Faculty Bibliography

BACKGROUND:The Woven EndoBridge (WEB) devices have been used for treating wide neck bifurcation aneurysms (WNBAs) with several generational enhancements to improve clinical outcomes. The original device dual-layer (WEB DL) was replaced by a single-layer (WEB SL) device in 2013. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness and safety of these devices in managing intracranial aneurysms. METHODS:A multicenter cohort study was conducted, and data from 1,289 patients with intracranial aneurysms treated with either the WEB SL or WEB DL devices were retrospectively analyzed. Propensity score matching was utilized to balance the baseline characteristics between the two groups. Outcomes assessed included immediate occlusion rate, complete occlusion at last follow-up, retreatment rate, device compaction, and aneurysmal rupture. RESULTS:Before propensity score matching, patients treated with the WEB SL had a significantly higher rate of complete occlusion at the last follow-up and a lower rate of retreatment. After matching, there was no significant difference in immediate occlusion rate, retreatment rate, or device compaction between the WEB SL and DL groups. However, the SL group maintained a higher rate of complete occlusion at the final follow-up. Regression analysis showed that SL was associated with higher rates of complete occlusion (OR: 0.19; CI: 0.04 to 0.8, p = 0.029) and lower rates of retreatment (OR: 0.12; CI: 0 to 4.12, p = 0.23). CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:The WEB SL and DL devices demonstrated similar performances in immediate occlusion rates and retreatment requirements for intracranial aneurysms. The SL device showed a higher rate of complete occlusion at the final follow-up.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES/OBJECTIVE:Inherent complex angioarchitecture associated with ethmoidal dural arteriovenous fistulas (dAVFs) can make endovascular treatment methods challenging. Many surgical approaches are accompanied by unfavorable cosmetic results such as facial scarring. Blepharoplasty incision of the eyelid offers a minimal, well-hidden scar compared with other incision sites while offering the surgeon optimal visualization of pathogenic structures. This case series aims to report an initial assessment of the safety and efficacy of supraorbital craniotomy by blepharoplasty transpalpebral (eyelid) incision for surgical disconnection of ethmoidal dAVFs. METHODS:Retrospective chart review was conducted for all patients who underwent blepharoplasty incision and craniotomy for disconnection of ethmoidal dAVFs at our institution between October 2011 and February 2023. Patient charts and follow-up imaging were reviewed to report clinical and angiographic outcomes as well as periprocedural and follow-up complications. RESULTS:Complete obliteration and disconnection of ethmoidal dAVF was achieved in all 6 (100%) patients as confirmed by intraoperative angiogram with no resulting morbidity or mortality. Periprocedural complications included one case of transient nasal cerebrospinal fluid leak that was self-limiting and resolved before discharge without intervention. CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:Surgical treatment for ethmoidal dAVFs, specifically by transpalpebral incision and supraorbital craniotomy, is a safe and effective treatment option and affords the surgeon greater access to the floor of the anterior fossa when necessary. In addition, blepharoplasty incision addressed patient concerns for facial scarring compared with other incision sites by creating a more well-hidden, minimal scar in the natural folds of the eyelid for patients with an eyelid crease.

OBJECTIVE:Direct cerebral revascularization is considered as one of the most technically challenging operations in neurosurgery. Technical errors are often not identified during the case, but only after the recirculation stage, making management crucial at that time of the procedure. In this study, the authors sought to describe troubleshooting of the technical errors encountered in initially failed bypass cases. METHODS:A retrospective analysis describing a single-surgeon, single-institution experience between 2014 and 2021 was performed, based on operative reports and videos, including a 30-day follow-up period. Initially failed bypass was defined if the bypass was not patent or had a significant leak after recirculation, irrespective of the final result. RESULTS:One hundred thirty-eight bypass cases were reviewed for complex aneurysms (n = 49), moyamoya disease (n = 59), and atherosclerosis (n = 30). Fifty-one initially failed anastomoses were identified; 43 of these were the result of a technical error. Etiologies of these failed anastomoses included a clot (n = 14), vessel kinking (n = 4), spasm (n = 5), suture-related cause (n = 5), inappropriate donor or recipient (n = 3), or lack of demand (n = 8). A major leak was attributed to an uncoagulated side branch (n = 4), vessel injury due to suture/clip placement (n = 1), or inadequate suture line coverage (n = 7). Thirty-seven (86%) of 43 cases were troubleshot successfully, as salvage maneuvers included papaverine vessel massage, donor repositioning, re-anastomosis for occlusion in select cases, local hemostatic agents, and suturing or coagulating side branches in a leak. Thirty-day follow-up revealed similar rates of patency between successfully troubleshot patients (35/37) and the rest of the cases (80/87, p = 0.6). CONCLUSIONS:Three major patterns of a noncompatible bypass were found: a major leak, an acute occlusion, or a delayed occlusion. Based on the authors' experience, salvage strategies proved successful, showing an eventual high patency rate. The authors suggest a gradual, structured algorithm to address this stage in surgery that may contribute specifically to cerebrovascular neurosurgeons at the beginning of their careers.

