Delayed Endovascular Revascularization in a Patient With Progressive Neurological Deterioration From Bilateral Intracranial Vertebral Artery Occlusions: Case Report

Neurosurgery ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 69 (1) ◽  
pp. E251-E256 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher S Ogilvy ◽  
Alexander A Khalessi ◽  
Erik F Hauck ◽  
Larry R Shannon ◽  
L Nelson Hopkins ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vertebral Artery ◽  
Posterior Inferior Cerebellar Artery ◽  
Arterial Occlusion ◽  
Posterior Circulation ◽  
Vertebrobasilar Insufficiency ◽  
Endovascular Revascularization ◽  
Left Posterior ◽  
Cerebellar Artery ◽  
History Of ◽  
Cranial Neuropathies

Abstract BACKGROUND AND IMPORTANCE: This article describes delayed endovascular revascularization in a patient with clinical and radiographic evidence of posterior circulation hemodynamic failure in the setting of intracranial occlusive lesions. CLINICAL PRESENTATION: A 48-year-old man presented with a 6-week history of progressive headache, nausea, and ataxia. Bilateral intracranial vertebral artery occlusions and a left posterior inferior cerebellar artery stroke were diagnosed, and the patient began warfarin therapy. Despite these measures, the patient developed dense lower cranial neuropathies, including severe dysarthria, decreased left-sided hearing acuity, and left facial droop. He presented at this point for endovascular evaluation. The patient underwent successful revascularization with intravascular Wingspan stents (Boston Scientific, Natick, Massachusetts) in a delayed fashion (approximately 6 weeks after his initial stroke presentation). His neurological syndrome stabilized and began to improve slowly. CONCLUSION: Patients with arterial occlusion should be evaluated acutely for potential revascularization. In the posterior circulation, clinical progression may supplant physiological imaging in the assessment of hemodynamic collapse. A subpopulation of patients will present with progressive deficits distinct from extracranial manifestations of vertebrobasilar insufficiency; these patients should be considered for delayed revascularization.

Transcirculation Endovascular Treatment of Complex Cerebral Aneurysms: Technical Considerations and Preliminary Results

Neurosurgery ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 68 (3) ◽  
pp. 820-830 ◽  
Author(s):  
Felipe C Albuquerque ◽  
L Fernando Gonzalez ◽  
Yin C Hu ◽  
C Benjamin Newman ◽  
Cameron G McDougall
Keyword(s):  
Vertebral Artery ◽  
Posterior Inferior Cerebellar Artery ◽  
Cerebral Aneurysms ◽  
Posterior Circulation ◽  
Alternative Pathways ◽  
Complex Aneurysms ◽  
Cerebellar Artery ◽  
Kissing Balloon Technique ◽  
Posterior Circulation Aneurysms ◽  
History Of

Abstract BACKGROUND: Unfavorable anatomy can preclude embolization of intracranial aneurysms. Transcirculation techniques, in which a catheter is navigated from one side of the brain to the other or from the anterior to the posterior circulation, are alternative pathways for primary or balloon- or stent-assisted coiling. OBJECTIVE: We report the largest experience in coil embolization of aneurysms using transcirculation techniques. METHODS: We reviewed our endovascular database from 2006 to 2009 and identified 18 patients who had aneurysms treated with transcirculation techniques. RESULTS: Eight patients had anterior and 10 had posterior circulation aneurysms. Overall, 8 patients were treated with stent-assisted coiling and 9 with balloon-assisted coiling, including 1 patient treated with a “kissing balloon” technique. Of the 9 patients treated with balloon-assistance, 1 also was stented at the conclusion of aneurysm coiling. One patient with a left fourth vertebral artery (V4) aneurysm was treated with coiling alone via a bilateral vertebral artery (VA) approach. In 14 patients, the anterior communicating and posterior communicating arteries were used as conduits. In 4 patients, both VAs were traversed to treat 2 V4 aneurysms and 2 posterior inferior cerebellar artery aneurysms. One patient died as a result of treatment and was the only permanent complication (5.6%). Complete or near-complete (>95%) embolization was achieved in all patients. CONCLUSION: Transcirculation techniques are effective pathways for embolization of complex aneurysms. Although technically challenging, these techniques are associated with an acceptably low rate of complications when compared to the natural history of the treated lesion.

