Objective: Reperfusion therapy, such as intravenous tissue-plasminogen activator (IV-tPA) and mechanical thrombectomy (MT) for acute ischemic stroke, may increase the incidence of acute symptomatic seizure (ASS) and post-stroke epilepsy (PSE). This study aimed to analyze the effect and predictors of reperfusion therapy for ASS and PSE limited to large-vessel occlusions (LVOs).
Methods: This retrospective study classified 237 subjects with LVO into four groups: (1) IV-tPA + MT+ (n = 74 cases, (2) MT only (n = 82), (3) tissue-plasminogen activator (tPA) only (n = 28), and (4) IV-tPA – MT– (n = 53). The incidences of ASS and PSE were assessed. Potential predictors, such as etiology, functional disability, neuroimaging findings, and the SeLECT score, were statistically analyzed.
Results: There were 12 (5.1%) subjects with ASS and 10 subjects (4.2%) with PSE. The IV-tPA and MT groups had significantly high reperfusion rates, with a Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction score ≥2c (p = 0.01) but there were no significant differences in the increases of hemorrhagic transformation, ASS, and PSE. An Alberta Stroke Program Early Computed Tomography Score <6 was a significant predictor of ASS (p = 0.01), and an infarct volume >60 ml was a significant predictor of PSE (p = 0.01).
Conclusion: Reperfusion therapy for acute LVO was not found to increase the risk of ASS and PSE. Large-sized infarctions should be treated with care in PSE.
Objective: The angiography systems A (A) and B (B), both incorporated at our hospital, are equipped with metal artifact reduction (MAR) applications. In clinical practice, it is crucial to understand the characteristics of MAR in both systems given that endovascular treatments are occasionally administered with both. In this study, we compared the artifact reduction effects of MAR on equipment A and B and clarified the differences between the two systems.
Methods: An artifact evaluation phantom was created using a cylindrical water phantom and an iodine contrast medium. The phantom was imaged, MAR processing was performed on the obtained images, and an isotropic quantitative evaluation of artifacts was performed by extreme value statistical analysis using the Gumbel distribution.
Results: The MAR reduction effects were approximately 45% and 40% for equipment A and B at concentrations of 8300 and 6000, respectively. The MAR reduction effect in both devices exhibited different trends depending on the concentration.
Conclusion: In clinical procedures that make use of absorbents in medium concentrations of approximately 3000–5000, such as n-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate and Onyx, it is necessary to understand the MAR characteristics of both devices and consider the use of alternative devices as an option.
Objective: Treatment of anterior choroidal artery (AChA) aneurysms is frequently associated with ischemic complications. This study aimed to report the outcomes of treatment of unruptured AChA aneurysms in our hospital.
Methods: Between January 2015 and March 2022, 40 patients were treated for an unruptured AChA aneurysm in our hospital. Age, sex, aneurysm size, AChA branching type, treatment, occlusion rate, complications, modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score before surgery and after 90 days, and recurrence were investigated. The branching type was classified as internal carotid artery (ICA), neck, or dome type based on the location of the AChA origin.
Results: The mean age was 61.1 ± 1.9 years; 15 patients were men and 25 were women. The mean aneurysm diameter was 4.4 ± 0.3 mm. The branching type was ICA in four patients, neck in 35, and dome in one. Treatment was surgical clipping in 22 patients and endovascular coil embolization in 18 (14 with stent assistance). Motor-evoked potential (MEP) monitoring was used in all patients of the clipping group and 9 cases of the coiling group. Treatment complications occurred in eight patients (20%). mRS score worsened by more than one point 90 days after treatment in four patients (10%); however, the proportion of patients who experienced this did not significantly differ between the clipping and coiling groups. Although the odds of a thrombotic complication were higher with coiling than clipping, the difference was not significant (odds ratio: 10.2; P = 0.08). The rate of complete occlusion was lower in the coiling group (72.2% vs. 95.3%), but the difference was not significant. The median follow-up was 696 days (range: 99–2053). No aneurysm recurrence or rupture occurred.
Conclusion: AChA branching type is important for treatment decision-making in patients with AChA aneurysms. Rates of complications and occlusion do not significantly differ between clipping and coiling of AChA aneurysms. MEP monitoring may be useful in preventing thrombotic complications during coil embolization.
Objective: Recently, the use of the radial artery approach for neuroendovascular treatment has become more frequent. The main advantage of this approach is that there is a low complication risk. However, in the aforementioned case, the 6F guiding sheath proved difficult to remove from the radial artery.
Case Presentation: A 60-year-old female patient presented with an unruptured basilar tip aneurysm, which we treated with coil embolization under general anesthesia. We performed paracentesis on the right radial artery and inserted a 6F Axcelguide. The radial artery is bifurcated at the brachial region. We guided the Axcelguide to the right subclavian artery and filled the aneurysm with a coil. After embolization, we attempted to remove the Axcelguide. However, we encountered extreme resistance, and removal proved difficult. We injected verapamil, isosorbide nitrate, nitroglycerin, and papaverine hydrochloride intra-arterially and subcutaneously into the forearm and then performed a brachial plexus block. Unfortunately, the situation remained unchanged. We attempted to slowly remove the catheter with the vascular mass remaining adhered to it. We transected the radial artery in the middle. We could not achieve hemostasis through manual compression and thus injected n-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate intra-arterially. Postoperatively, the patient experienced mild subcutaneous hematoma and pain.
Conclusion: We consider reporting this case valuable because no previous studies have described similar difficulties in removing a 6F guiding sheath from the radial artery.