OBJECTIVETo evaluate the short-term outcome of single stenting technique for unruptured, wide-necked, tiny aneurysms of the anterior circulation.

METHODSEleven unruptured, wide-necked, tiny aneurysms of the anterior circulation were treated by a single stent deployed in the parent artery between January 2008 and July 2013 in Department of Neurosurgery in Beijing Hospital. The maximum diameter of the aneurysms ranged from 2.0 to 3.0 mm, mean (2.4 ± 0.4) mm, and the dome-to-neck ratios were all ≤ 1.2. The locations were clinoid segment of internal carotid artery (n=2), posterior communicating artery origin (n=4), anterior choroidal artery origin (n=2) and middle cerebral artery bifurcation (n=3). All internal carotid aneurysms were located in the medial and/or ventral wall of the internal carotid artery. The rate of aneurysm obliteration and rupture during follow-up was obtained by repeat angiography and clinic or telephone interview respectively.

RESULTSSole stent placement in the parent artery was intentionally performed for nine aneurysms, while attempt of coiling after stent deployment for the other two aneurysms failed due to unsuccessful microcatherization. Ten stents were successfully deployed, of which one was used to treat two tandem lesions simultaneously. Only one aneurysm became smaller immediately postprocedure. No perioperative complications occurred. Angiographic follow-up after a mean period of (13 ± 6) months (range 8-24 months) revealed that 8 aneurysms did no change in size, 2 became smaller and only one was totally occluded. Asymptomatic in-stent stenosis of the parent artery was found in all 3 shrinking or occluded aneurysms. No aneurysm rupture was observed in the clinical follow-up.

CONCLUSIONFor those unruptured, wide-necked, tiny aneurysms arising at branching sites in the anterior circulation, single stenting technique seems to be a safe alternative treatment, while the short-term rate of aneurysm occlusion is low.

Aneurysm, Ruptured ; Beijing ; Cardiovascular Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Carotid Artery Diseases ; surgery ; Carotid Artery, Internal ; pathology ; Cerebral Angiography ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Humans ; Intracranial Aneurysm ; surgery ; Stents ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo study the clinical characteristics, surgical principles and treatment options of blood-blister-like cerebral aneurysms in supra-clinoid segment of internal carotid artery.

METHODSTwelve blood-blister-like aneurysms were retrospectively studied including 4 open-surgery cases and 8 endovascular-treated cases from November 2008 to December 2012. Patients comprised 8 female and 4 male patients, whose mean age was 46.6 (range 38-56) years. Eleven patients presented with severe headache as the primary symptom, and 1 patient was found with aneurysm incidentally. Preoperative Hunt-Hess graded 0 in 1 patient, graded I in 5 patients, graded II in 4 patients, and graded III in 2 patients. By DSA examinations, 4 blood-blister-like aneurysms located in anterior wall and 8 in medial-anterior wall of supra-clinoid segment of internal carotid artery. Open surgical treatment included direct clipping, trapping, or wrapping and interventional treatment included stent-assisted coiling or simple stent placement. Intra-operative electroencephalogram and somatosensory evoked potentials monitoring was regularly used. Microvascular Doppler ultrasonography and indocyanine green videoangiography were used to assess blood flow in parent and branch vessels. The patients were followed up at 6 months by CT angiography (CTA) examination in outpatient clinic.

RESULTSFor 4 open surgeries, 2 aneurysms were directly clipped, 1 was trapped and 1 was wrapped. The patient underwent trapping paralyzed postoperatively. For endovascular treatment, 6 patients were coiled assisted with stents and 2 patients were treated with simple stent placement. All the patients were followed with a mean follow-up time of 16 months (range, 6-61 months). At 6 months follow-up, 3 out of 4 surgical treated patients had good outcome and 1 was moderately severe disabled by modified Rankin scale; 1 patient underwent wrapping recurred and was transferred to endovascular treatment. Of the 6 patients treated with stent-assisted coiling, 4 patients were recurrent and coil replacements were performed. Two patients with simple stent placement had no recurrences.

CONCLUSIONSBlood-blister-like aneurysm is a special type of complex cerebral aneurysm. Comprehensive understanding of blood-blister-like aneurysm is the key to successful treatment.Open surgery is difficult procedure with high risk and complications while stent-assisted coiling has a high recurrent rate. To date, neither is the safe and effective treatment option.

