ObjectiveTo explore efficacy,durability and possible impacts on life quality of carotid occlusion treatment to carotid cavernous fistula (CCF) patients.MethodsCCF patients since 2001 were retrospectively analyzed,the clinical features,2 weeks post procedure mRS score and ratio of carotid occlusion were recorded.Headache impact test (HIT-6) and Short form health survey(SF-36) were used to assess impact of sequelae in patients' daily life,by phone call,questionnaire and clinic recheck.Results Total 96 cases were studied composed of 81 direct CCF and 15 dural AVF.Thirty-two direct CCF cases underwent carotid occlusion during procedure and many ophthalmologic signs but visual impairment got recovery after 2 weeks,the mRS score less than 2 were revealed.The one year post operation HIT-6 score more than 50 was more likely found in carotid occlusion cases comparing with those preserved carotid artery while the 3 year SF-36 scores of carotid occlusion cases revealed inferior to those with patent artery,especially in body pain,general health and vitality subscales.ConclusionCarotid occlusion seems to be a feasible,effective and durable alternative for CCF treatment,but which could play a negative role on quality of patients' life in the long run.

Objective To evaluate the feasibility,efficacy and complication of early middle cerebral artery(MCA) mechanical recanalization(MER) for treatment of acute ischemic stroke.Methods Seven cases undergone MER of MCA for the treatment of acute cerebral infarct were retrospectively reviewed and analyzed,including the etiology,mechanism,Qureshi grading scale,location and size of infarcts,NIHSS score of pre and post procedure,endovascular technique and complications.Referring to the literature,the indications of MCA recanalization were further identified.Results A total of 7 cases with mean age of 48 yrs were reviewed,which included 3 cases of atherosclerotic thrombosis and 4 embolic cases with pre NIHSS score ranging from 3 to 22.Mechanical recanalization succeeded in 6 cases,but 2 cases of cardiogenic embolism died of intrac ranial hemorrhage postoperatively.Favorable clinical outcomes were achieved in 4 cases whereas 1 deteriorated.Overall complications seemed to be consistent with literatures reviewed.Conclusions Early MER of MCA may benefit to a certain subset of acute ischemia stroke patients,however,embolic cases,elder patients and those with severe neurologic deficits are often accompanied by higher complications and unfavorable outcome.

Objective To evaluate the technical feasibility,safety and treatment effect of endovascular revascularization of symptomatic sub-acute and chronic intracranial vertebrobasilar artery occlusion.Methods Twenty-one consecutive patients with symptomatic sub-acute and chronic intracranial vertebrobasilar occlusion underwent endovascular revascularization.Perioperative complications and recurrent events during the follow-up period were recorded. The modified Rankin scale ( mRS ) scores and blood stream thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) scores for all patients preoperatively,postoperatively and at follow-up were evaluated.The results were analyzed using Wilcoxon rank sum test and Fisher exact test.Results All 21 patients but 1 (95.2％,20/21 ) obtained successful recanalization. After the procedure,9 patients showed improvements,10 were stable,and 2 worse. The decline of median mRS scores,which was 4 preoperatively [ inter-quartile range ( IR ) 2.5-5.0 ] and 4 ( IR 1.0-5.0 ) on discharge from the hospital respectively,showed significant statistical difference (Z =2.810,P ＜ 0.01 ).Three ( 14.3％ ) patients suffered periprocedural complications,namely basal arterial dissection,intra-stent thrombosis and postoperatively acute occlusion in each one.There was no death,stoke or recurrent transient ischemic attack (TIA) occurring 30 days after the procedure. During the 7 months after operation,which was the mean clinical follow-up duration,TIA and recurrent stoke occurred in one patient respectively,and two patients died of systemic complications. The median mRS scores were 2.0 (IR 1.0-4.0 )in all 21 patients and 1 ( IR 1.0-4.0) in the surviving subjects.Conclusions Endovascular revascularization for the recanalization of symptomatic sub-acute and chronic vertebrobasilar artery occlusion is technically feasible,and helps to prevent ischemic events and improve disability recovery. However,its exact effect needs further verification by future random controlled studies.

