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ObjectiveThe 2020 coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic resulted in state-specific quarantine protocols and introduced the concept of social distancing into modern parlance. We assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on neurotrauma presentations in the first 3 months after shutdown throughout Pennsylvania.MethodsThe Pennsylvania Trauma Systems Foundation was queried for registry data from the Pennsylvania Trauma Outcomes Study between March 12 and June 5 in each year from 2017 to2020.ResultsAfter the COVID-19 shutdown, there was a 27% reduction in neurotrauma volume, from 2680 cases in 2017 to 2018 cases in 2020, and a 28.8% reduction in traumatic brain injury volume. There was no significant difference in neurotrauma phenotype incurred relative to total cases. Injury mechanism was less likely to be motor vehicle collision and more likely caused by falls, gunshot wound, and recreational vehicle accidents (P < 0.05). Location of injury was less likely on roads and public locations and more likely atindoor private locations (P < 0.05). The proportion of patients with neurotrauma with blood alcohol concentration >0.08 g/dL was reduced in 2020 (11.4% vs. 9.0%; P < 0.05). Mortality was higher during 2020 compared with pre-COVID years (7.7% vs. 6.4%; P < 0.05).ConclusionsDuring statewide shutdown, neurotrauma volume and alcohol-related trauma decreased and low-impact traumas and gunshot wounds increased, with a shift toward injuries occurring in private, indoor locations. These changes increased mortality. However, there was not a change in the types of injuries sustained.

Introduction Management of spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage involves reversal of coagulopathy, neurological examinations and repeated imaging. Repeated imaging is employed to identify patients prior to neurological deterioration, however, there is no data to support this practice. As such, we strive to identify the utility of surveillance imaging as well as the risks factors that are associated with higher likelihood of developing a clinically significant hematoma progression. Methods A retrospective chart analysis of 200 consecutive patients was performed on patients with non-traumatic intracerebral hemorrhage. Patients with non-parenchymal hemorrhage, vascular malformations, patients that required surgical intervention based on the initial scan/neurological exam, and trauma were excluded. Patient demographics, blood pressure, presence of a new neurological deficit, progression of hematoma, surgical intervention and mortality were gathered from the chart. Results Hematoma progression of greater than 5 mL was seen in 24 patients (12%) on repeat imaging. Large initial hematoma volume, early time from symptom onset to initial imaging, and new neurological deterioration between scans were significantly associated with significant hematoma progression. Of the 24 patients with hematoma progression greater 5 mL, five patients did not develop neurological deterioration. None of these patients required intervention. Conclusion Routine imaging in patients with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhages does not alter clinical management. Rather, careful neurologic monitoring may be safe and more clinically useful in these patients.

Introduction Three new 0.071-inch and 0.072-inch aspiration catheters have been introduced for stroke thrombectomy. Their comparative efficacy has not been clinically evaluated. Methods We reviewed a prospectively maintained thrombectomy database for cases using 1 of these 3 catheters for proximal large vessel occlusion from September 2018 to February 2019. Clinical and angiographic information was extracted. Results Of 145 thrombectomies performed over the time period, 49 utilized 1 of the 3 new large-bore catheters (React 71, n = 21; Vecta 71, n = 19; Jet 7, n = 9) on the first pass. Mean patient age was 73 years (SD: 15). Mean presenting National Institute of Health Stroke Scale score was 19 (SD: 6, range: 5–33). Clot location was middle cerebral artery first segment in 59% of cases, internal carotid artery in 31%, and basilar in 10%. With or without a stentriever, clot access with the initially selected aspiration catheter was achieved in 47 of 49 (96%) cases. Excluding empiric stentriever usage, the aspiration catheter could be delivered to the clot without needing a stentriever in 87% of cases: 100% with React 71, 93% with Vecta 71, and 43% with Jet 7 (P = 0.002). Final Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction score 2b/3 was achieved in 92% of cases overall: 95% with React 71, 89% with Jet 7, and 89% with Vecta 71. Median procedure time was 28 minutes; mean total number of passes was 2.4 (SD: 1.6) with 39% of cases being single-pass cases. These rates did not significantly differ between aspiration catheters. Conclusions In comparing the newest large bore aspiration catheters, similar angiographic efficacy is achieved.