Adult ; Carotid Artery, Internal ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Intracranial Aneurysm ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVE: To summarize our experience of successful and failed management in 8 huge lobulated nasopharyngeal angiofibromas with intracranial extensions, and introduce some key points of perioperative treatments. METHOD: Eight male case with an average age of 18 years, were all lobes extending into middle and/or anterior cranial fossa, in which 5 cases revealed blood supply from the internal carotid arteries and 3 cases were reoperated because of recurrence. Preoperatively, the tumor were evaluated by CT, CTA, MRI and/or MRA, and super selective embolization of the feeding arteries were crucial procedures. The combined craniofacial approaches were used to excise these tumors. RESULT: Five cases were removed completely, and 3 cases were removed partly in which 2 were due to serious bleeding caused by lack of DSA technique at that time and 1 were due to neglecting the tumor lobe in the sphenoid sinus of the other side. CONCLUSION Reasonable perioperative management are very important for control of intra-operative blood loss, complete remodeling of the tumor and avoiding complication.
Adolescent ; Angiofibroma ; blood supply ; pathology ; surgery ; Brain Neoplasms ; blood supply ; secondary ; surgery ; Carotid Artery, Internal ; Humans ; Male ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; blood supply ; pathology ; surgery ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo investigate the causes and strategy of difficult intraarterial mechanical thrombectomy (≥3 times) in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS).

METHODSThe clinical data of 8 cases of AIS with thrombectomy ≥3 times admitted in Department of Neurology, the 306(th) Hospital of People's Liberation Army from June to October in 2015 was analyzed retrospectively. There were 7 male and 1 female patients, aged from 38 to 86 years with an average age of (70±15) years, in which 5 cases were cardiogenic cerebral embolism and 3 cases were large artery atherosclerotic infarction. The National Institute of Health stroke scale (NIHSS) score (M (QR)) was 16 (12) before procedure and modified thrombolysis in cerebral infarction (mTICI)score were 0 in all the patients. Solitaire AB was used in thrombectomy in the occlusion of the arteries.

RESULTSThe causes of difficult intraarterial thrombectomy included multiple thrombus, tortuosity in vascular paths, guiding catheter being placed below the internal carotid artery siphon leading to weak strength of suction and support of stent, embolus dropping in the thrombectomy and inadequate anesthesia. After successful thrombectomy 3 cases had mTICI score of 2a, 4 cases of 2b, 1 case of 3. The NIHSS score was 5 (24) at 7(th) day after treatment. At the 90-day follow-up 5 patients had good prognosis (modified Rankin score 0 to 2) and 3 had disability (modified Rankin score 3 to 4).

CONCLUSIONCases of AIS with difficult intraarterial thrombectomy can be treated by improving thrombectomy materials and technique, reasonable anesthesia and perioperative medication in decision-making strategy.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carotid Artery, Internal ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Intracranial Embolism ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Stents ; Stroke ; surgery ; Thrombectomy ; Treatment Outcome

Epistaxis is commonly encountered in otorhinolaryngologic practice. However, severe and recurrent epistaxis is rarely seen, especially that originating from a pseudoaneurysm of the intracavernous internal carotid artery (ICA). We herein present the case of a 32-year-old man who was involved in a motor vehicle accident and subsequently developed recurrent episodes of profuse epistaxis for the next three months, which required blood transfusion and nasal packing to control the bleeding. Computed tomography angiography revealed a large intracavernous ICA pseudoaneurysm measuring 1.7 cm × 1.2 cm × 1.0 cm. The patient underwent emergent four-vessel angiography and coil embolisation and was discharged one week later without any episode of bleeding. He remained asymptomatic after three-month and one‑year intervals. This case report highlights a large intracavernous ICA pseudoaneurysm as a rare cause of epistaxis, which requires a high index of suspicion in the right clinical setting and emergent endovascular treatment to prevent mortality.
Accidents, Traffic ; Adult ; Aneurysm, False ; diagnostic imaging ; etiology ; surgery ; Carotid Artery Injuries ; Carotid Artery, Internal ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; surgery ; Coronary Angiography ; methods ; Embolization, Therapeutic ; Epistaxis ; etiology ; Humans ; Male ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Objective: To evaluate the efficiency of internal carotid artery (ICA) embolization technology in endoscopic salvage surgery for recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma (rNPC) invading the ICA. Methods: From January 2016 to March 2021, 83 patients with rNPC who invaded the ICA and underwent endoscopic extended nasopharyngectomy were retrospectively collected from the Eye & ENT Hospital in Fudan University, including 60 males and 23 females. The age of the patients ranged from 27 to 77 years. The standard of ICA invasion was that the distance from the lesion to the ICA on enhanced MRI was ≤ 1.8 mm. The clinical characteristics, ICA management strategy and survival prognosis of patients were analyzed, and the effectiveness of ICA embolization was evaluated. Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate the survival rate and Log-rank test was used to compare the difference. Results: In 83 patients with rNPC, there were 13 patients with rT2, 38 patients with rT3, 32 patients with rT4, and 16 patients had lymph node metastasis. A total of 37 patients (44.6%) underwent ICA coil embolization before surgery, of which 2 cases underwent external carotid-middle cerebral artery artery bypass grafting and ICA embolization due to positive balloon occlusion test (BOT). Patients with positive surgical margin accounted for 24.1% (20/83). Among them, patients with rT4 and patients without ICA embolization had a higher positive rate of surgical margin (P value was 0.001, 0.043, respectively). The 3-year overall survival (OS) and progression free survival (PFS) rate of all patients was 46.5% and 26.7%, respectively. In addition, the 3-year OS and PFS of patients with ICA embolization was significantly higher than those without ICA embolization, respectively (69.1% vs 27.8%, P=0.003; 33.9% vs 18.9%, P=0.018). Only 2 patients (2/37, 5.4%) had cerebral infarction complications after coil embolization of the affected ICA due to negative BOT. Conclusion: Preoperative ICA embolization can be used to treat patients with rNPC invading the ICA, improve the total removal rate and survival rate of patients, which is an effective salvage treatment.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Adult ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma ; Salvage Therapy ; Retrospective Studies ; Carotid Artery, Internal ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/surgery* ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms/pathology*

