Andrew DeNardo

Treatment and Outcomes Among 102 Posterior Inferior Cerebellar Artery Aneurysms: A Comparison of Endovascular and Microsurgical Clip Ligation

BACKGROUND The vicinity of brainstem and cranial nerves as well as the limited operative working space make clip ligation of posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) aneurysms challenging. The small caliber of the PICA and the broad neck often associated with these aneurysms also create challenges in preserving this artery during treatment. Few data exist to compare the 2 treatment approaches for aneurysms in this location. OBJECT To assess treatment outcomes for PICA aneurysms based on mode of management and anatomical location. METHODS A prospectively maintained database was queried for PICA aneurysms treated from 2000 through 2012. Patients were categorized on the basis of their aneurysms anatomical location, presentation status, treatment modality, and subsequent complications. Descriptive, univariate, and multivariate statistical analyses were performed. RESULTS A total of 113 PICA aneurysms were identified; 11 did not undergo treatment. Of the remaining 102 aneurysms, 77% were ruptured and 64% were treated microsurgically. In the ruptured group, patients with more proximally located aneurysms such as vertebral and proximal PICA aneurysms were more likely to experience hydrocephalus and cranial nerve deficits after treatment. Endovascular therapy was less likely to cause postoperative deficit or lead to a need for percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy. Most importantly, discharge, 6-month, and 1-year outcomes were predicted based on presenting Hunt and Hess score and patients age, not aneurysm location or management mode. CONCLUSIONS PICA aneurysms are challenging and require a multimodality treatment paradigm. Although microsurgery is associated with more short-term postoperative complications, presenting grade and patients age remain the primary predictors of long-term outcome.

Blood Supply to the human spinal cord: Part II. Imaging and pathology

The blood supply of the spinal cord is a complex system based on multilevel sources and anastomoses. Diseases often affect this vascular supply and imaging has been developed that better investigates these structures. The authors review the literature regarding pathology and imaging modalities for the blood supply of the spinal cord. Knowledge of the disease processes and imaging modalities used to investigate these arterial lesions of the spinal cord will assist the clinician when treating patients with spinal cord lesions. Clin. Anat. 28:65–74, 2015.

Comparison of endovascular and microsurgical management of 208 basilar apex aneurysms

OBJECTIVE The deep and difficult-to-reach location of basilar apex aneurysms, along with their location near critical adjacent perforating arteries, has rendered the perception that microsurgical treatment of these aneurysms is risky. As a result, these aneurysms are considered more suitable for treatment by endovascular intervention. The authors attempt to compare the immediate and long-term outcomes of microsurgery versus endovascular therapy for this aneurysm subtype. METHODS A prospectively maintained database of 208 consecutive patients treated for basilar apex aneurysms between 2000 and 2012 was reviewed. In this group, 161 patients underwent endovascular treatment and 47 were managed microsurgically. The corresponding records were analyzed for presenting characteristics, postoperative complications, discharge status, and Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) scores up to 1 year after treatment and compared using chi-square and Student t-tests. RESULTS Among these 208 aneurysms, 116 (56%) were ruptured, including 92 (57%) and 24 (51%) of the endovascularly and microsurgically managed aneurysms, respectively. The average Hunt and Hess grade was 2.4 (2.4 in the endovascular group and 2.2 in the microsurgical group; p = 0.472). Postoperative complications of cranial nerve deficits and hemiparesis were more common in patients treated microsurgically than endovascularly (55.3% vs 16.2%, p < 0.05; and 27.7% vs 10.6%, p < 0.05, respectively). However, aneurysm remnants and need for retreatment were more common in the endovascular than the microsurgical group (41.3% vs 2.3%, p < 0.05; and 10.6% vs 0.0%, p < 0.05, respectively). Stent placement significantly reduced the need for retreatment. Rehemorrhage rates and average GOS score at discharge and 1 year after treatment were not statistically different between the two treatment groups. CONCLUSIONS Patients with basilar apex aneurysms were significantly more likely to be treated via endovascular management, but compared with those treated microsurgically, they had higher rates of recurrence and need for retreatment. The current study did not detect an overall difference in outcomes at discharge and 1 year after either treatment modality. Therefore, in a select group of patients, microsurgical treatment continues to play an important role.

Long-term follow-up analysis of microsurgical clip ligation and endovascular coil embolization for dorsal wall blister aneurysms of the internal carotid artery

Blister aneurysms at non-branching sites of the dorsal internal carotid artery (dICA) are fragile, rare, and often difficult to treat. The purpose of this study is to address the demographics, treatment modalities, and long-term outcome of patients treated for dICA blister aneurysms. A retrospective review of medical records identified all consecutive patients who presented with a blister aneurysm from 2002 to 2011 at our institution. Eighteen patients (M=7, F=11; mean age: 48.4±15.1years; range: 15-65years) harbored a total of 43 aneurysms, 25 of which were dorsal wall blister aneurysms of the ICA. Eleven (61.1%) patients presented with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH), and 10 (55.6%) patients had multiple aneurysms at admission. Twelve patients had 18 aneurysms that were treated microsurgically. Five (41.7%) of these patients had a single recurrence that was retreated with subsequent repeat clip ligation. Six patients had 7 blister aneurysms that were treated with endovascularly. One (16.7%) of these patients had a single recurrence that was retreated with subsequent coil embolization. Postoperative vasospasm occurred in 8 (44.4%) patients, one of whom suffered from a stroke. This is one of the largest single-institution dICA blister aneurysm studies to date. There was no detected significant difference between microsurgical clip ligation and endovascular coil embolization in terms of surgical outcome. These blister aneurysms demonstrate a propensity to be associated with multiple cerebral aneurysms. Strict clinical and angiographic long-term follow-up may be warranted. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE Blister aneurysms are focal wall defects covered by a thin layer of fibrous tissue and adventitia, lacking the usual collagenous layer. Due to their pathologically thin vessel wall, blister aneurysms are prone to rupture. The management of these rare and fragile aneurysms presents a number of challenges. Here, we address the long-term outcome of patients treated for blister aneurysms at non-branching sites of the dICA. The presented data and analysis is imperative to determine the necessary strict long-term clinical and angiographic follow-up.

