OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this retrospective study was to report the outcome of the endovascular treatment of eight patients with eight saccular posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) aneurysms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Over the last seven years (1999-2006), eight consecutive patients with saccular PICA aneurysms were treated by endovascular methods. Five of the aneurysms were presented with subarachnoid hemorrhaging, whereas three were discovered incidentally. Four of the aneurysms (3 ruptured and 1 incidental) were treated by intrasaccular coiling, whereas the remaining four (1 ruptured and 3 incidental) were treated by vertebral artery (VA) occlusion. RESULTS: Of the four aneurysms treated by intrasaccular coiling, three were completely packed with coils and one was partially packed. In three of four patients who underwent vertebral artery occlusions, follow-up digital subtraction angiographies demonstrated thrombosed aneurysms and PICA. No procedure-related morbidity occurred and no re-bleed was encountered during a follow-up examination (mean; 31 months). CONCLUSION: As a result of this study, we found that the endovascular management of saccular PICA aneurysms should be considered as safe and effective.
Adult ; Aged ; Aneurysm, Ruptured/radiography/*therapy ; Cerebellum/blood supply/*radiography ; Cerebral Angiography ; Embolization, Therapeutic/*methods ; Female ; Humans ; Incidental Findings ; Intracranial Aneurysm/radiography/*therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage/radiography/*therapy ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVE: The presence of an intracerebral hematoma from a ruptured aneurysm is a negative predictive factor and it is associated with high morbidity and mortality rates even though clot evacuation followed by the neck clipping is performed. Endovascular coil embolization is a useful alternative procedure to reduce the surgical morbidity and mortality rates. We report here on our experiences with the alternative option of endovascular coil placement followed by craniotomy for clot evacuation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Among 312 patients who were admitted with intracerebral subarachnoid hemorrhage during the recent three years, 119 cases were treated via the endovascular approach. Nine cases were suspected to show aneurysmal intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) on CT scan and they underwent emergency cerebral angiograms. We performed immediate coil embolization at the same session of angiographic examination, and this was followed by clot evacuation. RESULTS: Seven cases showed to have ruptured middle cerebral artery (MCA) aneurysms and two cases had internal carotid artery aneurysms. The clinical status on admission was Hunt-Hess grade (HHG) IV in seven patients and HHG III in two. Surgical evacuation of the clot was done immediately after the endovascular coil placement. The treatment results were a Glasgow Outcome Scale score of good recovery and moderate disability in six patients (66.7%). No mortality was recorded and no procedural morbidity was incurred by both the endovascular and direct craniotomy procedures. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that the coil embolization followed by clot evacuation for the patients with aneurysmal ICH may be a less invasive and quite a valuable alternative treatment for this patient group, and this warrants further investigation.
Treatment Outcome ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Retrospective Studies ; Middle Aged ; Male ; Intracranial Aneurysm/radiography/*therapy ; Humans ; Hematoma/radiography/*therapy ; Female ; Embolization, Therapeutic/*methods ; Drainage/*methods ; Cerebral Angiography ; Aneurysm, Ruptured/radiography/*therapy ; Adult

We report on two cases of microguidewire breakage that occurred during endovascular treatment of intracranial aneurysms. The microguidewire can be broken when a part of the wire is stuck due to vascular tortuosity, and, subsequently, application of excessive rotational movement. The mechanical and physical properties of a microguidewire are also important factors in microguidewire breakage. We also suggest technical tips for avoidance of this problem.
Aged ; *Catheters ; Device Removal ; Embolization, Therapeutic/*instrumentation ; *Equipment Failure ; Female ; Humans ; Intracranial Aneurysm/*therapy ; Middle Aged ; Radiography, Interventional/*instrumentation

Primitive trigeminal artery (PTA) and primitive otic artery (POA) is a very rare entity in adult life. We present a case of PTA and POA associated with a giant unruptured cavernous aneurysm in a 54-year-old woman. The PTA and the POA arose from the sac of the aneurysm directly, which greatly complicated endovascular therapy management.
*Cerebral Angiography ; Cerebral Arteries/*abnormalities ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Embolization, Therapeutic ; Female ; Humans ; Intracranial Aneurysm/*radiography/therapy ; Middle Aged

BACKGROUNDThe endovascular strategy of the huge dissecting aneurysms involving the basilar artery (BA) is controversial and challenging. This study was to investigate the clinical and angiographic outcomes of the treatment of the huge dissecting aneurysms involving the BA by the internal trapping (IT) technique.

