Disparities among neurointerventionalists suggest further investigation of conscious sedation versus general anesthesia during thrombectomy for acute stroke.

INTRODUCTION: Prior retrospective and case-control studies have shown that the use of general anesthesia (GA) during endovascular therapy (EVT) for acute ischemic stroke with large vessel occlusion (AIS-LVO) was independently associated with poor clinical outcomes compared with cases performed under conscious sedation (CS). Conversely, recent small randomized clinical trials (RCT) demonstrated a trend toward better outcome in cases performed under GA. METHODS: We submitted an online survey to 193 Society of Vascular Interventional Neurology and 78 American Association of Neurological Surgeons and Congress of Neurological Surgeons - Cerebrovascular Section neuroendovascular practitioners. Questions were aimed at understanding the current state of anesthesia practice during EVT, and to determine if there is clinical equipoise for a large multicenter RCT comparing GA versus CS during EVT. RESULTS: Between March and May of 2017, we received 116 (43%) responses. Anesthesiologists were responsible for managing 96% of the GA cases as compared to only 51% of the CS cases (P < 0.0001). Notable 56% of providers reported performing less than a quarter of their cases under GA. Only 7% performed all cases under GA compared with 17% who used solely CS (P = 0.048). More than half of respondents thought a new RCT was necessary, of whom 61% were interested in participating. Among interested responders, 59% were located in centers with 3 or more neurointerventionalists. CONCLUSION: The significant variation among neuroendovascular providers, added with the lack of consensus among recent trials and meta-analyses, demonstrate clinical equipoise for further studies to explore the effects of anesthesia during EVT in AIS-LVO.

Utility of skull X-rays in identifying recurrence of coiled cerebral aneurysms.

OBJECTIVE: A high rate of cerebral aneurysm recurrence following endovascular coiling has prompted the use of digital subtraction angiography (DSA) for interval follow-up. However, the utility of skull x-rays as an alternative screening method for aneurysm recurrence is unproperly characterized. METHODS: Retrospective review of a prospective registry of ruptured and unruptured cerebral aneurysms. Anteroposterior and lateral skull x-rays were obtained immediately at the end of the procedure and at 6-month follow-up. Aneurysm recurrence was defined by comparing post-procedure and 6-month DSA imaging. A true positive was defined as a change in coil mass morphology on at least one projection with aneurysm recurrence on DSA, and a true negative defined as a stable coil mass on both projections and no recurrence on DSA. Receiver operating characteristic area under the curve (AUC) statistics was used to assess the performance of skull x-rays in identifying aneurysm recurrence. RESULTS: A total of 118 cerebral aneurysms were evaluated with DSA imaging and skull x-rays. A change in coil mass morphology on one projection of skull x-rays correctly detected all true recurrences with a sensitivity of 100% (95% confidence interval [CI], 91-100%). Skull x-rays failed to identify a stable aneurysm coil mass in 15 cases, with a specificity of 79% (68-88%). Skull x-rays performed with AUC 0.8958 (95% CI, 0.8490-0.9431) in identifying aneurysm recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of our study suggest that skull x-rays may represent a lowcost, non-invasive screening tool to rule out aneurysm recurrence, which can potentially aid in decreasing the utilization of DSA in the follow-up of patients with coiled cerebral aneurysms.

Use of single versus multiple vasodilator agents in the treatment of cerebral vasospasm: is more better than less?

