Search

Objective: The Pipeline Embolization Device (PED) has been used and shown to be safe under monitored anesthesia care (MAC). We present the results of the first study, to our knowledge, assessing the safety and feasibility of same-day discharge in patients undergoing treatment with the PED, using MAC., Methods: A total of 130 patients with 143 cerebral aneurysms (CAs) were identified. Patients were treated under MAC with the PED. All of the patients were counseled preoperatively about the elective nature of the procedure and the same-day discharge., Results: The mean age of the participants was 60.7 ± 12.12 years. Men constituted 27.69% (36/130) of the population. The number of procedures was 138. All of our patients elected to return home the same day, whereas only 6.15% (8/130) of them changed their mind in the postoperative setting and elected to stay overnight out of convenience (late discharge, patient preference, or living alone at home). Overall discharge home on the same day occurred after 90.6% of procedures (125/138) and in 91.53% (119/130) of the patients. All same-day discharges took place within 4-6 hours after the procedures. The rate of major complications was 0.75% (1/134). The mortality rate was 0%., Conclusions: PED treatment under MAC is feasible and safe. This has brought forth an era of outpatient treatment of CAs where patients are discharged home 6 hours after the procedure., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

OBJECTIVE With the increasing number of aneurysms treated with endovascular coiling, more recurrences are being encountered. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of microsurgical clipping in the treatment of recurrent, previously coiled cerebral aneurysms and to identify risk factors that can affect the outcomes of this procedure. METHODS One hundred eleven patients with recurrent aneurysms whose lesions were managed by surgical clipping between January 2002 and October 2014 were identified. The rates of aneurysm occlusion, retreatment, complications, and good clinical outcome were retrospectively determined. Univariate and multivariate logistic regressions were performed to identify factors associated with these outcomes. RESULTS The mean patient age was 50.5 years, the mean aneurysm size was 7 mm, and 97.3% of aneurysms were located in the anterior circulation. The mean follow-up was 22 months. Complete aneurysm occlusion, as assessed by intraoperative angiography, was achieved in 97.3% of aneurysms (108 of 111 patients). Among patients, 1.8% (2 of 111 patients) had a recurrence after clipping. Retreatment was required in 4.5% of patients (5 of 111) after clipping. Major complications were observed in 8% of patients and mortality in 2.7%. Ninety percent of patients had a good clinical outcome. Aneurysm size (OR 1.4, 95% CI 1.08-1.7; p = 0.009) and location in the posterior circulation were significantly associated with higher complications. All 3 patients who had coil extraction experienced a postoperative stroke. Aneurysm size (OR 1.2, 95% CI 1.02-1.45; p = 0.025) and higher number of interventions prior to clipping (OR 5.3, 95% CI 1.3-21.4; p = 0.019) were significant predictors of poor outcome. An aneurysm size > 7 mm was a significant predictor of incomplete obliteration and retreatment (p = 0.018). CONCLUSIONS Surgical clipping is safe and effective in treating recurrent, previously coiled cerebral aneurysms. Aneurysm size, location, and number of previous coiling procedures are important factors to consider in the management of these aneurysms.

Objective: Studies that showed endovascular coiling of ruptured intracranial aneurysms (RAs) to be superior to microsurgical clipping have compared dedicated endovascular interventionists versus open cerebrovascular surgeons. This is the first study to evaluate outcomes of coiling versus clipping of RAs treated by a dual-trained cerebrovascular surgeon using a specific intervention protocol., Methods: The prospectively maintained database was reviewed for all patients with RAs undergoing endovascular coiling (± stenting) or clipping by the senior author (dual-trained vascular neurosurgeon) between July 2010 and April 2015., Results: Of the 252 patients identified, 70 underwent clipping and 182 underwent endovascular treatment. The mean and median time to last follow-up were 179.6 and 176.5 days in the endovascular cohort and 203.9 and 154.0 days in the surgical cohort. There was no difference in age, gender, World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies grade and Fisher grade, mean aneurysm size, and length of stay in the hospital/intensive care unit. Clipping had a higher proportion of middle cerebral artery aneurysms (37.1% vs. 8.8%; P < 0.001) and a lower proportion of aneurysms in the remaining locations (P < 0.001). 34.5% of the endovascular cohort and 32.9% of the clipping cohort were discharged home. There was no difference in modified Rankin Scale score at first or latest follow-up. Most had no significant disability. Mortality of endovascular treatment was 13.2% compared with 10.0% in clipping, and 16.5% versus 18.6% at the latest follow-up (both nonsignificant). The rate of conversion from coiling to clipping was 25.0%., Conclusions: RA treatment should be individualized, with clipping and coiling being 2 complementary arms. Assessment of patient and aneurysm characteristics along with the advantages of both techniques provides an optimal therapeutic modality., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Data regarding the role of alternative access routes in neuro-endovascular interventions is limited. Our aim is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of alternative access in endovascular management of cerebrovascular diseases., Methods: 29 patients who underwent endovascular interventions using alternative access techniques including transradial, transcervical with carotid cutdown and access through the superior ophthalmic vein (SOV) to manage various intracranial pathologies were retrospectively identified., Results: The mean patient age was 68 years. Mean follow-up was 6.6 months. The transradial approach was successfully used in the management of 3 aneurysms using the pipeline embolization device (PED), coiling and stent-assisted coiling, 2 arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) using Onyx embolization and 2 acute stroke interventions. This resulted in complete obliteration of 3 lesions and near complete occlusion (>90%) of 2 lesions and successful recanalization in the 2 patients with stroke. There were no access related complications. Transcervical access was successfully used to treat 6 aneurysms using the PED or coiling embolization without any complications. SOV cutdown followed by endovascular embolization was performed successfully in 16 patients harboring carotid-cavernous fistulas (CCFs) using Onyx embolization alone in 12 cases and Onyx with coiling in 4 patients. Complete obliteration was achieved in 14CCFs and near complete obliteration in 2CCFs. Complications occurred in 1 patient who had transient elevated intra-ocular pressure postoperatively., Conclusions: When transfemoral access fails, alternative access routes using transradial, transcervical with carotid cutdown and access through the SOV can be safe and effective for managing various cerebrovascular lesions., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)