Intracranial Vertebral Endarterectomy

Neurosurgery ◽  
1990 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 465-471 ◽  
Author(s):  
James I. Ausman ◽  
Fernando G. Diaz ◽  
Balaji Sadasivan ◽  
Manuel Dujovny
Keyword(s):  
Vertebral Artery ◽  
Medical Therapy ◽  
Superficial Temporal Artery ◽  
Posterior Inferior Cerebellar Artery ◽  
Temporal Artery ◽  
Superior Cerebellar Artery ◽  
Focal Lesion ◽  
Cerebellar Infarction ◽  
Vertebrobasilar Insufficiency ◽  
Cerebellar Artery

Abstract Intracranial vertebral endarterectomy was performed on six patients with vertebrobasilar insufficiency in whom medical therapy failed. The patients underwent operations for stenotic plaque in the intracranial vertebral artery with the opposite vertebral artery being occluded, hypoplastic, or severely stenosed. In four of the patients, the stenosis was mainly proximal to the posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA). In this group, after endarterectomy, the vertebral artery was patent in two patients, and their symptoms resolved: in one patient the endarterectomy occluded, but the patient's symptoms improved; and in one patient the endarterectomy was unsuccessful, and he continued to have symptoms. In one patient, the plaque was at the origin of the PICA. The operation appeared technically to be successful, but the patient developed a cerebellar infarction and died. In one patient the stenosis was distal to the PICA. During endarterectomy, the plaque was found to invade the posterior wall of the vertebral artery. The vertebral artery was ligated, and the patient developed a Wallenburg syndrome. The results of superficial temporal artery to superior cerebellar artery anastomosis are better than those for intracranial vertebral endarterectomy for patients with symptomatic intracranial vertebral artery stenosis. The use of intracranial vertebral endarterectomy should be limited to patients who have disabling symptoms despite medical therapy, a focal lesion proximal to the PICA, and a patent posterior circulation collateral or bypass.

SUCCESSFUL STENTING BY COMBINATION TECHNIQUE OF REVERSE FLOW AND DOWNSTREAM FILTERING FOR LONG CHRONIC TOTAL OCCLUSION OF THE CERVICAL VERTEBRAL ARTERY

Neurosurgery ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 65 (2) ◽  
pp. E378-E379 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomonori Iwata ◽  
Takahisa Mori ◽  
Hiroyuki Tajiri ◽  
Masahito Nakazaki
Keyword(s):  
Vertebral Artery ◽  
Chronic Total Occlusion ◽  
Reverse Flow ◽  
Posterior Inferior Cerebellar Artery ◽  
Vertebrobasilar Insufficiency ◽  
Total Occlusion ◽  
Combination Technique ◽  
Left Posterior ◽  
The Right ◽  
Distal Filter

Abstract OBJECTIVE To report a case of successful recanalization using the combination technique of reverse flow and downstream filtering in chronic total occlusion of the bilateral vertebral artery (VA). Clinical Presentation A 59-year-old man had experienced attacks consisting of vertigo and/or dysarthria more than 1 year before presentation. He experienced symptoms despite the administration of antiplatelet drugs and presented to our institution. Diagnostic cerebral angiography demonstrated that the right VA was not occluded at the ostium but, rather, along its midcervical portion and that the left VA ended in the left posterior inferior cerebellar artery. Intervention Long chronic total occlusion of the right cervical VA was recanalized successfully and safely by reverse flow and downstream filtering with proximal flow blockade and a distal filter device positioned in the right brachial artery. Follow-up angiography at 1 year demonstrated no re-occlusion. The patient's symptoms disappeared after recanalization and did not recur. To our knowledge, there are no reports describing successful angioplasty and/or stenting for long chronic total occlusion of the cervical VA. CONCLUSION Stenting using the combination technique of reverse flow and downstream filtering can safely open even long chronic cervical VA occlusion and may be effective in the treatment of patients experiencing vertebrobasilar insufficiency due to bilateral chronic VA occlusion.