BACKGROUND: Patients with cerebral vasospasm caused by aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) are often treated with intra-arterial (IA) vasodilator infusion. However, the optimal drug regimen is yet to be elucidated. METHODS: A retrospective review of patients with aSAH and cerebral vasospasm treated with IA vasodilator infusion was performed. Patients in group 1 (2008-2011) were treated with a single agent, either nicardipine or verapamil, and patients in group 2 (2010-2016) were treated with a regimen of nitroglycerin, verapamil, and nicardipine. The post-infusion improvement ratio (PIIR) was compared between groups. Adjusted multivariate logistic regression models were utilized to determine whether patients treated with multiple vasodilators had an improved functional outcome, defined by the modified Rankin Scale, at discharge and 90-day follow-up. RESULTS: Among 116 patients from group 1 (N = 47) and group 2 (N = 69), the median age was 54.5 years [IQR, 46-53 years] and 78% were female. Use of multiple-agent therapy resulted in a 24.36% improvement in vessel diameter over single-agent therapy (median PIIR: group 1, 10.5% [IQR, 5.3-21.1%] vs group 2, 34.9% [IQR, 21.4-66.0%]; p < 0.0001). In the adjusted multivariate logistic regression, the use of multiple-agent therapy was associated with a better functional outcome at discharge (OR 0.15, 95% CI [0.04-0.55]; p < 0.01) and at 90-day follow-up (OR 0.20, 95% CI [0.05-0.77]; p < 0.05) when compared to single-agent therapy. CONCLUSION: In this study, we found that patients treated for cerebral vasospasm with IA infusion of multiple vasodilators had an increased vessel response and better functional outcomes compared to those treated with a single agent.

Exception from informed consent in the era of social media: The SEGA stroke trial experience.

INTRODUCTION: Patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) and neurologic deficits are often unable to provide consent and excluded from emergency research participation. Experiences with exception from informed consent (EFIC) to facilitate research on potentially life-saving emergency interventions are limited. Here, we describe our multifaceted approach to EFIC approval for an ongoing randomized clinical trial that compares sedation versus general anesthesia (SEGA) approaches for endovascular thrombectomy during AIS. METHODS: We published a university clinical trial website with EFIC information. We initiated a social media campaign on Facebook within a 50 mile radius of Texas Medical Center. Advertisements were linked to our website, and a press release was issued with information about the trial. In-person community consultations were performed, and voluntary survey information was collected. RESULTS: A total of 193 individuals (65% female, age 46.7 ± 16.6 years) participated in seven focus group community consultations. Of the 144 (75%) that completed surveys, 88.7% agreed that they would be willing to have themselves or family enrolled in this trial under EFIC. Facebook advertisements had 134,481 (52% females; 60% ≥45 years old) views followed by 1,630 clicks to learn more. The website had 1130 views (56% regional and 44% national) with an average of 3.85 min spent. Our Institutional Review Board received zero e-mails requesting additional information or to optout. CONCLUSION: Our social media campaign and community consultation methods provide a significant outreach to potential stroke patients. We hope that our experience will inform and help future efforts for trials seeking EFIC.

A safer endovascular technique for pre-operative embolization of juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma: avoiding the pitfalls of external carotid artery - internal carotid artery anastomoses.

Intra-arterial embolization of juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma (JNA) prior to surgical resection is the preferred approach to minimize blood loss during surgical resection of the tumor. However, the presence of external carotid artery-internal carotid artery (ECA-ICA) anastomoses may hinder complete tumor embolization due to the associated risk for embolic complications. Here, we evaluate the use of a balloon-assisted embolization (BAE) technique in the treatment of JNA. We conducted a retrospective review of JNA patients who underwent tumor embolization with injection of Onyx in a single session between 2013-2018. All cases displayed tumor arterial supply from ECA and ICA circulations on 2-D catheter angiograms. Procedural and surgical outcome data were analyzed. Results are given as mean±standard deviation (range). Among 9 patients with JNA, all were males and mean age was 14.1±6.3 years (range, 9-29 years). The mean tumor volume embolization was 84.4±12.4% (range, 60-100%) and in 89% patients ≥80% of tumor volume embolization was achieved. There were no embolization-related complications reported. During surgical resection of the tumor there was a low average surgical blood loss of 722±651.5 mL (range, 50-2,000 mL) and the mean procedure time was 282.6±85.4 mins (range, 151-403 mins). In this series, the BAE technique showed to be a safe and effective approach to achieve successful tumor embolization while avoiding embolic complications and effectively reducing the risk for blood loss during surgical resection.