OBJECTIVE:To examine the usefulness of carotid web (CW), carotid bifurcation and their combined angioarchitectural measurements in assessing stroke risk. METHODS:Anatomic data on the internal carotid artery (ICA), common carotid artery (CCA), and the CW were gathered as part of a retrospective study from symptomatic (stroke) and asymptomatic (nonstroke) patients with CW. We built a model of stroke risk using principal-component analysis, Firth regression trained with 5-fold cross-validation, and heuristic binary cutoffs based on the Minimal Description Length principle. RESULTS:The study included 22 patients, with a mean age of 55.9 ± 12.8 years; 72.9% were female. Eleven patients experienced an ischemic stroke. The first 2 principal components distinguished between patients with stroke and patients without stroke. The model showed that ICA-pouch tip angle (P = 0.036), CCA-pouch tip angle (P = 0.036), ICA web-pouch angle (P = 0.036), and CCA web-pouch angle (P = 0.036) are the most important features associated with stroke risk. Conversely, CCA and ICA anatomy (diameter and angle) were not found to be risk factors. CONCLUSIONS:This pilot study shows that using data from computed tomography angiography, carotid bifurcation, and CW angioarchitecture may be used to assess stroke risk, allowing physicians to tailor care for each patient according to risk stratification.

Patients with stroke symptoms due to acute basilar artery occlusion can benefit from endovascular thrombectomy.1 2 Several papers have reported unwanted events during thrombectomy procedures such as breakage, fragmentation, or even intravascular migration of the devices or catheter pieces. These papers also presented methods or techniques to retrieve defective devices such as a snare, retrievable stents, or balloons.3-6Video 1 presents a case of basilar thrombectomy that was complicated with fragmentation and then distal migration of a Marksman microcatheter tip into the left posterior cerebral artery. The video shows the bailout technique that was used to retrieve the migrated catheter tip using a gentle/simple and posterior circulation-friendly technique-a technique based on fundamental neurointerventional concepts.neurintsurg;jnis-2022-019687v1/V1F1V1Video 1 This video demonstrates the use of a bailout technique to retrieve a migrated microcatehter tip after basilar artery thrombectomy.

UNLABELLED:The superior hypophyseal arteries (SHAs) are well known in anatomical and surgical literature, with a well-established role in supply of the anterior hypophysis and superjacent optic apparatus. However, due to small size and overlap with other vessels, in vivo imaging by any modality has been essentially non-existent. Advances in high resolution cone beam CT angiography (CBCTA) now enables this deficiency to be addressed. This paper presents, to the best of our knowledge, the first comprehensive in vivo imaging evaluation of the SHAs. METHODS:Twenty-five CBCTA studies of common or internal carotid arteries were obtained for a variety of clinical reasons. Dedicated secondary reconstructions of the siphon were performed, recording the presence, number, and supply territory of SHAs. A spectrum approach, emphasizing balance with adjacent territories (inferior hypophyseal, ophthalmic, posterior and communicating region arteries) was investigated. RESULTS:The SHAs were present in all cases. Supply of the anterior pituitary was nearly universal (96%) and almost half (44%) originated from the 'cave' region, in excellent agreement with surgical literature. Optic apparatus supply was more difficult to adjudicate, but appeared present in most cases. The relationship with superior hypophyseal aneurysms was consistent. Patency following flow diverter placement was typical, despite a presumably rich collateral network. Embryologic implications with respect to the ophthalmic artery and infraoptic course of the anterior cerebral artery are intriguing. CONCLUSIONS:SHAs are consistently seen with CBCTA, allowing for correlation with existing anatomical and surgical literature, laying the groundwork for future in vivo investigation.

