Clinical experience with Matrix2 360 degrees coils in the treatment of 100 intracranial aneurysms.

BACKGROUND: The M2-360 degrees is a recent class of aneurysm coil. This device combines the second generation of bioactive copolymer coating, which is intended to promote aneurysm fibrosis, with the "360 degrees " design, which is meant to improve uniformity and density of packing. This study evaluates the safety and angiographic stability of these devices. METHODS: This was a retrospective review of 86 consecutive patients with 100 intracranial aneurysms that were treated using M2-360 degrees s. Follow-up was done at 6 and 12 months. RESULTS: Seventy-eight aneurysms were coiled solely with M2-360 degrees s, and 22 aneurysms were treated with a combination of coils. In mixed-coil cases, the average percentage of coil volume consisting of M2-360 degrees coils was 78%. Procedure-related neurologic complications occurred in 6 patients (7%). Initial complete occlusion was obtained in 80 aneurysms. Of 76 aneurysms with 6-month angiographic follow-up, 4 (5.3%) revealed further occlusion, 54 (71.1%) were unchanged, and 18 (23.7%) showed recanalization. Of 38 aneurysms with 12-month follow-up, 1 (2.6%) revealed further occlusion, 23 (60.5%) were unchanged, and 14 (36.8%) showed recanalization. Six- and 12-month angiograms showed major recanalization (requiring further coiling) in 3.9% and 15.8% of cases, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The risk of complications with M2-360 degrees -treated aneurysms is comparable with reports of other coils, indicating that M2-360 degrees s are relatively safe. Although the initial occlusion rate is higher than that in other coiling series, recanalization rates were similar to those obtained with other coil designs. This study does not demonstrate an advantage with M2-360 degrees s.

Arterial compression of the retro-olivary sulcus of the ventrolateral medulla in essential hypertension and diabetes.

Pulsatile arterial compression in the retro-olivary sulcus along the surface of the ventrolateral medulla has been postulated as a mechanism in both essential hypertension and diabetes. The objective of this study was to test the independent effect of arterial compression in the retro-olivary sulcus on each of these diseases, using separate logistic regression models to control for other known risk factors. Study design was case-control. The study population consisted of 147 consecutive patients treated for neurological conditions requiring MRI of the posterior cranial fossa. Information on essential hypertension, diabetes, and risk factors for each disease was abstracted from medical records. Presence of arterial compression was determined by blinded review of magnetic resonance images. In the essential hypertension analysis, odds of arterial compression among hypertensive patients were 2.99-times the odds among normotensive subjects (P=0.04), controlling for hypertension risk factors such as age, body mass index, race, diabetes, and family history of hypertension. Of compressed hypertensive subjects, 56% were compressed on the left and 44% were compressed on the right. In the diabetes analysis, odds of arterial compression among diabetic subjects were 1.14-times the odds among nondiabetic subjects (P=0.83). Of compressed diabetic subjects, 60% were compressed on the left, and 40% were compressed on the right. Results suggest that arterial compression of the retro-olivary sulcus may be an independent risk factor for essential hypertension in this population, supporting the postulate for a treatable (with microvascular decompression) neural mechanism for essential hypertension. However, in the diabetic population, the slight increase in the odds of arterial compression was not significant.