ABSTRACT
The prevalence of aneurysm formation in adults with Moyamoya disease (MMD) is higher than that in the general population. The treatment strategy is often individualized based on the patient’s disease characteristics. A 22-year-old man was diagnosed with MMD after presenting a small thalamic intracerebral and subarachnoid hemorrhage in the quadrigeminal cistern. Cerebral angiography revealed a small aneurysm (2.42 mm) in the left anterior choroidal artery. Since the hemodynamics in the left hemisphere was compromised, an indirect bypass surgery was performed. The patient’s condition deteriorated postoperatively because of poor perfusion of the internal carotid artery, and massive hydration was required. During neurocritical care, the aneurysm increased in size (5.33 mm). An observation strategy was adopted because of the distal aneurysmal location and the high risk involved. Subsequently, the patient recovered, and newly developed collateral flow appeared from the external carotid artery. Additionally, a dramatic size reduction of the aneurysm (1.51 mm) was noticed. Our case suggests that MMD-related dissecting aneurysms on a distal cerebral artery, which present a high risk of embolization, could be managed by indirectly reducing the hemodynamic burden. Massive hydration in such cases should be avoided or balanced to avoid the risk of rapid growth and aneurysm rupture.
ABSTRACT
Objective@#: The etiology of angiographically occult spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage (AOsSAH) is unclear. Threedimensional (3D) high-resolution vessel wall magnetic resonance imaging (HVM) might be useful in detecting the hidden arterial wall angiopathy in patients with AOsSAH. We aimed to demonstrate the feasibility of HVM for detecting the arterial cause of AOsSAH. @*Methods@#: Patients, who were diagnosed with AOsSAH in the first evaluations and underwent HVM, were enrolled. Their clinical and radiologic data were retrospectively reviewed. Especially, focal enhancement of arterial wall on HVM and repetitive catheterized angiograms were precisely compared. @*Results@#: Among 251 patients with spontaneous SAH, 22 patients were diagnosed with AOsSAH in the first evaluations (8.76%). After excluding three patients who did not undergo 3D-HVM, 19 patients were enrolled and classified as convexal (n=2) or perimesencephalic (n=4), and diffuse (n=13) groups. In convexal and perimesencephalic groups, no focal enhancement on HVM and no positive findings on repetitive angiography were noted. In diffuse group, 10 patients showed focal enhancement of arterial wall on HVM (10/13, 76.9%). Repeated angiography with 3D reconstruction revealed four patients of angiographically positive causative arteriopathy and possible lesion in one case in the concordant location of intramural enhancement on 3D-HVM (5/10, 50%). Three of them were treated with endovascular stent insertion. All patients, except one, recovered with good clinical outcome (3-month modified Rankin score, 0 and 1). @*Conclusion@#: 3D-HVM was useful in detecting hidden true arteriopathy in AOsSAH. It may provide new insights into the etiologic investigation of AOsSAH by proving information about the arterial wall status.
ABSTRACT
Objective@#: Given the high risk of rebleeding and recurrence of blood blister-like aneurysms (BBAs), we treated ruptured BBAs of the internal carotid artery (ICA) with stent-assisted coil embolization (SAC). This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of SACs. @*Methods@#: We retrospectively reviewed clinical and radiological data from eight patients with ruptured BBAs of the supraclinoid ICA. The modified Rankin Scale (mRS) was used to assess clinical outcomes, while radiological outcomes were evaluated on angiographs. For a pooled analysis, data from literature reporting the outcomes of ruptured BBAs treated with SAC were collected and analyzed in conjunction with our data. @*Results@#: In our cohort, the mean Raymond classification score was 1.57±0.53 immediately after initial endovascular treatment. There were no perioperative complications or rebleeding events during the follow-up period. The mean mRS score at patient discharge was 1.00±0.81 and improved to 0.28±0.48 by the last follow-up day. The recurrence rate was 25% with an asymptomatic presentation and successful treatment with multiple stent insertion. Pooled analysis of 76 cases of SAC revealed a complete occlusion rate immediately after treatment of 54.8%, rebleeding rate 7.94%, and recurrence rate 24.2%. Good clinical outcomes with mRS score 0–2 were observed in 89.9% by the last clinical follow-up. Total mortality rate was 7.7%. @*Conclusion@#: This treatment appears to not only minimize the hemodynamic burden on the fragile dome specific to this type of aneurysm, but also provides an opportunity for safe and effective treatment in recurrent cases.
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE@#Cranioplasty (CP) is often required for survival after decompressive craniectomy. Several materials, including autologous bone and various artificial materials, have been introduced for CP, but it remains unclear which material is best for CP. This study aimed to explore differences in complications between patients who underwent CP using an autologous bone flap versus a three-dimensional (3D) titanium mesh and to identify significant risk factors for post-CP complications.@*METHODS@#In total, 44 patients were enrolled in this study and divided into two groups (autologous bone vs. 3D titanium mesh). In both groups, various post-CP complications were evaluated. Through a comparative analysis, we aimed to identify differences in complications between the two groups and, using binary logistic analysis, to determine significant factors associated with complications after CP.@*RESULTS@#In the autologous bone flap group, there were three cases of surgical infection (3/24, 12.5%) and 11 cases of bone flap resorption (BFR) (11/24, 45.83%). In the 3D titanium mesh group, there was only one case of surgical infection (1/20, 5%) and 11 cases of various complications, including mainly cosmetic issues (11/20, 55%). A subgroup risk factor analysis of CP with an autologous bone f lap showed no risk factors that predicted BFR with statistical significance, although a marginal association was found between larger bone flaps and BFR (odds ratio [OR]=1.037, p=0.090). In patients treated with a 3D titanium mesh, multivariate analysis revealed that only the existence of a ventriculo-peritoneal shunt system was strongly associated with overall post-CP complications (OR=18.66, p=0.021).@*CONCLUSIONS@#Depending on which material was used, different complications couldoccur, and the rate of complications was relatively high in both groups. Hence, thematerial selected for CP should be selected based on individual patients' conditions.