BACKGROUND:We report the largest multicenter experience to date of utilizing the Comaneci device for endovascular treatment of refractory intracranial vasospasm. METHODS:Consecutive patients undergoing Comaneci mechanical dilatation for vasospasm were extracted from prospectively maintained registries in 11 North American centers (2020-2022). Intra-arterial vasodilators (IAV) were allowed, with the Comaneci device utilized after absence of vessel dilation post-infusion. Pre- and post-vasospasm treatment scores were recorded for each segment, with primary radiological outcome of score improvement post-treatment. Primary clinical outcome was safety/device-related complications, with secondary endpoints of functional outcomes at last follow-up. RESULTS:A total of 129 vessels in 40 patients (median age 52 years; 67.5% females) received mechanical dilation, 109 of which (84.5%) exhibited pre-treatment severe-to-critical vasospasm (ie, score 3/4). Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage was the most common etiology of vasospasm (85%), with 65% of procedures utilizing Comaneci-17 (92.5% of patients received IAV). The most treated segments were anterior cerebral artery (34.9%) and middle cerebral artery (31%). Significant vasospasm drop (pre-treatment score (3-4) to post-treatment (0-2)) was achieved in 89.9% of vessels (96.1% of vessels experienced ≥1-point drop in score post-treatment). There were no major procedural/post-procedural device-related complications. Primary failure (ie, vessel unresponsive) was encountered in one vessel (1 patient) (1/129; 0.8%) while secondary failure (ie, recurrence in previously treated segment requiring retreatment in another procedure) occurred in 16 vessels (7 patients) (16/129; 12.4%), with median time-to-retreatment of 2 days. Favorable clinical outcome (modified Rankin Scale 0-2) was noted in 51.5% of patients (median follow-up 6 months). CONCLUSIONS:The Comaneci device provides a complementary strategy for treatment of refractory vasospasm with reasonable efficacy/favorable safety. Future prospective trials are warranted.

BACKGROUND:The new sonolucent cranioplasty implant (clear polymethyl methacrylate, PMMA) adds functionality besides surgical reconstruction. One possible application uses the transcranioplasty ultrasound (TCUS) technique after PMMA cranioplasty to assess graft patency of extracranial-intracranial (EC-IC) bypass procedures. OBJECTIVE:To report our early multicenter experience. METHODS:This is a multicenter analysis of consecutive EC-IC bypass patients from 5 US centers (2019-2022) with closure postbypass using PMMA implant. RESULTS:Forty-four patients (median age 53 years, 68.2% females) were included. The most common indication for bypass was Moyamoya disease/syndrome (77.3%), and superficial temporal artery to middle cerebral artery bypass was the most common procedure (79.5%). Pretreatment modified Rankin Scales of 0 and 1 to 2 were noted in 11.4% and 59.1% of patients, respectively. Intraoperative imaging for bypass patency involved a combination of modalities; Doppler was the most used modality (90.9%) followed by indocyanine green and catheter angiography (86.4% and 61.4%, respectively). Qualitative TCUS assessment of graft patency was feasible in all cases. Postoperative inpatient TCUS confirmation of bypass patency was recorded in 56.8% of the cases, and outpatient TCUS surveillance was recorded in 47.7%. There were no cases of bypass failure necessitating retreatment. Similarly, no implant-related complications were encountered in the cohort. Major complications requiring additional surgery occurred in 2 patients (4.6%) including epidural hematoma requiring evacuation (2.3%) and postoperative surgical site infection (2.3%) that was believed to be unrelated to the implant. CONCLUSION:This multicenter study supports safety and feasibility of using sonolucent PMMA implant in EC-IC bypass surgery with the goal of monitoring bypass patency using TCUS.