Antiplatelet therapy for the prevention of peri-coiling thromboembolism in high-risk patients with ruptured intracranial aneurysms.

OBJECTIVE The most frequent procedural complication of the endovascular treatment of intracranial aneurysms is a thromboembolic event (TEE); in a subset of patients, such events will cause permanent neurological disability. In patients with unruptured aneurysms, increasing evidence supports the use of periprocedural antiplatelet therapy to prevent TEEs. The object of this study was to evaluate whether patients with ruptured aneurysms and subarachnoid hemorrhage would also benefit from periprocedural antiplatelet therapy. METHODS The authors reviewed a prospective registry of 169 patients with endovascularly treated intracranial aneurysms to delineate angiographic features associated with periprocedural TEEs. They then performed a controlled before-and-after study in 79 patients with ruptured aneurysms who were deemed to be at high risk for TEEs (for example, patients with at least 1 angiographic feature associated with TEEs) to evaluate whether selective aspirin administration would reduce the rate of periprocedural thromboembolism without increasing major hemorrhagic complications. RESULTS Six angiographic features were associated with periprocedural TEEs in the study cohort: wide aneurysm neck, coil or loop protrusion, small parent artery diameter, an incorporated branch, intraprocedural thrombus formation, and intracranial parent vessel atherosclerosis. Aspirin administration to high-risk patients significantly decreased the rate of periprocedural TEEs, from 53.8% in the control group to 10.6% in the aspirin-treated group (p = 0.001). The reduction in TEEs in the aspirin-treated group continued to be statistically significant even when adjusted for age, sex, cardiovascular risk factors (smoking, diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, coronary artery disease), and factors associated with TEEs in other large studies (wide aneurysm neck, aneurysm size ≥ 10 mm), with an adjusted OR of 0.16 (95% CI 0.03-0.8). There were no major systemic hemorrhagic complications, and aspirin did not increase the risk of aneurysm rebleeding, symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage, or major external ventricular drain (EVD)-associated hemorrhage (p = 0.3), though there was an increase in asymptomatic, minor (< 1 cm) EVD-associated hemorrhage in the aspirin-treated group (p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS The study findings suggest that for ruptured aneurysm patients with high-risk features, antiplatelet therapy can significantly reduce the rate of periprocedural TEE without increasing major systemic or intracranial hemorrhages.

Efficacy of a Self-Expandable Porous Stent as the Sole Curative Treatment for Extracranial Carotid Pseudoaneurysms.

OBJECTIVE: Extracranial carotid pseudoaneurysms are uncommon vascular lesions. Even with conservative management complications can happen, such as delayed cerebral embolization or symptoms due to flow limitation. Although endovascular therapy can be curative, literature demonstrating a preferred technique is scant. Our goal was to evaluate the use of 1 technique only-the deployment of overlapping self-expandable porous stents-to treat a series of extracranial carotid pseudoaneurysms. METHODS: From 2008 to 2014, 14 consecutive cases of symptomatic extracranial carotid pseudoaneurysms were managed with single or multilayer porous stents at our institution. Each patient underwent a standardized angiographic follow-up at 6 months. Twelve patients also received a follow-up computed tomography angiogram at 12 months, and yearly thereafter (median radiographic follow-up, 38 months). The total clinical follow-up period ranged between 6 and 69 months (median, 46 months). RESULTS: In our series, each of the extracranial carotid pseudoaneurysms appeared to be the result of carotid artery dissection with associated carotid stenosis at the origin of every pseudoaneurysm. Endovascular treatment consisted of 1-3 layers of self-expandable porous stents placed without balloon angioplasty. Immediately after stenting angiographic images were notable for stagnant opacification of the pseudoaneurysm through the stent(s). All pseudoaneurysms were completely obliterated by the 6-month follow-up angiogram and remained so throughout the radiographic follow-up period. Complications were minimal, consisting of 1 patient developing a mild Horner's syndrome after treatment that resolved during clinical follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Extracranial carotid pseudoaneurysms can be successfully obliterated with the use of porous, self-expandable stents.