Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and stenting (PTAS) in patients with symptomatic intracranial vertebrobasilar artery stenosis (IVBS).

BACKGROUND: Approximately 20% of all transient ischaemic attacks (TIAs) and ischaemic strokes occur within the posterior circulation, with vertebrobasilar stenosis identified as the cause in roughly 25% of the cases. Studies have shown that about a quarter of these patients have atherosclerotic stenosis of at least 50% of the vertebrobasilar artery. Stenosis has been shown to be associated with an increased risk of 90-day recurrent vertebrobasilar stroke, particularly in the first few weeks, which is significantly higher when compared with patients with stenosis of the anterior circulation. Therefore, aggressive treatment is important for the patient's prognosis. Stenting is emerging as a promising therapeutic strategy for persistent ischaemia events that do not respond to the best medical treatment, but it is not without complications. We systematically reviewed the literature on percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and stenting (PTAS) for intracranial vertebrobasilar artery stenosis (IVBS). METHODS: PubMed, Web-of-Science and Scopus were searched upon the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines to include prospective/retrospective cohort, randomised/non-randomised clinical trials and case series studies describing PTAS for IVBS. Pooled rates of intervention-related complications and outcomes were analysed with random-effect model meta-analysis using StataMP V.18.0 software. RESULTS: 31 studies were found eligible which included 1928 cases. 1103 basilar artery stenosis cases were reported in 27 studies 0.65 (95% CI 0.53, 0.76), I2: 99.72%. 648 vertebral cases were reported in 18 studies 0.60 (95% CI 0.49, 0.70), I2: 97.49%. In four studies, the rate of vertebrobasilar stenosis cases calculated as a proportion of the total sample size was 0.10 (95% CI 0.05, 0. 15). Mean stenosis in 21 included studies was found to be 0.83 (95% CI 0.79, 0.88), I2: 0.00%, which shows variation of baseline stenosis between studies was minimal. 51 deaths were recorded in 24 studies. Meta-analysis of mortality showed the overall rate of mortality was 0.03 (95% CI 0.02, 0.05), I2: 44.90%. In 14 studies, symptomatic intracranial haemorrhage events were recorded at an overall rate of 0.01 (95% CI 0.00, 0.02), I2: 0.00%. Generally, a follow-up period of at least 3 months was reported in the included studies. Furthermore, procedural stroke/TIA was evaluated in seven studies, four of which reported no events (0.03 (95% CI 0.00, 0.08), I2: 20.38%). Mean time from initial symptoms to recanalisation was 23.98 (95% CI 18.56, 29.40), I2=98.8%, p=0.00 days. CONCLUSION: In certain individuals with medically unresolved, severe, symptomatic and non-acute IVBS, elective vertebrobasilar PTAS appears to be both safe and effective. Various stent designs and angioplasty-assisted techniques should be taken into consideration based on the specific clinical and radiological traits of the lesions. Future randomised controlled trials are required to verify these results.

Trans-Arterial Balloon-Assisted Embolization of Traumatic Giant Hepatic Pseudoaneurysm With Thrombin.

Giant hepatic pseudoaneurysms are rare after injury. We report a case of a 20-year-old male, post gunshot injury to his right upper quadrant of the abdomen with delayed blood loss. CTA of the abdomen demonstrated a 6.5 cm right hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm. This was successfully embolized with balloon assisted trans-arterial thrombin injection.

Venous Diverticula Causing Pulsatile Tinnitus Treated With Coil Embolization and Stent Placement With Resolution of Symptoms: Report of Two Cases and Review of the Literature.

