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Background: Basilar artery perforator aneurysms (BAPAs) are rare. Traditional surgical clipping and endovascular coiling have proven to be challenging. We present three patients treated with endovascular electrothrombosis and describe the characteristics of this new approach. Methods: Three patients presented with subarachnoid hemorrhages (SAHs). Cerebral angiography identified BAPAs. Endovascular electrothrombosis was performed after obtaining informed consent. We placed the microwire into the sac of the aneurysms through the microcatheter and connected its proximal tip to the Solitaire stent detachment system. Electrothrombosis was conducted using 1.0 mA current. Results: Two aneurysms were successfully occluded without treatment-related complication. The third one failed and converted to endovascular coiling using a 1.3-F microcatheter. The patient suffered brainstem infarction and finally died of severe SAH. At follow-up, the two patients were neurologically intact and angiography showed total occlusion of both aneurysms. Conclusion: Endovascular electrothrombosis might be a potential alternative to traditional treatment for BAPAs. Close follow-up with caution should be mandatory. More research is needed to confirm its safety and efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Stenting in ruptured middle cerebral artery (MCA) aneurysms was reported with a high perioperative complication rate. However, the treatment devices and physician's experience have continued to evolve. We performed this retrospective study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of LVIS stent-assisted coiling for ruptured MCA aneurysms. Methods: Patients with acutely ruptured MCA aneurysms treated between November 2014 and October 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. Clinical and angiographic data of those treated with LVIS stents were collected from a prospectively maintained database. Results: A total of 40 patients with 40 ruptured MCA aneurysms were enrolled, which comprised 26.3% (40/152) of all the ruptured MCA aneurysms at the same time. All stents were successfully deployed except for one (2.5%), which had a poor stent opening. Ischemic procedure-related complications were encountered in three patients (7.5%). One patient died of complications related to high-grade SAH on admission. Follow-up (mean 15.9 months) angiography was performed for 36 patients, which showed 33 (91.7%) aneurysms were completely occluded, 1 (2.8%) was improved, 1 (2.8%) was stable, and 1 (2.8%) was recanalized. Clinical follow-up (mean 29.6 months) was available for all survived patients, which showed 38 (95.0%) patients had favorable neurologic outcomes (mRS score 0–2), and 2 (5.0%) patients had poor neurologic outcomes. Conclusion: The use of LVIS stents is feasible, safe, and effective with glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitor for the treatment of ruptured MCA aneurysms in the acute setting. Prospective, multicenter studies with larger sample sizes are still required to further evaluate the safety and long-term efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of low-profile visualized intraluminal support (LVIS) stent-assisted coiling for the treatment of ruptured wide-necked anterior communicating artery (ACoA) aneurysms. Methods: The clinical and angiographic data of 31 acutely ruptured wide-necked ACoA aneurysms treated with LVIS stent-assisted coiling between January 2014 and December 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. Results: All stents were successfully deployed. The immediate angiographic results were modified Raymond-Roy class I in 27 cases, modified Raymond-Roy class II in 2 cases, and modified Raymond-Roy class IIIa in 2 cases. Intraoperative thrombosis and postoperative aneurysmal rebleeding occurred in one case each. Two patients (6.5%) who were admitted due to poor clinical grade conditions died during hospital admission as a result of initial bleeding. Angiographic follow-up (mean: 12.9 months) was performed for 26 patients, the results of which demonstrated that 25 aneurysms were completely occluded and one was class II. The last clinical follow-up (mean: 25.3 months) outcomes demonstrated that 27 patients had favorable clinical outcomes and two had poor clinical outcomes. Conclusion: LVIS stent-assisted coiling for ruptured wide-necked ACoA aneurysms was safe and effective, with a relatively low rate of perioperative complications and a high rate of complete occlusion at follow-up. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Endovascular treatment (EVT) of true posterior communicating artery (PcomA) aneurysms has been rarely reported. This study reports the outcomes on a single-center cohort with true PcomA aneurysms who underwent EVT. Methods: Between June 2011 and June 2017, clinical data from 42 patients with 43 true PcomA aneurysms who underwent EVT were retrieved from a prospectively maintained single-center database. Endovascular techniques, perioperative complications, clinical outcomes, and angiographic results were retrospectively evaluated. Results: All aneurysms were treated successfully. Treatment modalities included simple coiling in 30 aneurysms, balloon-assisted coiling in two, and stent-assisted coiling in 11 cases. Immediate angiograms showed complete occlusion in 23 aneurysms (53.5%), residual neck in 8 cases (18.6%), and residual sac in 12 (27.9%). No procedure-related complications or mortality were observed. Of the 34 aneurysms that underwent angiographic follow-up at an average duration of 7.1 months post-procedure, complete occlusion was achieved in 22 (64.7%), neck remnant in eight (23.5%), and residual sac in four (11.8%) aneurysms, respectively. Six aneurysms (18.2%) that underwent conventional coiling developed recanalization and required retreatment. Seven cases that received stent-assisted coiling did not develop recurrence. Clinical follow-up (mean, 24.3 months) of all patients demonstrated no neurologic deterioration or (re)bleeding. Conclusion: EVT of the true PcomA aneurysm is a safe and feasible procedure but may be associated with recurrence in midterm follow-up, requiring close surveillance and potential retreatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Purpose: The conflicting findings of previous morphological and hemodynamic studies on intracranial aneurysm rupture may be caused by the relatively small sample sizes and the variation in location of the patient-specific aneurysm models. We aimed to determine the discriminators for aneurysm rupture status by focusing on only posterior communicating artery (PCoA) aneurysms. Materials and Methods: In 129 PCoA aneurysms (85 ruptured, 44 unruptured), clinical, morphological and hemodynamic characteristics were compared between the ruptured and unruptured cases. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the discriminators for rupture status of PCoA aneurysms. Results: While univariate analyses showed that the size of aneurysm dome, aspect ratio (AR), size ratio (SR), dome-to-neck ratio (DN), inflow angle (IA), normalized wall shear stress (NWSS) and percentage of low wall shear stress area (LSA) were significantly associated with PCoA aneurysm rupture status. With multivariate analyses, significance was only retained for higher IA (OR = 1.539, p < 0.001) and LSA (OR = 1.393, p = 0.041). Conclusions: Hemodynamics and morphology were related to rupture status of intracranial aneurysms. Higher IA and LSA were identified as discriminators for rupture status of PCoA aneurysms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adjusting hemodynamics via flow diverter (FD) implantation is emerging as a novel method of treating cerebral aneurysms. However, most previous FD-related hemodynamic studies were based on virtual FD deployment, which may produce different hemodynamic outcomes than realistic (in vivo) FD deployment. We compared hemodynamics between virtual FD and realistic FD deployments in rabbit aneurysm models using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations. FDs were implanted for aneurysms in 14 rabbits. Vascular models based on rabbit-specific angiograms were reconstructed for CFD studies. Real FD configurations were reconstructed based on micro-CT scans after sacrifice, while virtual FD configurations were constructed with SolidWorks software. Hemodynamic parameters before and after FD deployment were analyzed. According to the metal coverage (MC) of implanted FDs calculated based on micro-CT reconstruction, 14 rabbits were divided into two groups (A, MC >35%; B, MC <35%). Normalized mean wall shear stress (WSS), relative residence time (RRT), inflow velocity, and inflow volume in Group A were significantly different (P<0.05) from virtual FD deployment, but pressure was not (P>0.05). The normalized mean WSS in Group A after realistic FD implantation was significantly lower than that of Group B. All parameters in Group B exhibited no significant difference between realistic and virtual FDs. This study confirmed MC-correlated differences in hemodynamic parameters between realistic and virtual FD deployment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the safety and efficacy of the Numen coil compared with the Axium coil in the treatment of intracranial aneurysms. Because CATCH (Coil Application Trial in China) is a prospective randomized controlled open-label noninferiority trial conducted in 10 centers across China, patients who fulfilled the inclusion