We evaluated clinical outcomes in patients with symptomatic brainstem cavernous malformations (CMs) treated by stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS).Between 1988 and 2016, Gamma Knife SRS was performed in 76 evaluable patients with solitary symptomatic brainstem CMs. Forty-nine (66%) were intrinsic (not reaching a pial or ependymal surface). Most patients (91%) had experienced 2 or more hemorrhages associated with new neurologic deficits. Fourteen patients (18%) underwent resection before radiosurgery. The median CM volume was 0.66 cmAfter SRS, 15 patients (20%) had an imaging confirmed new hemorrhage at a median follow-up of 48 months. The hemorrhage-free survival after SRS for brainstem CMs was 92% at 1 year, 87% at 3 years, and 85% at 5 years. The annual hemorrhage rate was 31% before and 4% after SRS. In univariate analysis, CM volume, previous surgical resection, and increased number of hemorrhages before SRS were significantly associated with a higher rate of hemorrhage after SRS. In multivariate analysis, only number of previous hemorrhages was significant (P 0.0005; hazard ratio, 1.51, 95% confidence interval, 1.23-1.85). Symptomatic adverse radiation effects developed in 7 patients (9%). The rate of symptom deterioration related to hemorrhage or symptomatic adverse radiation effects was 10% at 1 year, 18% at 3 years, and 20% at 5 years.Patients with an increased rate of hemorrhage before SRS had an increased risk of repeat hemorrhage and symptom deterioration rate after SRS. Intrinsic CM location did not significantly affect rates of symptom deterioration or rebleeding.

BACKGROUND Although elderly patients have generally worse outcomes after acute ischemic stroke, they may derive significant incremental benefit from thrombectomy as compared with medical management. Although several case series for octogenarians have been reported, data for nonagenarians are scarce. METHODS A prospectively maintained institutional mechanical thrombectomy database was reviewed for nonagenarians who underwent thrombectomy between January 2013 and July 2017. Patient demographic data and clinical history data were extracted, and clinical and radiographic outcomes were assessed. Univariate analysis was used to determine correlation between treatment and radiographic data and outcome. RESULTS During the study period, 30 patients ≥90 years old underwent mechanical thrombectomy. Median National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score on presentation was 20. Successful reperfusion (Thrombolysis In Cerebral Infarction 2b/3) was achieved in 27 patients (90%). One patient (3%) was discharged to home, and 9 patients (30%) were discharged to a rehabilitation facility. The 90-day mortality was 70%. Six patients (21%) returned to living at home. All 6 patients had successful reperfusion after the procedure; average infarct burden on postthrombectomy neuroimaging was 1.5 cm3, and infarct volume was

Cerebral aneurysms are vascular lesions caused by the biomechanical failure of the vessel wall due to hemodynamic stress and inflammation. Aneurysmal rupture results in subarachnoid hemorrhage often leading to death or disability. Current treatment options include open surgery and minimally invasive endovascular options aimed at secluding the aneurysm from the circulation. Cerebral aneurysm embolization with appropriate materials is a therapeutic approach to prevent rupture and the resultant clinical sequelae. Metallic platinum coils are a typical, practical option to embolize cerebral aneurysms. However, the development of an alternative treatment modality is of interest because of poor occlusion permanence, coil migration, and coil compaction. Moreover, minimizing the implanted foreign materials during therapy is of importance not just to patients, but also to clinicians in the event an open surgical approach has to be pursued in the future. Polymeric injectable hydrogels have been investigated for transcatheter embolization and cell therapy with the potential for permanent aneurysm repair. This review focuses on how the combination of injectable embolic biomaterials and cell therapy may achieve minimally invasive remodeling of a degenerated cerebral artery with promise for superior outcomes in treatment of this devastating disease.

Background The rationale for treatment of dural arteriovenous fistulas (dAVFs) without cortical venous reflux is symptomatic resolution. Most studies of dAVF treatment, including those for stereotactic radiosurgery, have focused on angiographic obliteration instead of clinical symptomatic outcome. Methods The authors evaluated their institutional experience with stereotactic radiosurgery for cerebral dAVFs without cortical venous reflux from 1991 to 2016, evaluating angiographic and clinical outcomes, focusing on the course of pulsatile tinnitus and/or ocular symptoms after treatment. They subsequently pooled their results with those from a systematic literature review. Results Pooled outcomes data from 349 low-risk dAVF (120 patients with pulsatile tinnitus and 229 patients with ocular symptoms) were analyzed. Over a mean follow-up of 2.6 years, 77% of patients presenting with pulsatile tinnitus experienced resolution and an additional 21% had improvement, with an angiographic obliteration rate of 70.9%. Among 229 patients with ocular symptoms from carotid-cavernous dAVFs, improvement or resolution of symptoms occurred in 95% of those with chemosis, 90% of those with ophthalmoparesis, and 96% of those with proptosis. The angiographic obliteration rate was 76.2%. There were six permanent complications in 349 total treated low-risk dAVF (1.7%). Conclusions Rates of clinically significant symptomatic improvement/resolution of symptoms referable to “low-risk” dAVFs are even greater than their angiographic obliteration rate, an important factor in patient counseling and when considering the optimal treatment approach for these dAVFs.

