High false-negative rate of the anterior spinal artery by intercostobronchial trunk arteriography alone compared to CT during arteriography

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the frequencies of the anterior spinal arteries identified by CT during arteriography (CTA) and arteriography alone. Methods: This retrospective study included 137 vessels in 83 patients who performed both bronchial arteriography and CTA and categorized them into three groups based on the catheter tip locations: intercostobronchial trunk (ICBT), bronchial artery (BA), and intercostal artery (ICA). The frequencies of anterior spinal artery identified by CTA and arteriography alone were compared for each group. Results: ICBT, BA, and ICA groups were evaluated by CTA in 46, 79, and 12 vessels, respectively. By CTA evaluation, anterior spinal artery was identified in seven vessels (15.2%) in ICBT group, 0 in BA group, and 2 (16.7%) in ICA group. The frequencies of anterior spinal artery were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in ICBT and ICA groups than in BA group. By arteriography alone evaluation, a faint anterior spinal artery was identified in two vessels (4.3%) in ICBT group, 0 in BA group, and 1 (8.3%) in ICA group. Conclusions: Anterior spinal artery branched only from the ICBT or ICA and not from the BA in both arteriography and CTA assessments. There was high false-negative rate (71%) of the anterior spinal artery by ICBT arteriography alone assessment compared to CTA assessment. This result explains one of the reasons that spinal ischemia occurs in arteriography-negative spinal artery cases. Advances in knowledge: False-negative rate of anterior spinal artery was 71% (5/7) by intercostobronchial trunk arteriography alone assessment.

Reversal of Acute Spinal Cord Ischemia by Intravenous Thrombolysis

Acute non-traumatic ischemic myelopathy is a devastating condition with a typically poor outcome occurring in adults, adolescents and even children [1-3]. The acute onset of paraplegia and sensory loss are suggestive of spinal ischemia with little recovery potential [1, 4, 5]. Due to the lack of sufficient data there are no standardized guidelines regarding the acute treatment of spinal ischemia. While intravenous thrombolysis is a well established and effective treatment in cerebral ischemia, its efficacy in spinal cord ischemia has not yet been proven [5]. We report the case of a young female patient with acute spinal cord ischemia in whom treatment with systemic thrombolysis lead to a complete reversal of paraplegia.

Sudden paraparesis due to spinal cord ischemia with initial contrast enhancement of the cauda equina and time-delayed owl-eyes sign on follow-up MR imaging: a case report

We report on a case of a 52-year-old male with sudden paraparesis. The initial MRI showed contrast enhancement of the conus medullaris and the complete cauda equina. Follow-up MRI revealed a spinal ischemia in the anterior portion of the spinal cord. Only a few reports with similar findings have been published. We suggest that contrast enhancement of the conus medullaris and descending nerve roots can be a potential first indicator of a spinal cord ischemia.

Pseudoaneurysm of an intercostal artery: endovascular treatment with PK papyrus coronary stent to prevent spinal ischemia

Background Endovascular treatment can be a fast and safe option in the case of acute, internal bleeding – but it requires special knowledge and technical skills. Interventionalists must consider the anatomy and potential complications. As in this case report, the anterior spinal artery, for example, can be a crucial vessel that must always be considered when embolizing intercostal or lumbar arteries. The risk of spinal ischemia has to be taken into account and should be minimized by choosing the appropriate treatment option. Case presentation We report about a 77 year old, male patient with upper gastrointestinal bleeding after esophagectomy and gastric conduit reconstruction. A CT scan identified a pseudoaneurysm of an intercostal artery penetrating the gastric conduit as the bleeding source. In the DSA, a direct connection between the intercostal artery and the anterior spinal artery appeared to be likely. Due to the associated risk of spinal ischemia, an embolization of the intercostal artery was not an option. We decided to implant a stentgraft that would stop the perfusion of the pseudoaneurysm, but preserve the perfusion of the intercostal artery. Due to the small diameter of the vessel, we could not implant our commonly used stentgrafts in this case. Therefore, we chose an uncommon solution and used a stentgraft that is designed primarily for coronary arteries. Conclusions Whenever intercostal or lumbar arteries need to be embolized, a possible connection to the anterior spinal artery must be considered and interventionalists have to be aware of possible ischemic complications. In this case, a stentgraft designed primarily for coronary arteries offered a good endovascular treatment option for the pseudoaneurysm of an intercostal artery. The risk of spinal ischemia could be minimized by using this stentgraft.

Abstract 15182: Acute Complications of Type B Aortic Intramural Hematoma Compared With Classic Aortic Dissection

Introduction: Although acute type B aortic intramural hematoma (B-IMH) is a variant of acute aortic syndrome having similar clinical demographics to type B classic aortic dissection (B-AD), early clinical course including acute complications are not well investigated. The purpose of this study was to investigate early clinical course and acute complications of B-IMH in comparison with that of B-AD. Methods: Clinical features and early clinical course including acute complications were retrospectively analyzed in 270 B-IMH and 177 B-AD consecutive patients who were admitted to our hospital between 1991 and 2020. Acute complications were defined as rupture, impending rupture, re-dissection, and visceral and leg ischemia. Results: As compared with B-AD, B-IMH presented at older age (72±11 vs 62±15 years; p&lt;0.001), predominantly in females (37% vs 25%). During in-hospital courses, limb ischemia and mesenteric ischemia were less common in patients with B-IMH than those with B-AD (0.4% versus 5.1%, p=0.003, 0.4% versus 2.8%, p=0.03; respectively). In contrast, spinal ischemia was more common in B-IMH patients (2.4% versus 0.6%, p=0.05). Aortic rupture and impending rupture were comparable between B-IMH and B-AD patients (5.9% versus 7.3%. p=0.28). Besides, re-dissection was also comparable between two groups (2.2% versus 5.1%, p=0.06). As a result, prevalence of acute complications was significantly lower in patients with B-IMH (8.8% versus 17%, p=0.008). In-hospital mortality rate in B-IMH was significantly lower than that in B-AD (0.4% versus 9.0%, p&lt;0.001). Conclusions: Although patients with B-IMH had lower in-hospital mortality rates than patients with B-AD, significant portion of B-IMH patients had fatal complications including spinal ischemia or aortic rupture. Patients with B-IMH should be carefully observed as well as patients with B-AD patients.

Anterior Cord Syndrome after Embolization for Malignant Hemoptysis

Interventional radiology plays an integral role in the management of massive and recurrent submassive hemoptysis. Risks of bronchial artery embolization (BAE) are well described and include spinal ischemia and paralysis, most often related to nontarget embolization of the artery of Adamkiewicz or other large radiculomedullary artery supplying the anterior spinal artery. There is increasing literature regarding spinal infarction following BAE when arterial supply to the spinal cord was not evident. The existence of unrecognized patient comorbidities may further contribute to procedural risks.