METHODSWe retrospectively studied 15 patients with the huge dissecting aneurysms involving the BA treated by the IT technique between September 2005 and September 2014 in Department of Interventional Neuroradiology of Beijing Tiantan Hospital. Clinical and angiographic data were reviewed and evaluated.

RESULTSAll patients were treated by the IT technique. That meant the dissecting artery and aneurysm segments were completed occlusion. After the procedure, the angiography demonstrated that all the dissecting artery and aneurysm segments were completed occlusion. Follow-up angiography was performed at 3-6 months or 12-18 months after the endovascular treatment (median 8 months), 14 patients had a good recovery. Re-canalization occurred in one patient whose aneurysm involved in bilateral vertebral arteries and the two third of the middle-lower BA. After the second treatment, the patient died by the ventricular tachycardia.

CONCLUSIONSThe IT technique is a technically feasible and safe alternative for the treatment of BA dissecting aneurysms, but it is not necessarily the safest or most definitive treatment modality. The ideal treatment of the huge dissecting aneurysms involving the BA remains debatable and must be investigated on a case-by-case basis.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aneurysm, Dissecting ; diagnostic imaging ; therapy ; Basilar Artery ; diagnostic imaging ; Female ; Humans ; Intracranial Aneurysm ; diagnostic imaging ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Radiography ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

Wide-necked aneurysms of the posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) are infrequently encountered in cerebrovascular practice, and endovascular treatment is difficult or impossible even with the use of several neck remodeling techniques. We present the case of a patient with a wide-necked aneurysm of the PICA, which was treated by the retrograde stenting through the contralateral vertebral artery and vertebrobasilar junction with antegrade coil embolization.
Cerebellar Diseases/radiography/*therapy ; Cerebral Angiography ; Embolization, Therapeutic/instrumentation/*methods ; Humans ; Intracranial Aneurysm/radiography/*therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; *Stents ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

OBJECTIVE: The management of patients with ruptured cerebral aneurysms and severe vasospasm is subject to considerable controversy. We intended to describe herein an endovascular technique for the simultaneous treatment of aneurysms and vasospasm. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A series of 11 patients undergoing simultaneous endovascular treatment of ruptured aneurysms and vasospasm were reviewed. After placement of a guiding catheter within the proximal internal carotid artery for coil embolization, an infusion line of nimodipine was wired to one hub, and of a microcatheter was advanced through another hub (to select and deliver detachable coils). Nimodipine was then infused continuously during the coil embolization. RESULTS: This technique was applied to 11 ruptured aneurysms accompanied by vasospasm (anterior communicating artery, 6 patients; internal carotid artery, 2 patients; posterior communicating and middle cerebral arteries, 1 patient each). Aneurysmal occlusion by coils and nimodipine-induced angioplasty were simultaneously achieved, resulting in excellent outcomes for all patients, and there were no procedure-related complications. Eight patients required repeated nimodipine infusions. CONCLUSION: Our small series of patients suggests that the simultaneous endovascular management of ruptured cerebral aneurysms and vasospasm is a viable approach in patients presenting with subarachnoid hemorrhage and severe vasospasm.
Adult ; Aged ; Aneurysm, Ruptured/*therapy ; Carotid Artery, Internal/radiography ; Embolization, Therapeutic ; *Endovascular Procedures ; Female ; Humans ; Intracranial Aneurysm/*therapy ; Magnetic Resonance Angiography ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nimodipine/therapeutic use ; Retrospective Studies ; Vasodilator Agents/therapeutic use ; Vasospasm, Intracranial/*therapy