and exclusion criteria were randomized 1:1 to either a test group (Numen) or a control group (Axium). The primary outcome was based on successful aneurysm occlusion at 6 months follow-up, whereas secondary outcomes included technical success, the recanalization and retreatment rates, and the rate of serious adverse events (SAEs) at 6 months and 12 months follow-up. Between August 2017 and December 2019, 350 patients presenting with 350 aneurysms were enrolled and randomized. Per-protocol analysis showed that the successful aneurysm occlusion rate at 6 months was 91.18% for the test group compared with 91.85% in the control group, with a difference of –0.68% (P = 0.8419), and the overall mortality during the 30-day follow-up period was 1.19% and 1.81% in the test and control group, respectively, showing no significant difference between the 2 groups (P = 0.6837), whereas the SAE incidence during the 12-month follow-up period was 12.50% and 17.47% in the test and control groups, respectively, which was not statistically significant (P = 0.2222). This trial showed that the Numen coil was noninferior to the Axium coil in terms of intracranial aneurysm embolization and can be considered as a safe and effective coil for treating patients with intracranial aneurysm in clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To assess the safety and efficacy of endovascular treatment (EVT) of unruptured middle cerebral artery (MCA) aneurysms in a retrospective cohort in a high-volume center. Predictors of complications and recurrence were determined. Retrospectively reviewed our database of prospectively collected information for all patients with unruptured MCA aneurysms that were treated by endovascular approach from March 2008 to December 2020. A multivariate analysis was conducted to identify predictors of complications and recurrence. Three hundred and fifty-one patients with 370 unruptured MCA aneurysms underwent EVT were included in this study. Seventy-three aneurysms (19.7%) were treated by coiling without stent, 297 (80.3%) with stent-assisted coiling. The procedures were performed with a technical success rate of 100%. Procedure-related neurological complications occurred in 15 patients (4.1%), including 1 patient died from post-procedural stent thrombosis. Age ≥ 65 years (P = 0.039; OR = 3.400; 95% CI, 1.065–10.860) and aneurysm size ≥ 5 mm (P = 0.009; OR = 15.524; 95% CI, 1.988–121.228) were significantly associated with ischemic complications of EVT. Three hundred and six aneurysms were (87.2%) completed image follow-up (235 DSA and 71 CE-MRA). The median angiographic follow-up time were 7.0 ± 4.3 months (range from 1 to 88 months). Follow-up angiograms showed that 249 aneurysms (81.4%) were completed occluded, 29 aneurysms (9.5%) were improved, 17 aneurysms (5.6%) were stable, and 11 aneurysms (3.6%) were recanalized and 10 of them accepted retreatments. Aneurysm size ≥ 10 mm was a predictor of recanalization (P = 0.004; OR = 11.213; 95% CI, 2.127–59.098) and stent-assisted coiling can significantly reduce recanalization (P = 0.004; OR = 0.105; 95% CI, 0.023–0.479). EVT is a safe and effective therapeutics for unruptured MCA aneurysms management, and provides durable aneurysm occlusion rate during follow-up. Large MCA aneurysms have higher recurrence and ischemic complications risk after EVT. Stent-assisted coiling can significantly reduce the recurrence rate without increasing the risk of complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To evaluate safety and efficacy of endovascular treatment of middle cerebral artery dissecting aneurysms (MCADAs). Methods Between July 2009 and April 2016, 14 patients with MCADAs received endovascular treatment. MCADAs were identified by their unique radiographic features on cerebral angiography. Baseline characteristics, angiographic features, and angiographic and clinical outcomes were analyzed retrospectively. Results All 14 MCADAs (including 6 ruptured and 8 unruptured) were successfully treated with the endovascular approach. Stent-assisted coiling was used in 12 cases, coil alone in 1 case, and parent vessel occlusion in 1 case. Angiographic follow-up data were available for all patients at 6 months after treatment. Of 14 MCADAs, 10 were completely occluded, and 4 were improved (near occlusion). All parent arteries and covered perforators remained patent in the non–parent vessel occlusion group. No ischemic strokes or other complications were observed at 1-year clinical follow-up. Conclusions Our data suggest that endovascular treatment of MCADAs appears to be safe and effective. The choice of treatment method needs to be individualized. Larger studies are required to evaluate these promising results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]