Introduction
: Although venous sinus stenting is an established treatment for medically refractory idiopathic intracranial hypertension, a subset of patients shows little or no improvement of symptoms after stenting. While this could be related to a number of factors, failure to sufficiently address the pressure gradient is one that can be recognized during the treatment procedure. We describe two patients who had a persistent venous pressure gradient after stent placement. Once identified, a second stent was placed with subsequent resolution of the pressure gradient.
Methods
: This retrospective chart review identified patients at a single institution who underwent venous sinus stenting and required immediate placement of a second venous sinus stent for a persistent pressure gradient.
Results
: Two patients with refractory idiopathic intracranial hypertension underwent cerebral angiography with venous manometry. In the first patient, unilateral venous sinus stenosis was present with a maximum pressure of 50 mmHg, which only decreased to 30 mmHg after placement of a right transverse‐sigmoid sinus stent. Subsequent manometry revealed a persistent gradient between the superior sagittal sinus and the right transverse sinus, which resolved after placement of a second stent in this location. In the second patient, bilateral stenosis was observed at the transverse‐sigmoid sinus junction; the maximum venous pressure was 40 mmHg, and a gradient of 30 mmHg was measured at the right transverse‐sigmoid junction, where a venous sinus stent was placed. Venous sinus pressure measurements performed immediately after the stent placement demonstrated a persistent pressure gradient of 20 mmHg in the contralateral transverse‐sigmoid sinus junction, which resolved after contralateral stent placement. Both patients showed sustained improvement in their symptoms at 1 year follow up.
Conclusions
: In some patients with idiopathic intracranial hypertension and venous sinus stenosis, a single stent may not sufficiently reduce the pressure gradient. A second stent may be required; however, this is only detectable with post‐stent pressure measurements. Performing manometry after stent placement should be routinely performed in order to detect persistent venous pressure gradient.
Venous Pressure Gradient: It’s Role in Diagnosis and Treatment of Steno-Obstructions of Deep Venous System