In Vitro Head-to-Head Comparison of Flow Reduction between Fibered and Non-Fibered Pushable Coils / 신경중재치료의학

Purpose@#To compare the embolization effects of a non-fibered pushable coil with a conventional fibered pushable coil in an in vitro bench-top experiment. @*Materials and Methods@#A simplified vascular phantom with 4 channels (1 for the non-fibered coil, 1 for the fibered coil, and 2 for continuous circuit flow) was used. A single coil of the longest length was inserted to evaluate the effect of single-coil embolization, and 3 consecutive coils were inserted to assess the effect of multiple-coil embolization. Post-embolization angiography was performed to obtain flow variables (time to peak [TTP], relative peak intensity [rPI], and angiographic flow reduction score [AFRS]) from time density curves. The packing densities of the two coil types were calculated, and the AFRS of each channel was determined by dividing the TTP by the rPI. @*Results@#When inserting a single coil, the conventional fibered coil demonstrated better flow reduction, as indicated by a higher AFRS (25.6 vs. 17.4, P=0.034). However, the non-fibered coil exhibited a significantly higher packing density (12.9 vs. 2.4, P=0.001). Similar trends were observed with multiple coils. @*Conclusion@#The conventional fibered pushable coil showed better flow reduction efficiency, while the non-fibered pushable coil had a higher packing density, likely due to the flexibility of the coil loops. A better understanding of the distinct characteristics of different pushable coils can enhance the outcomes of various vascular embolization.

Optimal Guiding Catheter Length for Endovascular Coiling of Intracranial Aneurysms in Anterior Circulation in Era of Flourishing Distal Access System / 신경중재치료의학

PURPOSE: To determine the minimum required guiding catheter length for embolization of various intracranial aneurysms in anterior circulation and to analyze the effect of various patient factors on the required catheter length and potential interaction with its stability. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From December 2016 to March 2017, 90 patients with 93 anterior circulation aneurysms were enrolled. Three types of guiding catheters (Envoy, Envoy DA, and Envoy DA XB; Codman Neurovascular, Raynham, MA, USA) were used. We measured the in-the-body length of the catheter and checked the catheter tip location in the carotid artery. We analyzed factors affecting the in-the-body length and stability of the guiding catheter system. RESULTS: The average (±standard deviation) in-the-body length of the catheter was 84.2±5.9 cm. The length was significantly longer in men (89.1±5.6 vs. 82.1±4.6 cm, P<0.001), patients older than 65 years (87.7±7.8 vs. 82.7±4.2 cm, P<0.001), patients with a more tortuous arch (arch type 2 and 3) (87.5±7.4 vs. 82.7±4.4 cm, P<0.001), and patients with a distal aneurysm location (distal group) (86.2±5.0 vs. 82.7±6.1 cm, P=0.004). A shift in the tip location was noted in 19 patients (20.4%); there was no significant different among the 3 catheters (P=0.942). CONCLUSION: The minimum required length of a guiding catheter was 84 cm on average for elective anterior-circulation aneurysm embolization. The length increased in men older than 65 years with a more tortuous arch. We could reach a higher position with distal access catheters with little difference in the stability once we reached the target location.

Outpatient Day-care Neuroangiography and Neurointervention of Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysms / 신경중재치료의학

PURPOSE: Day-care management of unruptured intracranial aneurysms can shorten hospital stay, reduce medical cost and improve outcome. We present the process, outcome and duration of hospital stay for the management of unruptured intracranial aneurysms via a neurointervention clinic in a single center during the past four years. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed 403 patients who were referred to Neurointervention Clinic at Asan Medical Center for aneurysm evaluation between January 1, 2011 and December 31, 2014. There were 141 (41%) diagnostic catheter angiographies, 202 (59%) neurointerventional procedures and 2 (0.6%) neurointerventional procedures followed by operation. We analyzed the process, outcome of angiography or neurointervention, and duration of hospital stay. RESULTS: There was no aneurysm in 58 patients who were reported as having an aneurysm in MRA or CTA (14 %). Among 345 patients with aneurysm, there were 283 patients with a single aneurysm (82%) and 62 patients with multiple aneurysms (n=62, 18%). Aneurysm coiling was performed in 202 patients (59%), surgical clipping in 14 patients (4%), coiling followed by clipping in 2 patients (0.6%) and no intervention was required in 127 patients (37%). The hospital stay for diagnostic angiography was less than 6 hours and the mean duration of hospital stay was 2.1 days for neurointervention. There were 4 procedure-related adverse events (2%) including 3 minor and 1 major ischemic strokes. CONCLUSION: Our study revealed that day-care management of unruptured intracranial aneurysms could be performed without an additional risk. It could enable rapid patient flow, shorten hospital stay and thus reduce hospital costs.

Outpatient (Same-day care) Neuroangiography and Neurointervention / 신경중재치료의학

PURPOSE: There have been few reports regarding same-day discharge following uncomplicated procedures such as cerebral angiography and neurointervention. We present same-day experience with cerebral angiography and neurointervention during the past three years. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four hundred and fifty-three patients underwent cerebral angiography or neurointervention at Asan Medical Center between January 2009 and December 2011. Of these patients, 249 (55%) underwent diagnostic catheter cerebral angiography and 204 patients (45%) underwent neurointerventional procedures as same-day procedures. We analyzed any complications, the modified patient-care process, the yearly trend in patient increases, disease categories, and the additional duration of admission for these procedures. RESULTS: The number of overall patients increased by an average of 51% annually. The disease categories included aneurysm (51%), atherosclerosis (11%) and arteriovenous malformation (10%), etc. for which the patient underwent angiography, and aneurysm (42%), venous malformation (28%), and arteriovenous malformation (17%), etc. for which patients underwent neurointervention. Same-day care patients were admitted to the intermediary care unit in the angiosuite. Neurointervention patients were sent to the neurology intensive unit after the procedure. The same-day care patients stayed in angiosuite for six hours following the transfemoral procedure. The mean admission duration for neurointervention was 2.4 days. There were no reported complications for the same-day care procedures. CONCLUSION: Our study revealed an increasing tendency toward same-day care for patients who require angiography and neurointervention. Further studies will be required to better define the cost-minimization effects of outpatient practice as well as the patient perception of this fast-tracking method. We propose that outpatient angiography and neurointervention will undoubtedly continue to increase over the next decade.