OBJECTIVE: To report two cases of pulsatile tinnitus caused by complex venous diverticula with successful treatment via coil embolization and stent placement followed by complete resolution of symptoms. We also review the literature pertaining to venous diverticula causing pulsatile tinnitus treated using endovascular techniques. PATIENTS: Two women patients, aged 27 and 29 years, presented to our institution with 3-month histories of pulsatile tinnitus. In each case, non-invasive imaging and conventional digital subtraction angiography (DSA) confirmed the presence of a complex right transverse-sigmoid sinus junction diverticulum. INTERVENTION: Both patients underwent stent-assisted coil embolization of the venous diverticula. MAIN OUTCOME AND RESULTS: Clinical and DSA follow-up at 6 and 12 months confirmed resolution of symptoms with obliteration of the venous diverticulum. We also performed a PubMed database search for the period January 1995 through June 2016 using the terms pulsatile tinnitus, venous aneurysm/diverticulum, stent-assisted coil embolization, and endovascular treatment and identified reports of 14 additional patients treated using endovascular techniques. CONCLUSIONS: Venous sinus diverticula causing pulsatile tinnitus can be successfully treated with stent-assisted coil embolization with complete resolution of clinical symptoms. This is in concordance with 13 case reports in the literature involving 14 patients with venous sinus diverticula treated using endovascular techniques.

Use of the 2.8 French Progreat microcatheter in diagnostic cerebral angiography.

BACKGROUND: Tortuous vascular anatomy poses a significant challenge to performing diagnostic cerebral angiography. OBJECTIVE: To report a new cerebral angiography technique for overcoming tortuous aortic and supra-aortic anatomy using a 2.8 French (F) Progreat microcatheter (0.028 inch (internal diameter) (Terumo; Somerset, New Jersey, USA) to obtain a diagnostic cerebral angiogram. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis of consecutive cases undergoing diagnostic cerebral angiography at our institution between 1 January 2013 and 30 November 2015 in which a 2.8F Progreat microcatheter was used. Clinical and operative notes were reviewed and correlated with imaging. Radiologic imaging, including CT, MRI, and digital subtraction angiography, was reviewed. Neurologic, systemic, and local complications were recorded on the basis of clinical follow-up results after each angiographic examination. Events that occurred within 24 h of the angiography were considered to be complications of the procedure. RESULTS: Initial attempts at catheterization of the target vessel with various 4F and 5F catheters were unsuccessful owing to tortuosity, atherosclerotic disease, or occlusion of the catheter in the target vessel. Microcatheterization of the target vessel was successful in 59/62 (95%) target vessels. A diagnostic cerebral angiogram with a power injection was obtained in 59 (100%) of the successfully catheterized vessels. In one case, angiography proceeded to aneurysm coiling after over-the-wire exchange. In two cases, angiography proceeded to mechanical thrombectomy after over-the-wire exchange. No procedural complications were seen. CONCLUSIONS: The 2.8F Progreat microcatheter can be used to obtain a diagnostic cerebral angiogram in patients with anatomic challenges limiting catheterization by standard techniques.

Spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage due to ruptured cavernous internal carotid artery aneurysm after medical prolactinoma treatment.

Aneurysms of the cavernous segment of the internal carotid artery (ICA) are believed to have a low risk of subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH), given the confines of the dural rings and the anterior clinoid process. The risk may be greater when the bony and dural protection has been eroded. We report a case of spontaneous SAH from rupture of a cavernous ICA aneurysm in a patient whose large prolactinoma had markedly decreased in size as the result of cabergoline treatment. After passing a balloon test occlusion, the patient underwent successful endovascular vessel deconstruction. This case suggests that an eroding skull base lesion may distort normal anterior cranial base anatomy and allow communication between the cavernous ICA and subarachnoid space. The potential for SAH due to cavernous ICA aneurysm rupture should be recognised in patients with previous pituitary or other skull base lesions adjacent to the cavernous sinus.

Spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage due to ruptured cavernous internal carotid artery aneurysm after medical prolactinoma treatment.

Aneurysms of the cavernous segment of the internal carotid artery (ICA) are believed to have a low risk of subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH), given the confines of the dural rings and the anterior clinoid process. The risk may be greater when the bony and dural protection has been eroded. We report a case of spontaneous SAH from rupture of a cavernous ICA aneurysm in a patient whose large prolactinoma had markedly decreased in size as the result of cabergoline treatment. After passing a balloon test occlusion, the patient underwent successful endovascular vessel deconstruction. This case suggests that an eroding skull base lesion may distort normal anterior cranial base anatomy and allow communication between the cavernous ICA and subarachnoid space. The potential for SAH due to cavernous ICA aneurysm rupture should be recognised in patients with previous pituitary or other skull base lesions adjacent to the cavernous sinus.