Jacques E. Dion

Guidelines for the Management of Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: A Guideline for Healthcare Professionals From the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association

Purpose— The aim of this guideline is to present current and comprehensive recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). Methods— A formal literature search of MEDLINE (November 1, 2006, through May 1, 2010) was performed. Data were synthesized with the use of evidence tables. Writing group members met by teleconference to discuss data-derived recommendations. The American Heart Association Stroke Councils Levels of Evidence grading algorithm was used to grade each recommendation. The guideline draft was reviewed by 7 expert peer reviewers and by the members of the Stroke Council Leadership and Manuscript Oversight Committees. It is intended that this guideline be fully updated every 3 years. Results— Evidence-based guidelines are presented for the care of patients presenting with aSAH. The focus of the guideline was subdivided into incidence, risk factors, prevention, natural history and outcome, diagnosis, prevention of rebleeding, surgical and endovascular repair of ruptured aneurysms, systems of care, anesthetic management during repair, management of vasospasm and delayed cerebral ischemia, management of hydrocephalus, management of seizures, and management of medical complications. Conclusions— aSAH is a serious medical condition in which outcome can be dramatically impacted by early, aggressive, expert care. The guidelines offer a framework for goal-directed treatment of the patient with aSAH.

Risk of Cerebral Angiography in Patients With Subarachnoid Hemorrhage, Cerebral Aneurysm, and Arteriovenous Malformation A Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE A well-defined complication rate of cerebral angiography in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), cerebral aneurysm, and arteriovenous malformation (AVM) would be useful to physicians making decisions regarding the imaging of these patients. We sought to define a statistically significant complication rate through meta-analysis of prospective studies in the literature. METHODS Meta-analysis of 3 published prospective studies of complications in cerebral angiography was performed to specifically define the risk of cerebral angiography in patients presenting with SAH, cerebral aneurysm, and AVM. The complication rates for cerebral angiography in patients with SAH and AVM/aneurysm without SAH were compared with the complication rates in patients who underwent cerebral angiography for transient ischemic attack (TIA)/ischemic stroke with use of the Fisher exact test. RESULTS The combined risk of permanent and transient neurological complication was significantly lower in patients with SAH compared with patients with TIA/stroke (1.8% versus 3.7%; P=0.03). The combined risk of permanent and transient neurological complication was significantly lower in patients with aneurysm/AVM without SAH compared with patients with TIA/stroke (0.3% versus 3.7%; P=0.001). When the patients with SAH and cerebral aneurysm/AVM were combined, the overall risk of permanent and transient neurological complication was significantly lower than for the TIA/stroke patients (0.8% versus 3.0%; P=0.001), as was the risk of permanent neurological complication (0.07% versus 0.7%; P=0.004). CONCLUSIONS The risk of permanent neurological complication associated with cerebral angiography in patients with SAH, cerebral aneurysm, and AVM is quite low (0.07%). This risk is lower than previously recognized.

Recommendations for the Endovascular Treatment of Intracranial Aneurysms A Statement for Healthcare Professionals from the Committee on Cerebrovascular Imaging of the American Heart Association Council on Cardiovascular Radiology

Intracranial aneurysms are common, with a prevalence of 0.5% to 6% in adults, according to angiography and autopsy studies.1 Most intracranial aneurysms are asymptomatic and are never detected. Some are discovered incidentally in neuroimaging studies and some produce symptoms due to compression of neighboring nerves or adjacent brain tissue. Others are detected only after they have ruptured and caused subarachnoid hemorrhage, a devastating type of stroke asso-ciated with 32% to 67% case fatality and 10% to 20% long-term dependence in survivors due to brain damage.2 To prevent subarachnoid hemorrhage, physicians have developed methods to treat aneurysms. For ruptured aneurysms, early treatment within 24 to 72 hours has been recommended because the risk of subsequent rupture is high, with approximately 20% risk of rerupture in the first 2 weeks after subarachnoid hemorrhage.3 Each additional rupture substantially increases the risk of mortality and morbidity. Treatment has also been recommended for most unruptured aneurysms,4 although there is uncertainty about treatment of some small aneurysms <10 mm because their risk of rupture appears low.5,6⇓ The American Heart Association formed this special writing group to summarize the literature and create recommendations on endovascular therapy of ruptured and unruptured intracranial aneurysms. This statement is meant to extend previous statements on treatment of subarachnoid hemorrhage3 and on treatment of unruptured aneurysms.4 During the review, it became evident that any recommendations would be based primarily on expert opinion weighing evidence only from nonrandomized cohort studies and case series. In 1937, Walter Dandy reported the first successful surgical clipping of the neck of an aneurysm. Microsurgical techniques have steadily evolved since then, with development of a variety of surgical approaches and metal aneurysm clips. Repair of aneurysms in nearly all intracranial locations is possible by placing a clip made from a …