Aneurysmal acute subdural hemorrhage: Prognostic factors associated with treatment

Acute subdural hematoma is an uncommon presentation of aneurysmal hemorrhage that has been identified as a poor prognostic sign. Current series are small, have short follow-up, or were collected over a long period during which treatment evolved. To evaluate prognostic factors, we analyzed a large modern series of aneurysmal subdural hematoma (aSDH) with long-term follow-up. A prospectively maintained database was queried for patients presenting with aSDH from 2001-2013. Thirty patients met the study criteria. Statistical analysis was performed with unpaired t-test or Fishers exact test. Aneurysm treatment involved open clipping (n=18), endosaccular coiling (n=8), both (n=1), or no treatment (n=3). Good Glasgow Outcome Scale score at discharge was present in 20% and increased to 40% at 6-12 months postoperatively. Good clinical presentation was associated with good final outcome in 75%, whereas poor clinical presentation correlated with good outcome in 30%. Good outcome correlated with younger age (p=0.04), smaller aneurysm (p=0.04), and lower Hunt-Hess score (HH) at intervention (p=0.04). Favorable outcome did not correlate with sex, race, presence of subarachnoid or intraparenchymal hemorrhage, size or laterality of hemorrhage, midline shift, aneurysm treatment modality, or HH at admission (p>0.15). There was no difference between good and poor outcomes in terms of time to treatment or hematoma evacuation. Poor clinical presentation may be exaggerated by mass effect of hematoma; aggressive treatment is not futile. Presenting neurological status, age, and aneurysm size are predictors of outcome, while laterality and size of hematoma and extent of midline shift are not, suggesting that clinical status is more important than radiographic findings.

Persistence of the otic artery with neurological sequelae: case report

Persistence of intracranial fetal vasculature may be encountered by the neurosurgeon. Of these, the otic artery is extremely rare and to some, a true case has to date, not been authenticated. We report an adult patient found to harbor an otic artery. Moreover, neurological sequelae of this fetal vascular connection are believed to have occurred. This case and a review of germane literature are presented.

Neurosurgical Management of Self-Inflicted Cranial Crossbow Injury

BACKGROUND Although gun-related penetrating traumatic brain injuries make up the majority of cranial missile injuries, low-velocity penetrating injuries present significant clinical difficulties that cannot necessarily be identically managed. Bow hunting is an increasingly popular pastime, and a crossbow allows a unique mechanism to cause a self-inflicted cranial injury with a large, low-velocity projectile. Historically, arrow removal is described in an operating room setting, which provides limited knowledge of the location of vascular injury in the setting of postremoval hemorrhage, and may represent an inefficient use of operating room availability. CASE DESCRIPTION Two patients presented after self-inflicted cranial crossbow injuries. Both were neurologically salvageable. Initial assessment with computed tomography angiography allowed triage into likely or unlikely vascular injury. Arrow removal was performed in a radiology setting rather than in the operating room to allow immediate postremoval imaging to localize hemorrhage. While an operating room was on standby, neither patient required neurosurgical operative intervention. Both patients made a good recovery with no further injury caused by arrow removal. CONCLUSIONS We describe a novel approach to retained cranial arrow removal in a radiologic, rather than operative, setting and describe its relative benefits over traditional removal in the operating room.

Endovascular treatment of ruptured tiny (⩽3 mm) intracranial aneurysms in the setting of subarachnoid hemorrhage: A case series of 20 patients and literature review

Successful endovascular coiling of ruptured tiny saccular intracranial aneurysms (⩽3mm) is technically challenging and traditionally has been associated with technical failures, as well as morbidity related to thromboembolic events and high intraoperative rupture rates. This study analyzes the feasibility, technical efficacy, and clinical outcomes of coil embolization of ruptured tiny intracranial aneurysms using current coil and microcatheter technology and techniques. We performed a retrospective review of 20 patients with 20 ruptured tiny aneurysms treated with endovascular coil embolization from 2013 to 2016 at a single high-volume academic tertiary care practice. The mean aneurysm size was 2.4mm (median 2.5mm, 1-3). Complete occlusion was achieved in 12 of 20 patients (60%), the remaining 7 of 20 patients (35%) had a small neck remnant, and there was 1 failure (5%) converted to microsurgical clipping. Two patients had a failed attempted surgical clip reconstruction and were subsequently coiled. There was 1 intraprocedural rupture (5%) and 1 severe parent artery vasospasm (5%) during coiling. At discharge, 60% of patients were living independently. At follow-up three patients were deceased. Mean angiographic follow-up was 139days (SD 120). There were no aneurysm recurrences among occluded patients and there were no retreatments among those with neck remnants. Coiling of ruptured aneurysms ⩽3mm is feasible with high occlusion rates and low complication rates. The availability of softer coils with flexible detachment zones has led to safe and effective endovascular treatment of tiny ruptured aneurysms.