Pregnancy and puerperium are risk factors for cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST); however studies describing diagnosis and management in this population are limited. The objective of this study was to amalgamate published case reports and series regarding diagnosis and management of CVST in pregnancy and puerperium. Searches of PubMed and the Cochrane library were performed using search terms "pregnancy"/"puerperium" and "sinus occlusion"/"sinus thrombosis". Studies were included in our pooled analysis if they included individual patient symptoms, management approach and follow-up condition. Multivariate regression was utilized to assess the effect of non-modifiable factors on excellent outcome (mRS 0). Sixty-six patients were included. Mean duration of symptom onset to diagnosis was 5.9days (95% CI 4.2-7.6). Clot involvement of the superior sagittal sinus was seen in 67% of cases, the transverse/sigmoid in 64% and of the deep venous system in 15% of cases. Management approaches included anticoagulation (91% of patients), IA (intra-arterial) thrombolysis alone (26%), and IA thrombectomy with IA thrombolysis (8%). Fifty-nine percent of patients were mRS 0 at follow-up; 94% were mRS 0-2. Presentation with headache alone was associated with excellent outcome on multivariate analysis (p=0.04); coma/obtundation predicted against excellent outcome (p=0.03). As compared to IA thrombolysis alone, patients undergoing IA thrombolysis with IA thrombectomy demonstrated a trend toward better outcome (p=0.10).

Background Metal allergies affect a significant portion of the population; intracranial flow diverters contain many of the most commonly allergenic metals. Prior literature has suggested patch testing for all patients with documented or suspected metal allergies before intracranial flow diverter placement; however, there remains a paucity of reports of patients with documented metal allergies undergoing intracranial flow diversion. Case Description We report 2 patients with documented nickel allergies, confirmed via patch testing by a board-certified allergist, and unruptured intracranial aneurysms that underwent treatment with the PED. Both patients developed contact dermatitis when a PED was affixed to their skin during their preoperative workup. Follow-up arteriography at 12 and 36 months post PED placement showed no evidence of in-stent stenosis or intimal hyperplasia, and both patients never developed systemic allergic reactions. Conclusions In 2 patients with known nickel allergies and intracranial aneurysms treated with the PED, there were no clinically or radiographically apparent allergic reactions at greater than 2 years of follow-up.

Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) occurs rarely, with severe patients recalcitrant to pharmacologic management often requiring cerebrospinal fluid diversion. We report two patients with variant IIH successfully treated with venous sinus stenting: 1) A 65-year-old man with severe vision loss, papilledema, and cognitive decline treated with four telescoped stents across a long, severely stenotic transverse-sigmoid system, and 2) a 58-year-old woman with headaches, vision loss, and papilledema secondary to a jugular paraganglioma causing severe jugular bulb stenosis that required contralateral venous sinus stenting. At 3-month and 1-month follow-up, respectively, ophthalmologic examinations showed vision improvement. The first patient also had improved cognition, and the second patient also had improved headaches.

Hyponatremia occurs commonly in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). Our objective was to determine the time course of, and factors associated with, hyponatremia after aSAH. We performed a retrospective review of 259 patients with ruptured aneurysms at a single institution. Multivariate regression analysis was performed to determine the factors associated with hyponatremia. Increasing age was significantly associated with lower initial sodium (p=0.04) and incidence of delayed hyponatremia (p=0.01) while smoking was associated with longer duration of hyponatremia (p=0.02). Older patients should therefore be monitored closely for hyponatremia and patients who smoke should be treated more aggressively for hyponatremia given the greater frequency and longer duration of hyponatremia in these two groups, respectively.

Background Ethmoidal dural arteriovenous fistulas (dAVFs) have a malignant natural history and an anatomy that make endovascular therapy challenging. Their uniqueness begs for stratified analyses, but this has largely been precluded by their rarity. We sought to summarize the anatomic, presentation, treatment approaches, and clinical outcomes of patients with these lesions. Methods We reviewed our prospectively maintained institutional database to identify patients diagnosed with ethmoidal dAVFs from January 1, 2000, to December 31, 2015. We evaluated demographic, presentation, angiographic, treatment, and follow-up data. Results In total, 27 patients with ethmoidal dAVFs underwent endovascular and/or surgical treatment. Mean patient age was 62 years old and there was a male sex predilection (67% men; 2:1 male-female ratio). All dAVFs exhibited direct cortical venous drainage; venous ectasia was present in 59% of cases. Of the dAVFs, 30% drained posteriorly into the basal vein of Rosenthal or the sylvian veins. Embolization with casting of the draining vein was successful in 2 of 9 cases (22%), including 1 successful transvenous case. There were no clinical or permanent complications from embolization; specifically, no patients experienced visual loss after treatment. Surgical treatment with successful dAVF obliteration was carried out in 24 of 24 patients (100%). One patient declined surgical treatment after attempted endovascular embolization. There were no permanent complications after surgical treatment and no cases of wound infection or cerebrospinal fluid leakage. Conclusions Surgical disconnection remains the gold standard in the treatment of ethmoidal dAVFs. Embolization is a consideration for well-selected cases with favorable arterial or venous access anatomy.

