Use of the Tubridge flow diverter in the treatment of intracranial aneurysms: a single center experience.

To investigate the safety and effect of Tubridge flow diverter deployment for the treatment of intracranial aneurysms, 85 patients with intracranial aneurysms treated with the Tubridge flow diverter were retrospectively enrolled. The clinical data including the baseline data, aneurysm parameters before and after treatment, and follow-up outcomes were assessed. Among 85 patients, there were 35 (41.2%) males and 50 females (58.8%) aged 17-77 (mean 56.7 ± 11.1) years with 110 aneurysms. Five (5.9%) patients initially presented with subarachnoid hemorrhage from aneurysm rupture. The aneurysm size was 2-30 (mean 8.6) mm, and the aneurysm neck was 2-10.6 (mean 5.7 ± 2.3) mm. Ninety-three Tubridge stents were deployed. Twenty-five (29.4%) patients experienced adjunctive loose coiling. Blood flow was significantly reduced from entering the aneurysm after stent deployment. Periprocedural complications occurred in three (3.5%) patients, including in-stent thrombosis during embolization in one patient (1.2%), conjunctiva edema on the right in one patient (1.2%), and acute multiple cerebral infarctions in one patient (1.2%). Angiographic follow-up was conducted in 67 (78.8%) patients 3-36 (mean 15.3 ± 5.6) months later. In 11 (16.4% or 11/67) patients, blood flow still entered the aneurysm with the O'Kelly-Marotta (OKM) grade B in two (3.0%) patients and grade C in nine (13.4%), whereas complete occlusion (OKM grade D) was achieved in the other 56 (83.6% or 56/67) aneurysms. In-stent stenosis was present in five (7.5%) patients with approximately 25% stenosis in three (4.5%) patients and 50% in two (3.0%). In conclusion, the Tubridge flow diverter can be safely and efficiently applied in the treatment of small and large intracranial aneurysms, with a low periprocedural complication rate, a high occlusion degree, and a low in-stent stenosis rate at follow-up even though large aneurysms may necessitate a longer surgical time and adjunctive coiling.

Long-term outcomes of anti-VEGF treatment with 5+PRN regimen for macular edema due to central retinal vein occlusion.

AIM: To assess the long-term outcomes of treating macular edema (ME) associated with central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) with a regimen of "5+pro re nata (PRN)". METHODS: This retrospective study included 27 eyes of 27 patients with ME associated with non-ischemic CRVO (non-iCRVO group, n=15) and ischemic CRVO (iCRVO group, n=12). The eyes were treated with five consecutive intravitreal injections of conbercept or ranibizumab, followed by reinjections as needed or PRN. Retinal laser photocoagulation or intravitreal dexamethasone implants (DEX) were implemented in both groups when necessary. The best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA, logMAR) and central retinal thickness (CRT) were recorded at baseline, at 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 12mo, and at the final visit. The efficacy rates of BCVA and CRT before and after treatment were calculated. The number of injections at each visit and the incidence of adverse events were also recorded. RESULTS: The patients, aged 59.4±15.1y, were followed up for 24.7±8.8mo (range: 15-42mo). After treatment, BCVA improved significantly from 1.04±0.56 logMAR at baseline to 0.59±0.36 logMAR (P=0.038) at the final visit in all patients. Both the non-iCRVO and the iCRVO groups achieved improved BCVA compared to the baseline at all visit points, but there was no statistical significance (P=0.197 and 0.33, respectively). The mean CRT was statistically reduced compared to baseline at all visit points in all the eyes and in both groups (all P<0.001). The apparent effective rate was 22.22% for BCVA and 37.04% for CRT after the first injection, 48.15% for BCVA and 62.96% for CRT after 5 consecutive injections, and 74.08% for BCVA and 100% for CRT at the end of follow up. The average number of injections in all patients was 9.0±2.4 at 12mo and 14.9±8.1 finally with no statistical significance between both groups (P>0.05). Laser treatment was applied to all eyes in the iCRVO group, while only 5 patients in the non-iCRVO group. Six patients in the non-iCRVO group and 3 patients in the iCRVO group had a drug switch. DEX was applied to 4 eyes in the non-iCRVO group and 5 eyes in the iCRVO group. CONCLUSION: The 5+PRN anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) regimen is found to be safe and effective for both iCRVO and non-iCRVO, especially in the iCRVO group. The best regimen for such patients needs to be further investigated. Adjuvant laser therapy and DEX are necessary in some cases.

Comparison of pipeline classic and flex embolization devices in endovascular performance for intracranial aneurysms.

