technical success of the stent-supported coil embolization but with recurrence of the dissecting pseudoaneurysm of the intracranial vertebral artery. The implications for the endovascular management of ruptured dissecting pseudoaneurysms of the intracranial vertebral artery are discussed. CLINICAL PRESENTATION: A 36-year-old man with a remote history of head injury had recovered functionally to the point of independent living. He experienced the spontaneous onset of severe head and neck pain, which progressed rapidly to obtundation. A computed tomographic scan of the head revealed subarachnoid hemorrhage centered in the posterior fossa. The patient underwent cerebral angiography, which revealed dilation of the distal left vertebral artery consistent with a dissecting pseudoaneurysm. INTERVENTION: Transfemoral access was achieved under general anesthesia, and two overlapping stents (3 mm in diameter and 14 mm long) were placed to cover the entire dissected segment. Follow-up angiography of the left vertebral artery showed the placement of the stents across the neck of the aneurysm; coil placement was satisfactory, with no residual aneurysm filling. Approximately 6 weeks after the patient's initial presentation, he developed the sudden onset of severe neck pain. A computed tomographic scan showed no subarachnoid hemorrhage, but computed tomographic angiography revealed that the previously treated left vertebral artery aneurysm had recurred. Angiography confirmed a recurrent pseudoaneurysm around the previously placed Guglielmi detachable coils. A test balloon occlusion was performed for 30 minutes. The patient's neurological examination was stable throughout the test occlusion period. Guglielmi detachable coil embolization of the left vertebral artery was then performed, sacrificing the artery at the level of the dissection. After the procedure was completed, no new neurological deficits occurred. On the second day after the procedure, the patient was discharged from the hospital. He was alert, oriented, and able to walk. CONCLUSION: We appreciate the value of preserving a parent vessel when a dissecting pseudoaneurysm of the intracranial vertebral artery ruptures in patients with inadequate collateral blood flow, in patients with disease involving the contralateral vertebral artery, or in patients with both. However, our case represents a cautionary note that patients treated in this fashion require close clinical follow-up. We suggest that parent vessel occlusion be considered the first option for treatment in patients who will tolerate sacrifice of the parent vessel along its diseased segment. In the future, covered stent technology may resolve this dilemma for many of these patients.     

Fusiform aneurysm of the vertebral artery presenting hemifacial spasm treated by intravascular embolization: case report

BACKGROUND: A rare case of fusiform vertebral artery aneurysm causing hemifacial spasm was successfully treated by intravascular embolization.CASE DESCRIPTION: A 53-year-old man presented with left hemifacial spasm persisting for 2 years. No other clinical symptoms were observed. Vertebral angiography revealed a fusiform aneurysm of the left vertebral artery, and thin-slice spoiled gradient-recalled acquisition magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated the aneurysm compressing the root exit zone of the left facial nerve. The parent artery was occluded together with the aneurysm by intravascular embolization with Guglielmi detachable coils (GDCs). The patient is free of left hemifacial spasm without any complication.CONCLUSION: Hemifacial spasm caused by aneurysms, especially fusiform aneurysms, is quite rare but can be treated by parent artery occlusion and coiling the aneurysm with GDCs.     

Endovascular treatment of ruptured dissecting aneurysms aimed at occlusion of the dissected site by using Guglielmi detachable coils

OBJECT: Surgical or endovascular occlusion of the parent artery proximal to an aneurysm has been recommended for treatment of dissecting aneurysms of the intracranial posterior circulation. However, dissecting aneurysms may rupture even after proximal occlusion because distal progression of thrombus is necessary to occlude the dissecting aneurysm completely, and this may be delayed by the presence of retrograde flow. In this article the authors present their experience in treating six patients with ruptured dissecting aneurysms. METHODS: The authors report on six patients with a ruptured dissecting aneurysm in the posterior fossa who were successfully treated by endovascular occlusion of the aneurysm by using Guglielmi detachable coils. The procedure was particularly aimed at occluding the dissected site. CONCLUSIONS: At the present time, endovascular occlusion of the dissected site is a safe, minimally invasive, and reliable treatment for dissecting aneurysms when a test occlusion is tolerated and adequate collateral circulation is present.     