Background Patients with large-vessel occlusion (LVO) who initially present to a non-thrombectomy-capable center (“spoke”) have worse outcomes than those presenting directly to a thrombectomy-capable center (“hub”). Furthermore, patients who suffer in-hospital strokes (IHS) suffer worse outcomes than those suffering strokes in the community. Data on patients who suffer IHS at a spoke hospital is lacking. We aim to characterize this particularly vulnerable population, define their outcomes, and compare them to patients who develop IHS at a hub institution. Methods We retrospectively reviewed prospectively collected data from patients suffering an IHS at a spoke hospital who were then transferred to the hub hospital for endovascular therapy (EVT). We then compared outcomes of these patients under EVT after developing IHS at the hub institution. Results A total of 108 IHS patients met inclusion criteria: 91 (84%) at a spoke facility and 17 (16%) at the hub facility. Baseline characteristics and reason for hospital admission were comparable between the two groups. Time from imaging to IV-tPA administration (17 vs. 70 min, p = 0.01) and time to EVT (120 vs. 247 min, p = 0.001) were significantly shorter in the hub group. More patients had a 90 day-mRS of 0-3 in the hub group than the spoke group (57% vs 22%, p Conclusion Patients undergoing EVT after suffering IHS at a spoke hospital have significantly higher rates of poor outcomes compared to patients who suffer IHS at a hub hospital. Prolonged time delays in the initiation of IV-tPA and EVT represent areas of improvement.

Among the major complications of transsphenoidal surgery, less attention has been given to severe postoperative epistaxis, which can lead to devastating consequences. In this study, we reviewed 551 consecutive patients treated over a 4 year period by the senior author to evaluate the incidence, risk factors, etiology and management of immediate and delayed post-transsphenoidal epistaxis. Eighteen patients (3.3%) developed significant postoperative epistaxis - six immediately and 12 delayed (mean postoperative day 10.8). Fourteen patients harbored macroadenomas (78%) and 11 of 18 (61.1%) had complex nasal/sphenoid anatomy. In the immediate epistaxis group, 33% had acute postoperative hypertension. In the delayed group, one had an anterior ethmoidal pseudoaneurysm, and one had restarted anticoagulation on postoperative day 3. We treated the immediate epistaxis group with bedside nasal packing followed by operative re-exploration if conservative measures were unsuccessful. The delayed group underwent bedside nasal hemostasis; if unsuccessful, angiographic embolization was performed. After definitive treatment, no patients had recurrent epistaxis.

Objective Vasospasm is the leading source of neurological morbidity after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. Our objective was to evaluate the impact of treatment modality on vasospasm, delayed cerebral infarction, and clinical deterioration caused by delayed cerebral ischemia (CD-DCI). Methods We reviewed an institutional cohort, comparing rates of vasospasm, delayed cerebral infarction, and CD-DCI between patients managed with only microsurgical clipping and those treated with only endovascular coiling within 72 hours of rupture. Age, sex, smoking status, Hunt-Hess grade, and Fisher grade were adjusted for in a multivariate regression model. Results Two hundred three patients were treated with clipping and 52 with coiling. There was no significant difference in patient age, sex, smoking status, aneurysm location, and presenting clinical (Hunt-Hess) and radiographic (Fisher) grade between these two groups. Sixty-percent of patients had moderate or severe vasospasm after clipping compared with 38% after coiling (Multivariate odds ratio [OR] 2.32, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.21–4.47, P = 0.01). Clipping was associated with a greater number of territories with vasospasm (mean of 3.1 vs. 2.3, P = 0.03 after multivariate analysis). Delayed radiographic cerebral infarction was more common in the clipping group (17% vs. 6%, multivariate OR 3.66, 95% CI 1.06–12.71, P = 0.04). For CD-DCI, a trend was seen as 16% of patients treated with clipping had CD-DCI compared with 6% of patients treated with coiling (multivariate OR 3.11, 95% CI 0.89–10.86, P = 0.07). Conclusion We demonstrate significantly lower rates of vasospasm and delayed infarction after endovascular coiling of ruptured aneurysms.