Evolution of the management of tentorial dural arteriovenous malformations

OBJECTIVETentorial dural arteriovenous malformations (DAVMs) are uncommon lesions associated with an aggressive natural history. Controversy exists regarding their optimal treatment. We present a single-institution series of tentorial DAVMs treated during a 12-year period, address the current controversies, and present the rationale for our current therapeutic strategy. METHODSTwenty-two patients with tentorial DAVMs were treated between 1988 and 2000. Treatment consisted of transarterial or transvenous embolization, surgical resection, disconnection of venous drainage, or a combination of these therapies. The clinical presentations, radiological features, treatment strategies, and results were studied. RESULTSEighteen patients (82%) presented with intracranial hemorrhage or progressive neurological deficits. Retrograde leptomeningeal venous drainage was documented in 22 cases (100%), classifying the lesions as Borden Type III. Angiographic follow-up monitoring was performed for 0 to 120 months and clinical follow-up monitoring for 1 to 120 months. Posttreatment angiography demonstrated obliteration in 22 cases (100%). Two patients experienced neurological decline after endovascular treatment and died. All of the 20 surviving patients exhibited clinical improvement; there were no episodes of rehemorrhage or new neurological deficits. Outcomes were excellent in 17 cases (77%), good in 2 cases (9%), and fair in 1 case (5%), and there were 2 deaths (9%). CONCLUSIONTentorial DAVMs are aggressive lesions that require prompt total angiographic obliteration. Disconnection of the venous drainage from the fistula may be accomplished with transarterial embolization to the venous side, transvenous embolization, or surgical disconnection of the fistula. We think that extensive nidal resections carry more risk and are unnecessary. We do not think there is a role for stereotactic radiosurgery in the treatment of these lesions.

Endoluminal Stent Placement and Coil Embolization for the Management of Carotid Artery Pseudoaneurysms

PURPOSE To present a series of carotid artery pseudoaneurysms treated successfully using an endovascular approach. METHODS From April 1995 to November 1999, 5 patients with neurological symptoms not explained by computed tomography of the head were identified by carotid angiography as having internal carotid artery (ICA) pseudoaneurysms. Three patients had sustained blunt trauma, and 2 had previous elective carotid endarterectomies for atherosclerotic disease. The time between injury and treatment ranged from 3 days to 10 years. The patients were treated with endovascular stent placement for exclusion of the pseudoaneurysm, followed by filling of the cavity with multiple detachable coils. Patients were maintained on oral antiplatelet agents or anticoagulant therapy after the procedure. RESULTS Primary technical success was 100%. No patient suffered permanent neurological sequelae. Postprocedure angiography demonstrated a patent ICA in all cases, with complete obliteration of the pseudoaneurysm. At a mean 8.4-month follow-up (range 2-21), all patients remained symptom free; angiograms in 3 patients at a mean 11.7 months demonstrated continued ICA patency. One patient had a 60% focal narrowing of the distal common carotid artery, which was treated successfully with balloon dilation and stenting. CONCLUSIONS Endovascular treatment of carotid artery pseudoaneurysms is a useful alternative to standard surgical repair. This modality avoids the necessity for surgical exposure at the skull base with its inherent morbidity.

Neurosurgical management of intracranial aneurysms previously treated with endovascular therapy.