Objective To assess the safety, feasibility, short-and mid-term efficacy of wingspan stent for treating patients with symptomatic intracranial artery stenosis. Methods A total of 113 patients with severe symptomatic intracranial stenosis were enrolled and Gateway-wingspan stenting were performed on all patients. The technical success, the pre- and post-stenting stenosis, perioperative complications, clinical outcome and restenosis rates were recorded, and chi-square test was used for analysis of complication rate by comparing our results with the results of Warfarin-Aspirin Symptomatic Intracranial Disease (WASID) study and NIH multi-center Wingspan stenting trial. Results The technical success rate was 99. 1% ( 112/113). The mean pre and post-stent stenoses were (80.7 ± 9.3)% and (27.7 ± 9.7)% (χ2 =9.397,P < 0. 05 ). The total complication rate was 4.4% (5/113 ) during the follow-up ( mean 14. 5 months, range 1-28 months), and the frequency of restenosis was 12. 5% (5/40) at 6 months. The primary endpoint events, ischemic stroke, and lesion-related ischemic stroke were lower in our study (4.5%, 3.5%,3.5% ) compared with the results of WASID trial (21.1%, 20. 4%, 15.0% ,P<0. 05). For those with poor outcome in the three high-risk sub-groups which were with more than 70% stenosis, or last event from the treatment was less than 17 days, or NIHSS was above 1, a better outcome was observed in our group (4. 5% ,4. 7% and 2. 0% in our study, 19.0%, 17.0% and 19. 6% in previous study, P < 0. 05). The medium-term efficacy in this group (4. 5% ) significantly improved compared with NIH study ( 14. 0% ,P <0. 05 ). Conclusions Wingspan stenting for symptomatic intracranial arterial stenosis is with good safety,feasibility and low perioperative stroke rate and mortality. The incidence of primary endpoint events and the ischemic events are lower than those of medication group, and the efficacy of stenting is significantly better than medication even in high-risk population.

Objective To evaluate the technical feasibility,safety and mid-term effect of endovascular revascularization of nonacute intracranial vertebrobasilar artery occlusion.Methods Consecutive data of patients who suffered from nonacute intracranial vertebrobasilar artery occlusion beyond 24 hours and underwent endovascular revascularization,were retrospectively collected and analyzed.Complications and recurrent events during the follow-up period were recorded.The modified Rankin scale (mRS) scores were used to compare the symptoms before and after the procedure.Results All 27 patients but 1 (96.3％) obtained successful recanalization.After the procedure,13 patients showed improvements,11 were stable,and 3 worse.The decline of median mRS scores,which was 4 [interquarter range(IR),2-5) preoperatively and 3 (IR,1-5) on discharge,showed significant statistical difference (Z =3.116,P =0.002).Five patients had procedural complications,namely 2 dissection,1 in-stent thrombosis during the operation,1 thrombus disruption and translocation during the operation and 1 acute reocclusion after operation.During the follow-up period with the median of 21 months,3 death,1 stroke and 2 transient ischemic attack occurred.The latest median mRS scores were 1 (IR,0-3).The ratio of patients with mRS ≤ 2 increased from 25.9％ (7/27) before operation to 63.0％ (17/27) at the follow up.Seventeen patients received imaging follow-up during the 9 months,with restenosis in 6 and symptom in 3 of them.Subgroup analyses revealed better functional recovery (lower mRS) both in patients with vertebral artery occlusion (Z =2.111,P =0.035) and those with basilar artery occlusion (Z =2.333,P =0.020).Conclusions Endovascular revascularization for the nonacute intracranial vertebrobasilar artery occlusion beyond 24 hours is technically feasible,and improves disability recovery.However,the rates of procedural complication and restenosis are high.