Objective Recent evidence has suggested a potential beneficial effect of aspirin on the risk of aneurysm rupture. This benefit must be weighed against its potential adverse effects as an antiplatelet agent in the setting of acute aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Methods A total of 747 consecutive patients with cerebral aneurysms were reviewed, comparing demographics, aneurysm features, presenting clinical and radiographic grades, vasospasm, and outcome at 1 year between patients with aneurysmal SAH taking aspirin on presentation and those who were not. Results The rate of hemorrhagic presentation was significantly greater in patients not taking aspirin (40% vs. 28%; P = 0.016). Among 274 patients presenting with aneurysmal SAH, there was no significant difference in presenting clinical (Hunt and Hess) and radiographic (Fisher) grade between patients taking aspirin and those who were not. There was also no significant difference in the rate of subsequent angiographic and delayed cerebral ischemia. Multivariate analysis of outcome at 1 year found only increasing age (odds ratio [OR] 1.07, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.04–1.12), Hunt and Hess grade (OR 3.01, 95% CI 1.81–5.03), and associated hypertension (OR 3.30, 95% CI 1.39–7.81) to be statistically significant risk factors for poor outcome (death or dependence), whereas aspirin use was not associated with poor outcome (OR 1.19, 95% CI 0.35–4.09; P = 0.78). Conclusions In the present study, patients taking aspirin had a lower rate of hemorrhagic presentation. In addition, taking aspirin did not adversely impact presenting clinical grade or radiographic grade, vasospasm, and outcome in the setting of aneurysmal SAH.

Recent studies have reinforced anterior communicating (AComm) artery location as a significant risk factor for aneurysm rupture in addition to posterior circulation/posterior communicating (PComm) artery location. However, studies stratifying aneurysm location in greater detail are sparse.We reviewed the records of 747 consecutive patients with 1013 aneurysms seen at our institution over a 7 year period, noting aneurysm location and rupture status at the time of presentation.High proportions of ruptured aneurysms were seen among frontopolar/pericallosal (59%, OR 3.07, p=0.011), vertebral/posteroinferior cerebellar (PICA; 53%, OR 2.49, p=0.0037), AComm (50%, OR 2.46, p0.0001), and PComm aneurysms (44%, OR 1.77, p=0.0016). Low proportions of ruptured aneurysms were seen among superior hypophyseal artery (SHA; 6%, OR 0.12, p=0.0001), internal carotid artery (ICA) bifurcation (12%, OR 0.27, p=0.0012), and ophthalmic artery aneurysms (15%, OR 0.33, p=0.0002). The proportion of ruptured PComm aneurysms demonstrated a trend toward being greater than anterior choroidal artery aneurysms (OR 2.14, p=0.09); however the proportion was significantly greater among anterior choroidal artery aneurysms as compared to nonPComm intradural ICA aneurysms (OR 2.78, p=0.03). Notably, the lower rupture rate of SHA aneurysms as compared to ophthalmic artery aneurysms neared statistical significance (OR 0.38, p=0.10).Aneurysm location has a significant impact on risk of rupture and should be stratified in greater detail in future studies of aneurysm natural history.

Carotid body tumors (CBT) are rare neuroendocrine neoplasms that usually present in the third or fourth decades of life and are benign in more than 95% of cases. In the angiographic literature, the arterial supply to carotid body tumors is well documented but is often incomplete, with infrequent mention of the glomic artery, a common arterial feeder described in the anatomic and pathologic literature. Through a review of our neuroendovascular patient database, we identified eight patients with CBT undergoing transarterial embolization followed by resection. Mean patient age was 51.5 years (range 29-82), and all patients were female. Mean tumor size was 91.2 cc (standard deviation [SD] 61.1, median 67.7 cc). After embolization, greater than 90% flow reduction was achieved in 5/8 patients (63%); 60-80% flow reduction was achieved in the remaining patients. Mean operative blood loss was 166 cc (SD 100, median 122 cc) and mean operative time was 252 minutes (SD 134.5, median 155 minutes). Pre-embolization angiography was reviewed to identify a glomic artery, defined as a dominant artery supplying the CBT arising from the region of the carotid bifurcation. In six of eight patients (75%) a glomic artery could be identified, arising from the common carotid artery in 4/6 patients and the external carotid artery in 2/6 patients. Thus, glomic artery to supply to CBT was identified in the majority of patients in this series. Knowledge of its presence and identification as a direct supplier, frequently from the common carotid artery itself, provides an avenue for more thorough preoperative embolization of CBT.