OBJECTIVEWith the increased use of endovascular therapy, an increasing number of patients with incompletely treated intracranial aneurysms are presenting for further surgical management. This study reviews our experiences with such patients. METHODSDuring a 7-year period, 38 patients with 40 intracranial aneurysms who were initially treated with endovascular therapy underwent surgical obliteration of refractory or recurrent lesions. All patients were recorded in a prospective registry, and their clinical data and imaging studies were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTSTwenty-six anterior and 14 posterior circulation aneurysms were treated. Four aneurysms were on the cavernous internal carotid artery, 13 were on the distal internal carotid artery, 6 were on the anterior communicating artery complex, 2 were on the middle cerebral artery, 3 were on the posteroinferior cerebellar artery, 1 was at the vertebrobasilar junction, 3 were on the superior cerebellar artery, 4 were at the basilar apex, 2 were on the posterior cerebral artery, and 1 was on the distal vertebral artery. Two pseudoaneurysms—one on the petrocavernous segment of the internal carotid artery and one on the distal VA—also were treated. The median time until recurrence was 6 months. Thirty-one aneurysms were clip-ligated, and six were treated with trapping. Three extracranial-intracranial bypasses were performed. One aneurysm was treated with muslin wrapping. Two aneurysms required the use of surgical approaches that involved hypothermic circulatory arrest. Nine aneurysms required coil mass extraction and/or complex vascular reconstruction to complete lesion obliteration. All aneurysms except the single wrapped aneurysm were successfully excluded from the intracranial circulation. Two deaths occurred as a result of the operative procedures, and another patient died as a result of subarachnoid hemorrhage-induced massive myocardial infarction. Ultimately, 86.8% of patients achieved an excellent or good recovery. CONCLUSIONWith endovascular therapy assuming an increasing role in the treatment of patients with intracranial aneurysms, more lesions that are refractory to initial treatment will require surgical management. Our experience indicates that good results are attainable, although technical challenges are frequently encountered.

Transorbital Puncture for the Treatment of Cavernous Sinus Dural Arteriovenous Fistulas

Summary: This report describes a series of patients for whom dural arteriovenous fistulae (DAVFs) of the cavernous sinus were successfully embolized using a percutaneous, transorbital technique to directly cannulate the cavernous sinus. A vascular access needle and catheter are percutaneously advanced along the inferolateral aspect of the orbit to access the cavernous sinus via the superior orbital fissure. Safe and effective embolization is achieved without the need for a surgical cut-down.

Hemorrhagic complications in embolization of a meningioma: Case report and review of the literature

Abstract We report a case of hemorrhage in a parasellar meningioma shortly after embolization of the dural cavernous carotid artery branches supplying the tumor. This represents the first report of hemorrhage within a meningioma resulting from embolization with small (50- to 150-μm) polyvinyl alcohol particles, as well as the first reported case of hemorrhage complicating meningioma embolization from internal rather than external carotid artery branch embolization. We also review previously reported cases of postembolization hemorrhage from meningiomas.

Use of a new mixture for embolization of intracranial vascular malformations

SummaryThe internal carotid artery system in swine has a special anatomic configuration similar to a brain “arterial-arterial malformation”. The internal carotid artery breaks up into a multitude of fine channels (rete mirabile) situated at the base of the skull on the side of the hypophysis. This anatomic arterial model was used to analyze acute and chronic angiographic and histological changes after occlusion of the rete mirabile with I) avitene, II) avitene, and 50% ethanol, III) avitene, 30% ethanol and Polyvinyl alcohol, IV) avitene 50% ethanol and Polyvinyl alcohol, V) IBCA and VI) silk. Histopathological changes observed in the rete mirabile six weeks following occlusion demonstrated that a mixture of avitene, 30% ethanol and Polyvinyl alcohol and IBCA produced the best anatomic results. Embolization with avitene, PVA and ethanol induced a more bland histological reaction than the one observed with IBCA. Preliminary clinical experience with this mixture is reassuring in those cases in which the AVM was surgically resected. The partially thrombosed AVM was easily depressed and compressed by the neurosurgeon allowing for satisfactory hemostasis in and around the nidus of the AVM.

Quality Improvement Guidelines for the Performance of Cervical Carotid Angioplasty and Stent Placement

Developed by a Collaborative Panel of the American Society of Interventional and Therapeutic Neuroradiology, the American Society of Neuroradiology, and the Society of Interventional Radiology