Superficial temporal and occipital artery bypass pedicles to superior, anterior inferior, and posterior inferior cerebellar arteries for vertebrobasilar insufficiency

1990 ◽  
Vol 72 (4) ◽  
pp. 554-558 ◽  
Author(s):  
James I. Ausman ◽  
Fernando G. Diaz ◽  
Dante F. Vacca ◽  
Balaji Sadasivan
Keyword(s):  
Vertebral Artery ◽  
Basilar Artery ◽  
Superficial Temporal Artery ◽  
Posterior Inferior Cerebellar Artery ◽  
Artery Occlusion ◽  
Basilar Artery Occlusion ◽  
Occipital Artery ◽  
Vertebrobasilar Insufficiency ◽  
Cerebellar Artery ◽  
Artery Disease

✓ Eighty-three patients underwent 85 intracranial to extracranial pedicle bypass anastomosis procedures to the posterior circulation. There were 15 patients with occipital artery (OA) to posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) anastomosis, 20 patients with OA to anterior inferior cerebellar artery (AICA) anastomosis, and 50 patients with superficial temporal artery (STA) to superior cerebellar artery (SCA) anastomosis. All patients had transient ischemic attacks (TIA's) suggestive of vertebrobasilar ischemia. Twenty-seven patients had crescendo TIA's or stroke in evolution and were considered to be clinically unstable. All patients had severe bilateral distal vertebral artery or basilar artery disease. Twenty-two patients had bilateral vertebral artery occlusion and three had basilar artery occlusion. In this series, 69% had complete resolution of symptoms; the mortality rate was 8.4% and the morbidity rate 13.3%. Clinically stable patients did better than unstable patients. The STA-SCA anastomosis was well tolerated and technically less demanding than the OA-PICA or OA-AICA anastomosis procedures. Patients with symptomatic severe bilateral vertebral or basilar artery disease have a grave prognosis and the option of a surgical arterial pedicle revascularization procedure should be offered to them.

Pipeline embolization device for the treatment of vertebral artery aneurysms: the fate of covered branch vessels

2015 ◽  
Vol 8 (10) ◽  
pp. 1041-1047 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcus D Mazur ◽  
Craig Kilburg ◽  
Victor Wang ◽  
Philipp Taussky
Keyword(s):  
Vertebral Artery ◽  
Vessel Wall ◽  
Posterior Inferior Cerebellar Artery ◽  
Posterior Circulation ◽  
Pipeline Embolization Device ◽  
Safety And Efficacy ◽  
Cerebellar Artery ◽  
Flow Through ◽  
Flow Diverting Stent

IntroductionPreliminary studies suggest that flow-diverting stents may be suitable for the treatment of aneurysms of the posterior circulation. The safety and efficacy of using flow-diverting stents for vertebral artery (VA) aneurysms is not well defined.ObjectiveTo examine the fate of covering the posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) in patients undergoing placement of a flow-diverting stent for VA aneurysm.MethodsConsecutive patients who underwent placement of a Pipeline Embolization Device (PED) for treatment of an aneurysm of the V4 segment of the VA between April 2012 and June 2015 at our institution were retrospectively evaluated. Angiograms were reviewed to determine the patency of the PICA when the vessel origin was covered by the PED.Results11 patients with VA aneurysms who underwent treatment with the PED were identified. In each case the device covered the origin of the PICA. Follow-up angiography in eight patients demonstrated thrombosis of the aneurysm with patency of the PICA.ConclusionsFlow-diverting stents can be used for the treatment of VA aneurysms. When appropriately sized to the vessel wall and positioned in the VA, the device may cover the origin of the PICA without impairing flow through the branching artery.