Posterior circulation strokes account for 20% of all strokes (2). Traditional studies cite a 5-year stroke rate ranging from 22%e 35% following an initial vertebrobasilar transient ischemic attack (TIA) or stroke (11, 14). Contrary to traditional beliefs, the overall risk of recurrent stroke in the posterior circulation is similar to the risk after an anterior circulation stroke, and likely higher in the acute phase (8). In one pooled analysis of 359 patients experiencing vertebrobasilar territory TIA or stroke, the 90-day risk of stroke after the presenting event was 9.6% in patients with vertebrobasilar stenosis versus 2.8% in those without (OR 3.7, 95% CI 1.2e11.0, P 1⁄4 0.012) (9). The authors noted a trend that this risk was higher with intracranial vertebrobasilar stenosis than extracranial vertebral stenosis (P 1⁄4 0.06). To mitigate this risk, aggressive medical management incorporating diet and lifestyle modification, control of hypertension, and the usage of statins and antiplatelet agents may be used (3, 5, 16). In addition, multiple individual case series have suggested that stenting vertebrobasilar lesions may be associated with a low-risk profile and subsequently low rates of referable TIAs or strokes (1, 10, 12, 13, 15). A systematic review of stenting symptomatic, atherosclerotic vertebrobasilar disease reported periprocedural TIA, stroke, and death rates of 1.6%, 1.3%, and 0.3%, respectively, across 313 cases with proximal vertebral artery disease (6). Over a mean follow-up period of 14.2 months, the post-treatment annual rate of TIA or stroke in the vertebrobasilar territory was 0.6%. Interestingly, for 283 cases of distal vertebrobasilar stenting, the periprocedural TIA, stroke, and death rates were 0.7%, 10.6% and 3.2%, respectively (6). The annual rate of subsequent vertebrobasilar stroke over a mean follow-up of 13 months after treatment was 1.9%. Thus although patients with symptomatic intracranial vertebrobasilar stenosis may have a greater risk of TIA or stroke without treatment (9), the risk of stenting may also be higher in this group (6). However, more specifically, a subgroup analysis from the Stenting and Aggressive Medical Management for Preventing Recurrent Stroke in Intracranial Stenosis (SAMMPRIS) trial demonstrated significantly higher periprocedural ischemic events in patients undergoing stenting of the basilar artery as compared with those undergoing stenting of the intracranial internal carotid, middle cerebral, or vertebral artery (7). Before the Vertebral Artery Stenting Trial (VAST) (3), subgroup analyses of 2 randomized control trials comparing stenting of symptomatic arterial stenosis to best medical management demonstrated no benefit of stenting for patients with vertebral artery stenosis (4, 5). In the Carotid And Vertebral Artery Transluminal Angioplasty Study (CAVATAS), 16 patients with

Acute ischemia of the brainstem has been known to produce hypertension. After an initial review of central nervous system mechanisms contributing to systemic hypertension and the impact of the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) on arterial pressure, the authors propose that essential hypertension involves neurochemical changes at the level of the RVLM which are triggered by cerebral ischemia. Experimental and clinical data are presented to show that there is a link between ischemia of the brainstem and chronic hypertension. Atherosclerosis of the cerebral circulation leads to ischemia of the RVLM and other regions with autonomic function. This ischemic process results in increased availability of angiotensin II in the RVLM, which maintains the chronic hypertensive state via either direct stimulation of the RVLM or exacerbation of brainstem ischemia due to increased vasoconstriction.

Dural arteriovenous fistulae (dAVF) with direct cortical venous drainage (CVD, Borden Type III) have a high risk of hemorrhage, particularly when symptomatic. Stereotactic radiosurgery is therefore not recommended, and endovascular treatment can be limited by access, incomplete obliteration, and recanalization. Of 70 cerebral dAVF seen at our institution over the past 8 years, 35 were Borden Type III (50%). Twenty-four were treated via microsurgery (69%). Presentation included hemorrhage in nine patients (38%), nonhemorrhagic neurologic deficits in five (21%), asymptomatic in five (21%), headache in three (13%), and seizure in two patients (8%). Only eight of 19 patients with symptomatic dAVF were independent (modified Rankin Scale [mRS] 0-2) preoperatively (42%). The dAVF location was tentorial in six patients (25%), petrosal in six (25%), superior sagittal sinus in four (17%), torcular in two (7%), floor of the anterior fossa in two (7%), and sphenoid ridge, transverse-sigmoid, inferior sagittal sinus and jugular in one patient each (4%). Four patients had failed endovascular therapy (17%). The angiographic obliteration rate was 96%. The combined permanent morbidity and mortality rate was 17%. After a mean follow-up of 2.1 years, 13 patients improved (54%), seven were the same, (29%) and four were worse (17%). Thirteen patients were asymptomatic (mRS 0, 54%), and 18 were independent (mRS 0-2, 75%). Our results reinforce that surgical treatment of dAVF with direct CVD is associated with a high angiographic cure rate with acceptable morbidity and mortality, particularly in light of the lesions' natural history.

Ophthalmic segment aneurysms refer to superior hypophyseal artery aneurysms, true ophthalmic artery aneurysms, and their dorsal variant. Indications for treatment of these aneurysms include concerning morphological features, large size, visual loss, or rupture. Although narrow-necked aneurysms are ideal endovascular targets, more complex and larger lesions necessitating adjunctive stent or flow-diversion techniques may be suitably treated with long-lasting, effective clip ligation instead. This is particularly relevant in the consideration of ruptured ophthalmic segment aneurysms. This article provides a depiction of microsurgical treatment of ophthalmic segment aneurysms with an accompanying video demonstration. Emphasis is placed on microsurgical anatomy, the intradural anterior clinoidectomy and clipping technique. The intradural anterior clinoidectomy, demonstrated in detail in our Supplementary video, provides significant added exposure of the ophthalmic segment of the internal carotid artery, allowing for improved aneurysm visualization. In the management of superior hypophyseal artery aneurysms, emphasis is placed on identifying and preserving superior hypophyseal artery perforators, using serial fenestrated straight clips rather than a single right-angled fenestrated clip to obliterate the aneurysm. Post-clipping indocyanine green dye angiography is a crucial tool to confirm aneurysm obliteration and the preservation of the parent vasculature and adjacent superior hypophyseal artery perforators. With careful attention to the nuances of microsurgical clipping of ophthalmic segment aneurysms, rewarding results can be obtained.