Objective To retrospectively evaluate the cerebrovascular complications from stenting for symptomatic intracranial stenosis and to detect the factors associated with complications.Methods Medical records of Wingspan stenting were reviewed for 306 cases with symptomatic intracranial stenosis from July 2007 to February 2012,including transient ischemic attack,ischemic stroke,death and intracranial hemorrhage as clinical in-hospital complications.The location of lesions included middle cerebral artery level M1 (114 lesions),intracranial portion of the internal carotid artery (50 lesions),vertebral artery 4(75 lesions),venebro-basilar artery (14 lesions),basilar artery (76 lesions).Complications were evaluated and analyzed to find out whether they were associated with patient-or stenosis-related risk factors using x2test.Results The technical success rate was 99％ (303/306).Cerebrovascular complications rate was 6.9％ (21/303),with 1.6％ (14/303) of disabling stroke events and 0.7％ (2/303) of deaths.Hemorrhagic events were consisted of procedure-related events (3 cases),hyperperfusion (3 cases),ischemic events of perforator stroke (8 cases),transient ischemic attack (3 cases),embolization (2 cases),thrombosis in stent (2 cases).Hemorrhagic events were associated with significantly higher morbidity and mortality rates(x2 =2.908,P ＜ 0.05) and occurred more frequently after treatment of middle cerebral artery stenosis than other lesions(x2 =1.168,P ＜ 0.05).Perforating branches were detected to be affected mainly in the basilar artery than other locations (x2 =4.263,P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion The complication rates in the study are preliminary consistent with the previously published data.Hemorrhagic events are prone to occur in the treatment of middle cerebral artery stenosis,while perforating branches are affected mainly in the basilar artery.

Objective To evaluate the mid-and long-term follow-up outcome of revascularization and stenting of nonacute intracranial vertebrobasilar artery occlusion. Methods Consecutive data of 27 patients who suffered from nonacute intracranial vertebrobasilar artery occlusion beyond 24 hours and underwent endovascular revascularization, were retrospectively collected and analyzed. Complications and recurrent ischemic events during the follow-up period were recorded. The modified Rankin scale(mRS) scores were used and compared between pre-and postoperation. Results All 27 patients except one(96.3%) obtained successful recanalization. After the procedure, 13 patients showed improvement, 11 were stable, and 3 worse. The decline of median mRS scores, which was 4(interquarter range-IR, 2-5) preoperatively and 3(IR, 1-5) on discharge. Five patients suffered from procedural complications and three of them resulted in aggravation. Nineteen patients received imaging follow-up during the median 10 months, 6 restenosis occurred and 3 of them were symptomatic. During median 55 months clinical follow-up after operation, 2 ipsilateral stroke and 2 ipsilateral transient ischemic attack occurred. The mRS scores decreased significantly in the first one year after procedure. Conclusions Revascularization and stenting of nonacute intracranial vertebrobasilar artery occlusion can prevent recurrent ipsilateral ischemic event and improve disability recovery in the first one year.

he improvement of operation skill and stent system, a better outcome in the future could be achieved.

Objective To evaluate the incidence,potential hazards and effective countermeasure for perforator stroke (PS) resulting from stent angioplasty of symptomatic intracranial artery stenosis.Methods Peri-operation PS complications of 258 patients receiving Gateway balloon-Wingspan stenting for severe symptomatic intracranial stenosis were analyzed.The incidence,clinical course,and prognosis of PS resulting from stenting were recorded.Special attention was given to the anatomical features,clinical manifestation and video materials of patients with PS.x2 test was used for statistics.Results Two hundred and fifty-five patients received stent angioplasty successfully and 7 patients had PS ( incidence rate 2.7％ ).The patients with basilar artery stenosis had a higher incidence of PS resulting from intracranial stenting (6.1％,4/66) than patients with middle cerebral artery stenosis (2.5％,3/118) (x2 =2.320,P =0.025 ).The potential hazards for PS included preoperative perforator stroke adjacent to the stenotic segment and prominent dissection during operation.Six patients presented symptoms after awake from general anaesthesia and one had symptoms 3 hours after stenting.One deteriorated gradually and the others reached the maximum deficit almost at once.At the follow-up of 3 months,3 patients were disabled and scored one,two,two by mRS respectively.Conclusion The incidence of PS resulting from intracranial stenting was low and the prognosis was not disastrous.Stenosis at basilar artery and preoperative perforator stroke adjacent to the stenotic segment were potential risk factors for PS complication.Proper maneuver of angioplasty may decrease the incidence of PS and improve the prognosis.