Embolization of cerebral aneurysms with a liquid embolus,EVAL mixture: Report of three cases

Summary Embolization of three surgically difficult cerebral aneurysms was performed using our newly developed non-adhesive embolic material, EVAL mixture (ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer). Conventional embolic materials such as detachable balloons or microcoils were not used because of a large or irregular aneurysmal neck. After temporary occlusion of the parent artery with a superselective balloon catheter, the EVAL mixture was slowly injected through a microcatheter placed in the aneurysm or parent artery. The locations of the aneurysms were anterior communicating artery, basilar artery-posterior cerebral artery and basilar artery-anterior inferior cerebellar artery (BA-AICA). One aneurysmal occlusion and 2 parent artery occlusions were performed. Patients had no persistent deficits. The patient with the BA-AICA aneurysm associated with an arteriovenous malformation died of rupture of the residual AVM due to haemodynamic change 2 weeks after embolization. In selected and limited cases, embolization of surgically difficult cerebral aneurysms using EVAL mixture was more effective and safer than embolization using conventional embolic materials such as balloons and microcoils.     

Superior cerebellar artery aneurysms treated using the sole stenting approach. Technical note

Endovascular treatment of intracranial aneurysms has evolved since the introduction of detachable coils. Sole stenting is a brand-new technique that has recently emerged as a definitive treatment for saccular or fusiform aneurysms at particular locations. Superior cerebellar artery aneurysms are rare, and few treated cases have been reported. Most of them have been treated surgically, and endovascular cases usually have been managed with occlusion of the parent vessel. The authors report on the first two endovascularly treated cases with complete cure of the aneurysm as well as preservation of the parent vessel and distal circulation via the sole stenting technique. The results together with several aspects of the technique, such as the correction of the angle of the vessel and modification of the shear stress, are discussed.     

Coil embolization of a traumatic intracranial aneurysm of the distal part of the azygos anterior cerebral artery followed up for 4 years

Traumatic intracranial aneurysms are rare, usually occur as a result of traffic accidents, and are associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality. A 12-year-old boy was admitted for treatment of cerebral hemorrhage in the left frontal lobe, 3 months after a traffic accident. Angiography revealed an intracranial aneurysm of the distal part of the azygos anterior cerebral artery (ACA). The maximum size of this aneurysm was 9.5 mm. Coil embolization was successfully performed with preservation of the parent arteries. Angiography performed at the 4-year follow-up examination revealed no abnormalities. The present case showed that primary coiling may allow aneurysm occlusion along with parent vessel preservation in selected cases of traumatic intracranial aneurysm of the distal part of the azygos ACA.     

颅内后循环动脉瘤的血管内介入治疗

目的总结颅内后循环动脉瘤的特点,探讨其血管内介入治疗的临床疗效。方法回顾性分析40例行血管内介入治疗的颅内后循环动脉瘤患者的临床和影像学资料、介入治疗过程,观察期效果及术后随访结果。结果 40例患者共发现42个后循环动脉瘤,均完成血管内介入治疗,其中8个行单纯弹簧圈栓塞,28个行支架辅助栓塞,1个行Onyx胶栓塞,5个动脉瘤及载瘤动脉同时闭塞。术后即刻DSA造影显示动脉瘤完全栓塞30个,近全栓塞6个,部分栓塞6个。术后6个月随访DSA造影显示动脉瘤完全栓塞36个,近全栓塞4个,部分栓塞1个。患者出院时行改良Rankin量表(mRS)评分,0分35例,1分3例,2分1例,1例死亡为6分;出院后3~6个月随访mRS评分0分38例,1分1例,无动脉瘤复发及新发神经功能障碍病例。结论颅内后循环动脉瘤具有特殊的临床与影像学表现,且复杂动脉瘤较为常见,对于颅内后循环动脉瘤,血管内介入治疗是一种安全有效的治疗方法。     

Antegrade recanalization of a completely embolized vertebral artery after endovascular treatment of a ruptured intracranial dissecting aneurysm. Report of two cases

Occlusion of the parent artery is a traditional method of treatment of unclippable cerebral aneurysms. Surgical or endovascular occlusion of the parent artery proximal to the aneurysm has been recommended for the treatment of dissecting aneurysms located in the vertebrobasilar circulation. Nevertheless, occlusion of the parent artery may not result in permanent exclusion of the aneurysm from the systemic circulation because, occasionally, postoperative rebleeding occurs after proximal occlusion. Alternatively, endovascular occlusion of the affected site, including the aneurysmal dilation, and parent artery, is a safe and reliable treatment for dissecting aneurysms. The authors present two rare cases of ruptured vertebral artery (VA) dissecting aneurysms that were treated by endovascular occlusion of the affected site including the aneurysm and parent artery by using Guglielmi detachable coils. In both cases the VA recanalized in an antegrade fashion during the follow-up period. Based on these unique cases, the authors suggest that a careful angiographic follow up of dissecting aneurysms is required, even in patients successfully treated with endovascular occlusion of the affected artery and aneurysm.     