Considerable advances in our understanding of the natural history and treatment of cerebrovascular disease were made in 2012. The landmark Unruptured Cerebral Aneurysm Study in Japan was published, illustrating a significantly greater rupture risk than previously reported for small anterior and posterior communicating artery aneurysms, those with daughter domes, and giant aneurysms. Results from the Cerecyte (DePuy Synthes, West Chester, PN, USA) coil trial did not demonstrate a statistically significant positive impact of these bioactive coils on angiographic occlusion rates or outcome. The Clazosentan to Overcome Neurological Ischemia and Infarct Occurring after Subarachnoid Hemorrhage study was also published and unfortunately did not demonstrate an overall favorable long-term functional outcome rate for patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage receiving clazosentan. Studies furthering our understanding of the natural history and treatment of vascular malformations were also published, including large prospective natural history studies of cavernous malformations from the Mayo Clinic and the Scottish Audit of Intracranial Vascular Malformations database. Although pregnancy was found to be a significant risk factor for arteriovenous malformation hemorrhage, several studies did not demonstrate pregnancy as a significant risk factor for cavernous malformation hemorrhage. Finally, prospective randomized control trials illustrated significantly improved angiographic and clinical outcome results for both the Solitaire (ev3 Endovascular, Plymouth, MN, USA; SWIFT trial) and Trevo (Concentric Medical, Mountainview, CA, USA; TREVO 2 trial) stent retrievers as compared to the Merci (Concentric Medical) clot retriever.

Objective Although vasculopathy and de novo aneurysm formation are known complications of traditional radiation therapy, their occurrence following AVM SRS is rare and thus infrequently addressed in the literature. We sought to evaluate these phenomena through a review of our institutional experience. Methods Our review afforded 32 patients treated with LINAC-based SRS over an eight year period. We noted obliteration rates, complication rates and long-term outcomes, with particular attention paid to follow-up angiographic studies. Results After a mean follow-up of 4.3 years, the overall obliteration rate was 50%, increasing to 87% for AVMs less than 3 cm. Eight patients had nine hemorrhages following SRS (25%). One occurred in the context of a de novo arterial pseudoaneurysm and another in the context of a new venous varix. Two patients with post-SRS hemorrhage had intranidal aneurysms that were not as apparent on initial angiography. Two patients that did not suffer from latency period hemorrhage developed dysplastic changes of feeding arteries, and one patient suffered from early venous thrombosis with resultant permanent hemiparesis from infarction. After a mean follow-up of 4.3 years, 8 patients were clinically improved (25%), 19 were the same (59%), and 5 were worse (16%), including 2 that died as a result of latency period hemorrhage. Conclusion While radiosurgery of AVMs is safe and successful in the vast majority of cases, vasculopathic complications including de novo aneurysm and varix development, early venous occlusion and stenotic vasculopathy, while infrequent, can occur. Closer long-term angiographic surveillance of these patients may thus be warranted.

Microsurgical resection of a cerebral arteriovenous malformation (AVM) allows for an immediate therapeutic cure. Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) is a reasonable alternative for inoperable or high-risk lesions requiring treatment. Few series evaluate overall results that include data from both modalities as they more often focus on their treatment method of choice. In this study, we evaluated our AVM database of 129 patients seen over the past eight years at our institution: 73 were treated with microsurgery (57%) while 37 (29%) were treated with SRS. We reviewed angiographic obliteration rates, complication rates, and outcome data, excluding seven patients treated with SRS as they did not have at least two years of angiographic follow-up. Patients undergoing microsurgery had smaller AVM (mean 2.2 cm compared to 3.5 cm for SRS), a smaller proportion of eloquent AVM (53% compared to 83% for SRS), a greater proportion of AVM with superficial drainage only (75% compared to 40% for SRS), and more grade 1 and 2 AVM (78% compared to 17% for SRS). The overall obliteration rate was 80%: 92% for microsurgery and 50% for SRS. The latter increased to 92% for AVM3 cm, but the obliteration rate was 18% for those AVM3 cm. Transient complications, including post-SRS hemorrhage, were seen in 11% of patients overall (8% after microsurgery, 17% after SRS). At follow-up, 53% of patients had improved, 37% remained the same, 7% had become worse and 3% had died. As a result of post-SRS hemorrhage, a greater proportion of patients was worse or had died after SRS (20%) compared to those who had been treated with microsurgery (5%).

erebral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) may serve as a considerable source of neurological morbidity as C a result of hemorrhage, seizures, and/or focal neurologic deficits. Hemorrhage remains the most common modality of AVM presentation, occurring in approximately 50% of cases (2, 5, 19). Annual AVM hemorrhage rates generally range from 2% to 4%; however, they are largely influenced by a previous history of hemorrhage and AVM angioarchitecture, particularly drainage pattern, location, and associated aneurysms (2, 5, 19). Protection from hemorrhage remains the primary presumed benefit of AVM treatment, whereas the improvement of seizures still remains a matter of debate (10).

