Angiographic Recurrence after Endovascular Coil Embolization for Intracranial Aneurysm / 대한뇌혈관외과학회지

OBJECTIVE: We have investigated the risk factors associated with angiographic recurrence of intracranial aneurysms after endovascular coil embolization in a retrospective manner. METHODS: From January 2000 to June 2005, 128 aneurysms in 114 patients were treated with coil embolization. Among them, 54 aneurysms in 51 patients were followed by repeated intraarterial angiography at 6, 12, 18, and 24 months post-embolization. Recurrence was defined when either coil compaction or aneurysm regrowth was identified on follow-up angiography. Patients were divided into stable and recurred groups according to angiographic recurrence. Clinical parameters, anatomical factors, and the degree of occlusion were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: The overall recurrence rate was 29% in our study. The diameter of the largest dimension of the fundus was larger in the recurred group of patients as compared to the stable group of patients (7.33+/-2.26 mm vs. 5.87+/-1.93mm, p = 0.048), and a significant rate of recurrence was seen in fundus size of the same or greater than 10 mm (41.7% vs 14.3%, p = 0.038). The coil packing density was significantly smaller in the recurred group of patients (p = 0.002), with a recurrence rate of 47.0% in cases with a coil packing density below 25% (p = 0.017). CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed that maximum aneurysm fundus size and coil packing density had a close correlation to recurrence. However, a larger number of patients with longer observation times may be needed to define the risk factors affecting angiographic recurrence.

Perfusion Computed Tomography and Trancranial Doppler in Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage / 대한뇌혈관외과학회지

OBJECT: This study is designed to estimate the clinical usefulness of perfusion computed tomography (perfusion CT) as an easily accessible tool to evaluate cerebral blood flow (CBF) in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. METHOD: Twenty patients with aneurysmal spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage who underwent either aneurysmal neck clipping or interventional coil embolization and who also had taken transcranial doppler study and perfusion CT were included as study group. And as a control group, fifteen patients without neurologic deficit were studied with the same devices. We compared the cerebral blood flow (CBF), cerebral blood volume (CBV) and mean transit time (MTT) from obtained perfusion CT with the results of transcranial doppler and clinical course. RESULTS: CBF parameters of perfusion CT in control group showed close accordance with those values of reported xenon CT and positron emission tomography data. In doppler study, the blood flow velocity was higher in cases with vasospasm than without it (p=0.027). There showed significant relationship between vasospasm and perfusion CT parameters, as decrease in CBF (p=0.061) and increase in MTT (p=0.013). Perfusion CT parameters were closely correlated with TCD parameters in clinical vasospasm as reverse correlation in CBF (R2=0.45) and positive in MTT (R2=0.58). CONCLUSION: The cerebral blood flow parameters of Perfusion CT showed reliable and accurate values in control group. The perfusion CT and TCD can be used as easily accessible non-invasive tools to evaluate cerebral blood flow parameters in clinical settings of patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.

First-Pass Perfusion Computed Tomography and Transcranial Doppler in Hydrocephalus / 대한뇌혈관외과학회지

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study are clinical application of perfusion computed tomography (perfusion CT) in hydrocephalus and comparison its cerebral blood flow parameters with transcranial doppler (TCD) and clinical outcome. METHOD: 25 patients with hydrocephalus took pre- and postoperative perfusion CT and TCD. 15 patients without neurologic deficit were also examined with same protocol as a control. Blood flow parameters of perfusion CT, such as cerebral blood flow (CBF), cerebral blood volume (CBV) and mean transit time (MTT) were analyzed according to clinical status and postoperative outcome. So did the TCD parameters, mean flow velocity (mFv) and pulsatility index (PI) with regard to clinical outcome. RESULTS: Perfusion CT parameters of the hydrocephalus showed decrease in CBF (gray matter P=0.035, periventricular region P=0.042) and increase in MTT (gray matter P=0.039, periventricular region P=0.045) compared to control. In postoperative improvement group, there noted reversal of perfusion parameters close to those of the control. TCD parameters showed increase in mFv (P=0.047), and decrease in PI (P=0.042) in cases with improvement. CONCLUSION: Perfusion brain CT and TCD can used as clinically useful tools to predict the postoperative outcome on hydrocephalus.

The Efficacy and Benefits of Transcatheter Arterial Embolization (TAE) in Patients with Blunt Splenic Injury

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy and benefits of transcatheter arterial embolization(TAE) in patients with blunt splenic injury after blunt abdominal trauma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the results of transcatheter arterial embolization in 23 patients who suffered splenic injury after blunt abdominal trauma. Fourteen of the patients were male, and 9 were female; 13 were adults, and 10 were children. Transcatheter arterial embolization was performed in patients with hypotension, tachycardia, evidence of hemodynamic instability due, for example, to low levels of Hgb and Hct, or those who needed fluid therapy or blood transfusion. After embolization the patients 'progress was monitored by CT scanning, abdominal sonography, or 99mTc-sulfur colloid scintigraphy. RESULTS: The degree of splenic injury was classified according to the system devised by Mirvis et al.; nine cases were CT grade III, and 14 were grade IV. After demonstrating angiographically the site of contrast leakage, embolization was performed; for this, a coil only was used in 16 cases, gelfoam only in four, and both coil and gelfoam in three. There were three sites of vascular embolization: 16 procedures were performed in the proxi-mal part of the main trunk of the splenic artery, four in a superselected branch of this same artery, and three in both the splenic artery and one of its superselected branches. Of the 23 cases, 18 recovered without splenectomy after embolization, three adult patients died from coexisting conditions (spinal or cerebral injuries, liver cir-rhosis, or pelvic bone fracture) or complications(acute renal failure or disseminated intravascular coagulation). Due to co-existing pancreatic and mesenteric vessel injury, two of the adult patients who underwent TAE also underwent delayed surgery; intraoperatively, there was no evidence of splenic rebleeding. In all patients who did not undergo surgery, follow-up observation revealed a decreased volume of hemoperitoneum, increased uptake of radionuclide in the spleen, and no evidence of rebleeding. CONCLUSION: Transcatheter angiography and arterial embolization in patients with splenic injuries who showed hemodynamic instability and a high CT grade is a non-surgical approach that can achieve early hemostasis and hemodynamic stability. Another benefit of this procedure is the preservation of splenic function.

Arterial Embolization for Management of Hemoptysis

PURPOSE: Our purpose in this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of bronchial and nonbronchial systemic arteries for the control of hemoptysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy patients with massive or recurrent hemoptysis underwent percutaneous transcatheter embolotherapy between 1991 and 1993. Retrospectively we reviewed 77 cases of bronchial artery embotization and 32 cases of nonbronchial systemic artery embolization in the 70 patients. RESULTS: Immdiate control of hemoptysis was achieved in 33 of 39 patients with massive hemoptysis(84.6%) and 20 of 24 patients with recurrent hemopt ysis(83.3%). In 32 cases, nonbronchial systemic arteries contributed significantly to areas of pathologic pulmonary tissue and frequently were the major arterial supply. CONCLUSION: Bronchial artery embolization is an effective and life saving procedure in non-surgical candidates. Recognition and occlusion of nonbronchial systemic arteries that feed to hypervascular pulmonary lesions is essential for successful percutaneous embolotherapy of hemoptysis.