Extradural clinoidectomy for resection of clinoidal meningioma.

Extradural anterior clinoidectomy is a versatile technique to increase exposure of the sellar and parasellar region. It is of particular use in the resection of clinoidal meningiomas, as sphenoidal and clinoidal hyperostosis can cause compression of the optic nerve. Extradural clinoidectomy follows a series of steps, consisting of (1) unroofing of the superior orbital fissure, (2) unroofing of the optic canal, (3) removal of the optic strut, and (4) removal of the anterior clinoid process. The authors show these steps in detail, as well as their application to the resection of a large clinoidal meningioma. The video can be found here: https://youtu.be/O1Fcef29ETg .

Venous Phase Timing Does Not Predict SPECT Results During Balloon Test Occlusion of the Internal Carotid Artery.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the role of venous phase timing when compared with technetium-99m Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) during angiographic balloon test occlusion of the internal carotid artery (ICA) and subsequent sacrifice of the ICA. METHODS: Fifty-six patients underwent formal balloon test occlusion from April 2008 to February 2014 at our institution. Venous phase timing was calculated for each patient. SPECT imaging for each patient was interpreted by the nuclear medicine radiologist. Statistical analysis on the 3 groups (No Hypoperfusion, Mild Hypoperfusion, Moderate/Severe Hypoperfusion) was calculated using analysis of variance. RESULTS: Twenty-six patients showed no hypoperfusion during SPECT. The average delay of venous phase for these patients was 0.65 seconds. Eight of the 26 patients went on to have vessel sacrifice, with none showing evidence of infarction at the time of discharge. Six patients showed evidence of mild hypoperfusion on SPECT. None of these patients went on to have vessel sacrifice. The average venous delay was 0.5 seconds. Twenty-four patients were found to have moderate or severe hypoperfusion. The average venous delay was 1.08 seconds. Analysis of variance among the 3 groups demonstrated no significant difference (P = 0.22). CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrated no correlation between venous phase timing and SPECT. Future studies comparing multiple tests with patients who have had vessel occlusion are necessary to determine the best adjunctive measures to predict delayed ischemia following carotid occlusion.

Poor outcomes of elderly patients undergoing multimodality intra-arterial therapy for acute ischemic stroke.

OBJECTIVE: The incidence of acute ischemic stroke is highest in the elderly. Information regarding outcomes of elderly patients undergoing different modalities of intra-arterial therapy (IAT) for acute ischemic stroke (AIS) is scarce and conflicting. This study compares the safety, technical efficacy and outcomes of elderly patients (≥80 years) to non-elderly patients (<80 years) who underwent multimodality IAT. METHODS: From a registry of consecutive patients treated with IAT for AIS at our institution over a 3.5-year period, patients with anterior circulation occlusions aged ≥80 years were compared to the patients <80 years. RESULTS: Between 2008 and 2012, 24 patients ≥80 years (elderly) and 95 patients <80 years (non-elderly) received IAT for anterior circulation occlusions. In the elderly, there were more females (66.7% vs. 28.4%, p=<0.001) and atrial fibrillation (58.3% vs. 25.2%, p=0.003). Between the 2 groups, there was no difference in NIHSS score (17.2 vs. 16.3, p=0.17), THRIVE score (4.21 vs. 4.39, p=0.633), recanalization rate (70.1% vs. 85.3%, p=0.13), or severe reperfusion hemorrhages (8.3% vs. 4.2%, p=0.425). There was no significant difference in 3-month mortality (33.3% vs. 16.8%, p=0.28); however, fewer elderly patients reached good 3-month outcome (0% vs. 40.0%, p=<0.001). After controlling for baseline factors, only female gender (OR 5.3, 95% CI 1.7-16.7; p=0.04) and higher 3-month mRS (OR 1.6; 95% CI 1.1-2.40; p=0.008) were independently associated with elderly age. CONCLUSION: Despite similar safety profiles and recanalization rates, elderly patients had poor functional outcomes after IAT. Intra-arterial therapy in the elderly should be pursued very cautiously only after careful analysis of the risks and benefits for each patient.

IN VITRO QUANTIFICATION OF THE SIZE DISTRIBUTION OF INTRASACCULAR VOIDS LEFT AFTER ENDOVASCULAR COILING OF CEREBRAL ANEURYSMS.

PURPOSE: Endovascular coiling of cerebral aneurysms remains limited by coil compaction and associated recanalization. Recent coil designs which effect higher packing densities may be far from optimal because hemodynamic forces causing compaction are not well understood since detailed data regarding the location and distribution of coil masses are unavailable. We present an in vitro methodology to characterize coil masses deployed within aneurysms by quantifying intra-aneurysmal void spaces. METHODS: Eight identical aneurysms were packed with coils by both balloon- and stent-assist techniques. The samples were embedded, sequentially sectioned and imaged. Empty spaces between the coils were numerically filled with circles (2D) in the planar images and with spheres (3D) in the three-dimensional composite images. The 2D and 3D void size histograms were analyzed for local variations and by fitting theoretical probability distribution functions. RESULTS: Balloon-assist packing densities (31±2%) were lower (p=0.04) than the stent-assist group (40±7%). The maximum and average 2D and 3D void sizes were higher (p=0.03 to 0.05) in the balloon-assist group as compared to the stent-assist group. None of the void size histograms were normally distributed; theoretical probability distribution fits suggest that the histograms are most probably exponentially distributed with decay constants of 6-10 mm. Significant (p<=0.001 to p=0.03) spatial trends were noted with the void sizes but correlation coefficients were generally low (absolute r<=0.35). CONCLUSION: The methodology we present can provide valuable input data for numerical calculations of hemodynamic forces impinging on intra-aneurysmal coil masses and be used to compare and optimize coil configurations as well as coiling techniques.