Most patients with unruptured aneurysms are asymptomatic, and this patient population is expected to continue to expand with the increasing availability of cerebral imaging (1, 8). Despite considerable advances in microsurgical techniques and endovascular technology, aneurysm treatment always poses a risk of considerable neurologic morbidity and mortality (8). The decision to treat an unruptured aneurysm must be substantiated by an anticipated realistic risk of aneurysm rupture during the patient’s life span. Risk prediction has largely been based on aneurysm size, location, and morphology; however, absolute annual rupture rates have varied widely across several prospective studies (3-8). As a means to provide an inclusive risk prediction model, the PHASES (Population, Hypertension, Age, Size of the aneurysm, Earlier subarachnoid hemorrhage from another aneurysm, and Site of the aneurysm) score, based on a pooled analysis of 6 prospective natural history studies, was recently proposed (1). The authors screened 1105 publications derived from PubMed and Embase searches and formally reviewed 102 articles to incorporate prospective natural history studies with at least 50 patients with unruptured aneurysms. The authors ultimately included results from the Unruptured Cerebral Aneurysm Study (UCAS) of Japan (5720 patients) (5), the International Study of Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysms (ISUIA; 1691 patients) (8), 2 other Japanese studies (419 patients and 374 patients with aneurysms

Background In patients with supratentorial spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage, intrahematomal catheter placement may allow for intraclot thrombolysis and drainage. Robotic assistance may be used for the stereotactic placement of catheters. Case Description A 76-year-old male presented with altered mental status and left-sided weakness. Noncontrast computed tomography of the head showed a right ganglionic intraparenchymal hemorrhage with resultant entrapment of the temporal horn. Using Robotic Stereotactic Assistance, intrahematomal and intraventricular catheters were placed. The temporal horn was immediately decompressed, and the hematoma almost completely resolved with scheduled administration of intrathecal alteplase in the ensuing 48 hours postoperatively. Conclusion Frameless image-guided placement of intraparenchymal hematoma catheter using Robotic Stereotactic Assistance is safe and efficient.

Background Dural arteriovenous fistulas (dAVFs) often are treated via transarterial or transvenous embolization. Incomplete penetration of the draining vein/occult residual often will become apparent on follow-up angiography, requiring repeat embolization, or at times, surgical resection. Case Description A 41-year-old woman presented with cerebellar hemorrhage from a tentorial dAVF treated with transvenous coil embolization. Follow-up angiography disclosed a residual/recurrent fistula treated with transvenous Onyx embolization. After further follow-up angiography demonstrated another occult residual/recurrence, the fistula was disconnected with the tentorial dura excised via a retrosigmoid approach. Six-month follow-up angiography demonstrated no recurrence. Conclusions Although endovascular treatment of dAVFs is generally first-line therapy, surgical disconnection of fistulas, particularly high-risk residual/recurrent fistulas, is an excellent option in well-selected cases.

3 (3%) 2 (2%) 0.673 (0.055e5.983) 1.0 Any stroke 3 (2%) 1 (1%) 0.335 (0.006e4.233) 0.63 Ipsilateral stroke/TIA/ death 4 (3%) 5 (4%) 1.280 (0.268e6.614) 0.98

Prior rupture is an established risk factor for subsequent hemorrhage from arteriovenous malformations (AVM). Recent natural history studies have reinvigorated the important concept that the re-bleed rate is not constant; rather, it is particularly greater in the first year after hemorrhage. In this study, we reviewed our own cohort of 129 patients with AVMs. Eighty-one presented with hemorrhage (63%), and of these patients, 38 had at least one month of subsequent clinical follow-up and were included in our analysis. Over a total of 140 patient-years, the annual re-hemorrhage rate was 7.9%, though it was 15.8% in the first year. Two-thirds of those AVM that hemorrhaged in the first year were associated with aneurysms. The overall permanent morbidity of re-hemorrhage was 45%; the mortality rate was 9%. Although the re-hemorrhage rate in the first year varied from 6% to 15.8% across series in the literature, it was generally double the overall re-hemorrhage rate provided in each study. These results have significant therapeutic implications, favoring surgical treatment of ruptured AVM and/or their associated aneurysm when feasible to avoid the incumbent greater risk of early rehemorrhage.