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Background and purposeGEL THE NEC (GTN) was a multicenter prospective registry developed to assess the safety and efficacy of HydroSoft coils in treating intracranial aneurysms. We compared the angiographic and clinical outcomes of aneurysms treated with balloon assisted coil embolization (BACE) versus unassisted coil embolization (CE) in the ruptured aneurysm cohort.Materials and methodsGTN was performed at 27 centers in five countries. Patients aged 21–90 years with a ruptured aneurysm 3–15 mm in size were eligible for enrollment. We analyzed demographics/comorbidities, aneurysm location, and geometry, including maximum diameter, neck size, and dome to neck ratio, immediate and long term angiographic outcomes (graded by an independent core laboratory using the modified Raymond Scale), and procedure related adverse events. Angiographic and clinical outcomes were studied using χ2and t tests.ResultsOf the 599 patients in the GTN, 194 met the inclusion criteria. 84 were treated with BACE and 110 with CE. There were more prior smokers in the BACE group (p=0.01). The BACE group also had more vertebrobasilar aneurysms (p=0.006) and a larger mean neck size (p=0.02). More aneurysms were immediately completely occluded in the BACE group (p=0.02) Procedure- related major morbidity and mortality were no different between the techniques (p=0.4 and p=1, respectively).ConclusionsIn this prospective ruptured aneurysm cohort from the GTN, BACE resulted in greater occlusion rates compared with unassisted CE with similar morbi-mortality.

BackgroundThe interval between the onset of cerebral vessel occlusion and recanalization has been shown to be an independent predictor of poor outcomes. However, endovascular recanalization of symptomatic cerebral vessel occlusion in the subacute period has not been well documented. We investigated the safety and efficacy of subacute recanalization of occluded cerebral vessels in patients with ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attacks (TIAs).MethodsBetween 2014 and 2015, 98 patients were admitted to the emergency room for ischemic stroke or TIA with a small infarct core, which was defined as modest early ischemic change on non-contrast CT or overt diffusion–perfusion mismatch. All patients underwent pre-transfemoral cerebral angiography and post-endovascular treatment. The patients were classified according to acute (onset-to-groin puncture time ≤6 hours) or subacute (onset-to-groin puncture time >6 hours) recanalization. Using propensity score analysis, recipients of acute and subacute recanalization underwent 1:1 matching.ResultsFollowing 1:1 propensity score matching, 32 patients who underwent acute and 32 who underwent subacute intra-arterial thrombolysis were matched. There were no significant differences in National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale at discharge, modified Rankin scale (mRS), the proportion of patients with an mRS value of 0–2, mortality at discharge, intracerebral bleeding, postprocedural infarct extension, newly detected infarction, and hyperintense acute reperfusion marker on follow-up images between the acute and subacute recanalization groups.ConclusionsIn selected patients with clinically unstable cerebral artery occlusions, a diffusion–perfusion mismatch and small CT lesions, subacute and acute recanalization has comparable safety and efficacy rates.

Background/objectiveThe concomitant origin of the anterior spinal artery (ASA) or the posterior spinal artery (PSA) from the feeder of a spinal dural arteriovenous fistula (SDAVF) is rare and the exact incidence is not known. We present our experience with the management of SDAVFs in such cases.MethodsIn 63 patients with SDAVF between 1993 and 2015, the feeder origin of the SDAVF was evaluated to determine whether it was concomitant with the origin of the ASA or PSA. Embolization was attempted when the patient did not want open surgery and an endovascular approach was regarded as safe and possible. The outcome of the procedure was evaluated as complete, partial, or no obliteration. The clinical outcome was evaluated by Aminoff–Logue (ALS) gait and micturition scale scores.ResultsNine patients (14%) had a concomitant origin of the ASA or PSA with the feeder. There were two cervical, five thoracic, and two lumbar level SDAVFs. A concomitant origin of the feeder was identified with the ASA (n=7) and PSA (n=2). Embolization was performed in four patients and open surgery was performed in five. Embolization resulted in complete obliteration in three patients and partial obliteration in one. Using the ALS gait and micturition scale, the final outcome improved in six while three cases remained in an unchanged condition over 2–148 months.ConclusionsThe concomitant origin of the ASA or PSA with the feeder occurs occasionally. Complete obliteration of the fistula can be achieved either by embolization or open surgery. Embolization can be carefully performed in selected patients who are in a poor condition and do not want to undergo open surgery.