First-Pass Recanalization with EmboTrap II in Acute Ischemic Stroke (FREE-AIS): A Multicenter Prospective Study

Objective@#We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of EmboTrap II in terms of first-pass recanalization and to determine whether it could yield favorable outcomes. @*Materials and Methods@#In this multicenter, prospective study, we consecutively enrolled patients who underwent mechanical thrombectomy using EmboTrap II as a front-line device. The primary outcome was the first pass effect (FPE) rate defined by modified Thrombolysis In Cerebral Infarction (mTICI) grade 2c or 3 by the first pass of EmboTrap II. In addition, modified FPE (mFPE; mTICI grade 2b–3 by the first pass of EmboTrap II), successful recanalization (final mTICI grade 2b–3), and clinical outcomes were assessed. We also analyzed the effect of FPE on a modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score of 0–2 at 3 months. @*Results@#Two hundred-ten patients (mean age ± standard deviation, 73.3 ± 11.4 years; male, 55.7%) were included. Ninetynine patients (47.1%) had FPE, and mFPE was achieved in 150 (71.4%) patients. Successful recanalization was achieved in 191 (91.0%) patients. Among them, 164 (85.9%) patients underwent successful recanalization by exclusively using EmboTrap II. The time from groin puncture to FPE was 25.0 minutes (interquartile range, 17.0–35.0 minutes). Procedure-related complications were observed in seven (3.3%) patients. Symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage developed in 14 (6.7%) patients. One hundred twenty-three (58.9% of 209 completely followed) patients had an mRS score of 0–2. Sixteen (7.7% of 209) patients died during the follow-up period. Patients who had successful recanalization with FPE were four times more likely to have an mRS score of 0–2 than those who had successful recanalization without FPE (adjusted odds ratio, 4.13;95% confidence interval, 1.59–10.8; p = 0.004). @*Conclusion@#Mechanical thrombectomy using the front-line EmboTrap II is effective and safe. In particular, FPE rates were high. Achieving FPE was important for an mRS score of 0–2, even in patients with successful recanalization.

Characteristics and Management of Residual or Slowly Recurred Intracranial Aneurysms

OBJECTIVE: Residual aneurysm from incomplete clipping or slowly recurrent aneurysm is associated with high risk of subarachnoid hemorrhage. We describe complete treatment of the lesions by surgical clipping or endovascular treatment. METHODS: We analyzed 11 patients of residual or recurrent aneurysms who had undergone surgical clipping from 1998 to 2009. Among them, 5 cases were initially clipped at our hospital. The others were referred from other hospitals after clipping. The radiologic and medical records were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: All patients presented with subarachnoid hemorrhage at first time, and the most frequent location of the ruptured residual or recurrent aneurysm was in the anterior communicating artery to posterior-superior direction. Distal anterior cerebral artery, posterior communicating artery, and middle cerebral artery was followed. Repositioning of clipping in eleven cases, and one endovascular treatment were performed. No residual aneurysm was found in postoperative angiography, and no complication was noted in related to the operations. CONCLUSION: These results indicate the importance of postoperative or follow up angiography and that reoperation of residual or slowly recurrent aneurysm should be tried if such lesions being found. Precise evaluation and appropriate planning including endovascular treatment should be performed for complete obliteration of the residual or recurrent aneurysm.

Recycling of Cervical Artificial Disc for the Symptomatic Adjacent Segment Disorder Combined with Instability on Total Disc Replacement Area: A Case Report

The authors describe the revision case of a 58-year-old man who presented with pain in the neck and both shoulders after C4-5 cervical total disc replacement (C-TDR) and C5-6 anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF), and in whom there was evidence of instability with sagittal translation at the C4-5 TDR level and of a herniated cervical disc (HCD) at the left side of C3-4. The revision surgery was performed as follows: previous plate removal at the C5-6 level, artificial disc removal and ACDF at the C4-5 level with cage and previous plate insertion, and TDR at the C3-4 level using the previously implanted C4/5 artificial disc. If instability develops at the level of an artificial disc, we perform additional posterior fusion or anterior removal of the artificial disc and fusion. However, if we encounter combined adjacent segment disc disease, we may reuse the unstable segment artificial disc at the adjacent segment and perform salvage anterior fusion on the unstable segment. This is the first report issued on the management of instability after previous C-TDR involving a switch to ACDF and the use of new TDR at the adjacent level. Furthermore, we conceptually recommend a solution to an emerging problem of adjacent segment disease due to the heterotopic ossification(HO) after C-TDR.