Transvascular treatment of giant aneurysms of the cavernous carotid and vertebral arteries: Functional investigation and embolization

Functional angiographic investigation and percutaneous embolization using detachable balloons in nine carotid cavernous aneurysms, three petrous aneurysms, one vertebral artery aneurysm, and one posterior inferior cerebellar aneurysm are reported. A double-lumen balloon catheter is used to evaluate acute tolerance to occlusion of the carotid or vertebral arteries. Occlusion is tested under systemic heparinization. Local perfusion of heparinized saline, proximal as well as distal, to the balloon occlusion is used. The procedure was successful in all but one cavernous aneurysm. The arterial lumen was sacrificed in all cases. Clinical improvement occurred in all successful cases. Retroorbital pain was relieved in all. Ocular cranial nerve palsies improved or resolved in most. One delayed ophthalmic episode that improved represents the only complication. No such embolic problems occurred in any case in which the cavernous carotid artery was occluded by balloon trapping. The delayed embolic complications after carotid artery occlusion are related to the collateral vessels to the C-4 and C-5 segments of the artery. Balloon trapping decreases the length of the thrombosed segment and prevents retrograde filling of the aneurysm.     

Immediate and midterm follow-up results of using an electrodetachable, fully retrievable SOLO stent system in the endovascular coil occlusion of wide-necked cerebral aneurysms

OBJECT: Stent-assisted embolization is an alternative endovascular treatment method for wide-necked intracranial aneurysms. Currently available stents have the limitations of poor radial force, difficult delivery systems, and lack of full retrievability. The authors report on their preliminary experience with the use of a new, fully retrievable, self-expanding neurovascular stent, which has a high radial force and easy delivery system, combined with coil or Onyx embolization for the treatment of wide-necked aneurysms, including 6-month follow-up data. METHODS: Fifteen patients with 18 wide-necked intracranial aneurysms were treated using the SOLO stent system and detachable platinum coils. Aneurysms were located at the posterior communicating artery (seven lesions), midbasilar artery (one lesion), internal carotid artery (ICA) bifurcation (one lesion), ICA-ophthalmic artery segment (eight lesions), and posterior cerebral artery (one lesion). Eleven aneurysms were small, six were large, and one was giant. Only one of these aneurysms was in the acute stage of subarachnoid hemorrhage; balloon remodeling alone failed to keep the coils in the aneurysm sac. RESULTS: Only one stent required retrieving and repositioning after it had been fully deployed, and retrieval was easy and successful. No thromboembolic complication, dissection/rupture, or vasospasm occured during stent placement. Follow-up angiograms obtained at 6 months posttreatment in the 18 aneurysms demonstrated that all stents were patent with no evidence of intimal hyperplasia or stenosis. In all cases but one, 100% lesion occlusion was observed at the 6-month control angiography examination. Only one aneurysm had recanalized. CONCLUSIONS: The fully retrievable self-expandible SOLO stent is a feasible, secure, and effective system with a high radial force and ease of delivery in treating wide-necked intracranial aneurysms in combination with coil embolization.     

Treatment of a giant carotid ophthalmic artery aneurysm by intravascular balloon embolization therapy

This report describes the successful treatment by detachable balloon embolization therapy of a giant aneurysm arising at the left carotid-ophthalmic artery junction. Two previous surgical attempts to clip the aneurysm were unsuccessful and the aneurysm continued to enlarge leading to complete loss of light perception. After the placement of two detachable balloons within the aneurysm, there was thrombosis of the aneurysm with diminished mass effect. After 2 months the patient regained light perception and was able to count fingers in the nasal hemifield of her right eye. Detachable balloon embolization therapy may offer a form of alternative treatment for surgically difficult and inaccessible intracranial aneurysms.