PURPOSE: The purpose was to evaluate the incidence and risk factors for rebleeding during cerebral angiography in ruptured intracranial aneurysms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Among 1896 patients with ruptured intracranial aneurysms between September 2006 and December 2013, a total of 11 patients who experienced rebleeding of the ruptured aneurysms during digital subtraction angiography (DSA) were recruited in this study. RESULTS: There were 184 patients (9.7%) who had suffered rebleeding prior to the securing procedure. Among them, 11 patients experienced rebleeding during DSA and other 173 patients at a time other than DSA. Eight (72.7%) of the 11 patients experienced rebleeding during three-dimensional rotational angiography (3DRA). The incidence of rebleeding during DSA was 0.6% in patients with ruptured intracranial aneurysms. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that aneurysm location in anterior circulation [odds ratio=14.286; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.877 to 250.0; p=0.048] and higher aspect ratio (odds ratio=3.040; 95% CI, 1.896 to 10.309; p=0.041) remained independent risk factors for rebleeding during DSA. CONCLUSION: Ruptured aneurysms located in anterior circulation with a high aspect ratio might have the risk of rebleeding during DSA, especially during 3DRA.
Adult ; Aged ; Aneurysm, Ruptured ; Angiography, Digital Subtraction/*methods ; Cerebral Angiography/*methods ; Female ; Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional/*methods ; Incidence ; Intracranial Aneurysm/epidemiology/*radiography/therapy ; Intracranial Hemorrhages/*epidemiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Recurrence ; Risk Factors ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

PURPOSE: The purpose was to evaluate the incidence and risk factors for rebleeding during cerebral angiography in ruptured intracranial aneurysms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Among 1896 patients with ruptured intracranial aneurysms between September 2006 and December 2013, a total of 11 patients who experienced rebleeding of the ruptured aneurysms during digital subtraction angiography (DSA) were recruited in this study. RESULTS: There were 184 patients (9.7%) who had suffered rebleeding prior to the securing procedure. Among them, 11 patients experienced rebleeding during DSA and other 173 patients at a time other than DSA. Eight (72.7%) of the 11 patients experienced rebleeding during three-dimensional rotational angiography (3DRA). The incidence of rebleeding during DSA was 0.6% in patients with ruptured intracranial aneurysms. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that aneurysm location in anterior circulation [odds ratio=14.286; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.877 to 250.0; p=0.048] and higher aspect ratio (odds ratio=3.040; 95% CI, 1.896 to 10.309; p=0.041) remained independent risk factors for rebleeding during DSA. CONCLUSION: Ruptured aneurysms located in anterior circulation with a high aspect ratio might have the risk of rebleeding during DSA, especially during 3DRA.
Adult ; Aged ; Aneurysm, Ruptured ; Angiography, Digital Subtraction/*methods ; Cerebral Angiography/*methods ; Female ; Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional/*methods ; Incidence ; Intracranial Aneurysm/epidemiology/*radiography/therapy ; Intracranial Hemorrhages/*epidemiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Recurrence ; Risk Factors ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

OBJECTIVE: Described herein is a microcatheter looping technique to facilitate aneurysm selection in paraclinoid aneurysms, which remains to be technically challenging due to the inherent complexity of regional anatomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study was approved by our Institutional Review Board, and informed consent was waived. Microcatheter looping method was employed in 59 patients with paraclinoid aneurysms between January 2012 and December 2013. In the described technique, construction of a microcatheter loop, which is steam-shaped or pre-shaped, based on the direction of aneurysms, is mandatory. The looped tip of microcatheter was advanced into distal internal carotid artery and positioned atop the target aneurysm. By steering the loop (via inner microguidewire) into the dome of aneurysm and easing tension on the microcatheter, the aneurysm was selected. Clinical and morphologic outcomes were assessed with emphasis on technical aspects of the treatment. RESULTS: Through this looping technique, a total of 59 paraclinoid aneurysms were successfully treated. After aneurysm selection as described, single microcatheter technique (n = 25) was most commonly used to facilitate coiling, followed by balloon protection (n = 21), stent protection (n = 7), multiple microcatheters (n = 3), and stent/balloon combination (n = 3). Satisfactory aneurysmal occlusion was achieved through coil embolization in 44 lesions (74.6%). During follow-up of 53 patients (mean interval, 10.9 +/- 5.9 months), only one instance (1.9%) of major recanalization was observed. There were no complications related to microcatheter looping. CONCLUSION: This microcatheter looping method facilitates safe and effective positioning of microcatheter into domes of paraclinoid aneurysms during coil embolization when other traditional microcatheter selection methods otherwise fail.
Adult ; Carotid Artery, Internal/radiography/*surgery ; Catheterization/methods ; Cerebral Angiography/methods ; Embolization, Therapeutic/*methods ; Female ; Humans ; Intracranial Aneurysm/*therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Stents