To investigate the endovascular performance of the Pipeline Classic embolization device (PED Classic) and PED Flex device (PED Flex) in the treatment of intracranial aneurysms. Fifty-three patients with intracranial aneurysms treated with the PED Classic were retrospectively enrolled into the PED Classic group, and 118 patients with intracranial aneurysms treated with the PED Flex were enrolled into the PED Flex group. The Procedure time, contrast dosage, fluoroscopy time, and perioperative complications were analyzed. The success rate of the stenting procedure was 100% in both groups. In the PED Classic group, 58 PED Classic devices were implanted, and 26 aneurysms underwent coil embolization. In the PED Flex group, 126 PED Flex devices were implanted, and 35 aneurysms underwent concomitant coil embolization. The procedure time was significantly (P < .001) greater in the PED Classic (159.0 ±â€…42.0 minutes) than in the PED Flex (121.9 ±â€…4.0 minutes) group. The dosage of contrast agent (156.4 ±â€…39.4 vs 110.1 ±â€…38.5 mL) and the total fluoroscopic time (34.7 ±â€…5.7 minutes vs 22.8 ±â€…7.6 minutes) were significantly (P < .001) greater in the PED Classic than in the PED Flex group. Peri-procedural complications occurred in 5 (9.4%) patients in the PED Classic group and in 3 (2.5%) patients in the Flex group, without a statistically significant (P = .11) difference. The performance of the PED Flex device may be safer and easier than that of the PED Classic device in the treatment of intracranial aneurysms despite some serious complications which remain to be prevented.

Safety and effect of pipeline flex embolization device for complex unruptured intracranial aneurysms.

To investigate the safety and short-term effect of Pipeline Flex devices in the treatment of complex unruptured intracranial aneurysms, a retrospective study was performed for patients with complex unruptured intracranial aneurysms who were treated with the Pipeline Flex embolization device (PED Flex device) combined with or without coiling. The clinical, endovascular, and follow-up data were analyzed. One hundred and thirty-one patients with 159 complex unruptured cerebral aneurysms were treated with the PED Flex device, with 144 Flex devices deployed. Periprocedural complications occurred in four patients, resulting in the complication rate of 3.1%, including ischemic complications in three patients (2.3%) and hemorrhagic complication in one (0.8%). At discharge, the mRS was 0 in 101 (77.1%) patients, 1 in 25 (19.1%), 2 in four (3.1%), and 4 in one (0.8%), with the good prognosis rate (mRS 0-2) of 99.2%. Clinical follow-up was carried out in 87 (66.4%) patients 3-42 months after the procedure, with the mRS of 0 in 78 (89.7%), 1 in five (5.7%), 2 in three (3.4%), and 4 in one (1.1%). No significant (P = 0.16) difference existed in the mRS at discharge compared with that at clinical follow-up. Angiographic follow-up was performed in 61 (46.7%) patients with 80 (50.3%) aneurysms at 3-40 months, with the OKM grade of D in 57 (71.3%) aneurysms, C in eight (10%), and B in 15 (18.8%). Asymptomatic instent stenosis occurred in four patients (6.6%). In conclusion: The treatment of complex intracranial aneurysms with the Pipeline Flex embolization device may be safe and effective, with a high complete occlusion rate, a decreased complication rate, and a good prognosis rate at medium follow-up.

Pipeline flex embolization device for the treatment of large unruptured posterior circulation aneurysms: Single-center experience.

PURPOSE: To investigate the safety and effect of the Pipeline Embolization Device (PED) Flex device in the treatment of large unruptured posterior circulation aneurysms in a single center. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with large unruptured posterior circulation aneurysms which were treated with the PED Flex device were enrolled. The clinical, endovascular and follow-up data were analyzed, and the O'Kelly-Marotta (OKM) grading system was used to assess the aneurysm occlusion status. RESULTS: Fourteen patients with 14 large posterior circulation aneurysms who were treated with the PED Flex device were enrolled. The maximal diameter of aneurysm was 17.0 ± 3.9 mm. Fourteen PED Flex devices were deployed in 14 patients, with a technical success rate of 100%. All stents covered the aneurysm neck with good wall adherence and patent parent artery. Ten (71.4%) aneurysms were treated with a single PED Flex device each, and four (28.6%) patients experienced additional coiling. No neurological complications occurred in the periprocedural period. The mRS was 0 in eleven (78.6%) patients, 1 in two (14.3%), and 2 in one (7.1%) at discharge. All patients were followed up at 6-28 months (median 18), with an mRS score of 0 in all patients. Twelve (85.7%) patients experienced digital subtraction angiography 6-28 (median 18) months after the embolization procedure, and the OKM grade was D in nine (75%), C in two (16.7%), and B in one (8.3%). CONCLUSION: The Pipeline Flex Embolization Device can be safely applied to treat large unruptured posterior circulation aneurysms with a high complete aneurysm occlusion rate at follow-up.