We report a case of pituitary apoplexy resulting in right internal carotid artery occlusion accompanied by hemiplegia and lethargy. A 43-yr-old man presented with a sudden onset of severe headache, visual disturbance and left hemiplegia. Investigations revealed a nodular mass, located in the sella and suprasellar portion and accompanied by compression of the optic chiasm. The mass compressed the bilateral cavernous sinuses, resulting in the obliteration of the cavernous portion of the right internal carotid artery. A border zone infarct in the right fronto-parietal region was found. Transsphenoidal tumor decompression following conservative therapy with fluid replacement and steroids was performed. Pathological examination revealed an almost completely infarcted pituitary adenoma. The patient's vision improved immediately after the decompression, and the motor weakness improved to grade IV+ within six months after the operation. Pituitary apoplexy resulting in internal carotid artery occlusion is rare. However, clinicians should be aware of the possibility and the appropriate management of such an occurrence.
Adult ; Carotid Artery Diseases/*diagnosis/etiology/therapy ; *Carotid Artery, Internal/pathology/surgery ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Embolization, Therapeutic ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Angiography ; Male ; Pituitary Apoplexy/complications/*diagnosis ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

BACKGROUNDDue to their location, large and giant intracavernous and paraclinoid aneurysms remain a challenge for vascular neurosurgeons. We identified characteristics, surgical indications and treatment strategies of large and giant intracavernous and paraclinoid aneurysms in 36 patients.

METHODSThe pterional approach was routinely used. The cervical internal carotid artery was exposed for proximal control of parent vessel and retrograde suction decompression. Paraclinoid aneurysms were directly clipped, intracavernous pseudoaneurysm was repaired and the intracavernous aneurysms were trapped with extracranial-intracranial bypass of saphenous vein graft. Intraoperative electroencephalogram (EEG) and somatosensory evoked potential (SSEP) monitoring were used to detect cerebral ischemia during the temporary occlusion of parent arteries. Microvascular Doppler ultrasonography was used to assess blood flow of the parent and branch vessels. Endoscopy was helpful particularly in dealing with internal carotid artery posterior wall aneurysms. Postoperative digital subtraction angiography (DSA) was performed in 33 of the 36 patients.

RESULTSThirty-two paraclinoid aneurysms were directly clipped, 1 intracavernous pseudoaneurysm was repaired and the other 3 intracavernous aneurysms were trapped with revascularization. Except for two patients who died in the early postoperative stage, 34 patients' follow-up was 6 - 65 months (mean 10 months) and a Glasgow Outcome Scale score of 4 to 5 at discharge. At the 6-month follow-up examination, Rankin Outcome Scale scores were 0 to 2 in 32 patients. EEG and SSEP monitoring changed in six patients. Twelve clips were readjusted when insufficient blood flow in parent and branch vessels was detected. Three posterior wall aneurysms were clipped.

CONCLUSIONSIntracavernous aneurysms not amenable to endovascular treatment should be treated surgically and surgical treatment is the first option for paraclinoid aneurysms. The temporary parent vessel occlusion, retrograde suction decompression, endoaneurysmectomy, parent vessel reconstruction, vascular anastomosis, electrophysiological monitoring, Doppler ultrasonography and endoscopy are essential techniques in the treatment of the large and giant intracavernous and paraclinoid aneurysms.

Adult ; Aged ; Carotid Artery, Internal ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; surgery ; Cerebral Angiography ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Intracranial Aneurysm ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Treatment Outcome