Hemodynamic Vertebrobasilar Insufficiency as an Adverse Effect of Antihypertensive Therapy

DICP ◽  
1989 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 238-239 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan C. Fagan ◽  
Patrick W. Mccormick ◽  
Fernando G. Diaz
Keyword(s):  
Adverse Effect ◽  
Cerebral Ischemia ◽  
Vertebral Artery ◽  
Antihypertensive Therapy ◽  
Antihypertensive Medication ◽  
White Male ◽  
Posterior Circulation ◽  
Vertebrobasilar Insufficiency ◽  
Internuclear Ophthalmoplegia ◽  
History Of

A 63-year-old white male with a 25-year history of hypertension experienced the onset of intermittent diplopia and gait disturbance 24 hours after a change in antihypertensive medication from atenolol 50 mg/d to enalapril 5 mg bid. Three weeks later, the patient was admitted with a worsening of symptoms. Cerebral arteriography revealed significant bilateral vertebral artery stenosis. Symptoms continued to progress in the hospital, and at the time of posterior circulation revascularization the patient had a persistent bilateral internuclear ophthalmoplegia and right ptosis. The need for a neurovascular workup and adjustment of therapy in patients with antihypertensive-associated cerebral ischemia is discussed.

scholarly journals Coiling Using Dual Microcatheter Technique—A Novel Approach

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arvind Kumar ◽  
Swarup Sohan Gandhi ◽  
Ashok Gandhi ◽  
Trilochan Srivastav ◽  
Devendra Purohit
Keyword(s):  
Vertebral Artery ◽  
Posterior Inferior Cerebellar Artery ◽  
Posterior Circulation ◽  
Left Vertebral Artery ◽  
Aneurysm Neck ◽  
Novel Technique ◽  
Novel Approach ◽  
Cerebellar Artery ◽  
Posterior Circulation Aneurysms ◽  
Flow Through

AbstractPosterior circulation aneurysms are difficult to treat, and if an incorporated artery is arising from the neck of aneurysm, management becomes much more challenging. Here, we are describing a novel technique used to treat a patient with a large, wide-necked left vertebral artery (VA)-posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) junctional aneurysm. PICA seems to be arising from the aneurysm neck, but the aneurysm neck was not very clearly defined. So, we placed a second microcatheter into PICA, which not only allowed the coils to be placed in the aneurysm, without disrupting the flow through PICA but also helpful in assessing the aneurysmal occlusion. This technique allowed coils to be placed successfully without compromising flow through PICA.

OCCIPITAL ARTERY-TO-POSTERIOR INFERIOR CEREBELLAR ARTERY BYPASS FOR TREATMENT OF BILATERAL VERTEBRAL ARTERY OCCLUSION: THE ROLE OF QUANTITATIVE MAGNETIC RESONANCE ANGIOGRAPHY NONINVASIVE OPTIMAL VESSEL ANALYSIS

Neurosurgery ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 64 (4) ◽  
pp. E779-E781 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert M. Starke ◽  
Mark Chwajol ◽  
Daniel Lefton ◽  
Chandranath Sen ◽  
Alejandro Berenstein ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Resonance ◽  
Vertebral Artery ◽  
Artery Bypass ◽  
Posterior Inferior Cerebellar Artery ◽  
Artery Occlusion ◽  
Occipital Artery ◽  
Vertebrobasilar Insufficiency ◽  
Vertebral Arteries ◽  
Vertebral Artery Occlusion ◽  
Cerebellar Artery

Abstract OBJECTIVE Patients with partial or complete bilateral vertebral artery occlusion often present with signs and symptoms of transient ischemic attacks or infarction. Advances in phase contrast magnetic resonance imaging have led to noninvasive assessment of volumetric blood flow rates and direction that help in the workup and management of these patients. CLINICAL PRESENTATION We present the case of a patient with symptoms of vertebrobasilar insufficiency without previous transient ischemic attacks or stroke. Quantitative magnetic resonance angiography (QMRA) demonstrated bilateral vertebral artery occlusion with reversal of flow in the basilar and vertebral arteries to the level of the posterior inferior cerebellar arteries bilaterally. A prominent right posterior communicating artery filled the basilar artery and proximal vertebral arteries. INTERVENTION The presence of reversal and diminished flow in the basilar and vertebral arteries suggested that occipital artery-to-posterior inferior cerebellar artery bypass would improve posterior circulation, relieve symptoms, and reduce the risk of infarction. Postoperative QMRA and angiography confirmed revascularization, and QMRA confirmed correction of blood flow direction. CONCLUSION This case illustrates the potential of QMRA as part of a comprehensive cerebrovascular assessment, operative planning, and follow-up of patients with vertebrobasilar insufficiency.

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