Completion of Target Vessel Stenting After FEVAR via Snare Technique in a Patient with Tortuous Right Renal Artery

Target vessel catheterization remains challenging in patients with complex anatomies. Fenestrated endovascular aneurysm repair (FEVAR) is an established technique to treat aortic aneurysms. In this case report, we treated a juxtarenal aneurysm using FEVAR. Initial attempts to complete the target vessel stenting were unsuccessful because of an unfavorable orifice and tortuosity of the right renal artery. The completion of FEVAR was achieved with a bifemoral approach using a snare system, which aligned the tip of a steerable sheath at the level of the fenestration for the right renal artery to create a stable condition. Control angiography and computed tomography confirmed a successful stenting of the target vessel and the sealing of the fenestration without an endoleak.

Role of circulating angiogenin levels in portal hypertension and TIPS

Background Pathogenesis of portal hypertension is multifactorial and includes pathologic intrahepatic angiogenesis, whereby TIPS insertion is an effective therapy of portal hypertension associated complications. While angiogenin is a potent contributor to angiogenesis in general, little is known about its impact on TIPS function over time. Methods In a total of 118 samples from 47 patients, angiogenin concentrations were measured in portal and inferior caval vein plasma at TIPS insertion (each blood compartment n = 23) or angiographic intervention after TIPS (each blood compartment n = 36) and its relationship with patient outcome was investigated. Results Angiogenin levels in the inferior caval vein were significantly higher compared to the portal vein (P = 0.048). Ten to 14 days after TIPS, inferior caval vein angiogenin level correlated inversely with the portal systemic pressure gradient (P<0.001), measured invasively during control angiography. Moreover, patients with TIPS revision during this angiography, showed significantly lower angiogenin level in the inferior caval vein compared to patients without TIPS dysfunction (P = 0.01). Conclusion In cirrhosis patients with complications of severe portal hypertension, circulating levels of angiogenin are derived from the injured liver. Moreover, angiogenin levels in the inferior caval vein after TIPS may predict TIPS dysfunction.

Endovascular treatment of complex bifurcation aneurysms using the pConus device: clinical cases

The objective is to present the clinical experience of using the pConus stent-like device in the treatment of complex bifurcation aneurysms.Clinical cases. A 64-year-old patient was admitted with complaints of periodic headache without loss of consciousness and an increase in focal symptoms. Saccular aneurysms of the anterior communicating artery and the left superior cerebellar artery were found without signs of subarachnoid hemorrhage. For occlusion of the aneurysm of the left superior cerebellar artery (dimensions 7.4 х 5.3 mm, neck width 5.0 mm, facing left and up, body/neck ratio 1.48, the branch of the artery branched off from the neck), a pConus device (crown diameter 8 mm) was used with micro-coils.A 61-year-old patient was admitted with complaints of headache in the occipital region, accompanied by repeated vomiting and an increase in blood pressure to 200/110 mm Hg. Subarachnoid hemorrhage and a saccular aneurysm of the basilar artery bifurcation (facing up, anteriorly and somewhat to the left, measuring 4.9 x 3.4 mm, neck width 3.1 mm, dome/neck ratio 1.1) were revealed. A pConus device was used for micro-coils occlusion (4-25-6 mm).In the postoperative period, both patients did not experience an increase in focal neurological symptoms. Control angiography after 6 months confirmed stable occlusion, all major vessels were passable.Conclusion. In the described cases, there were no technical problems during the installation and implantation of the device. The use of the pConus device in the treatment of complex bifurcation aneurysms technically simplifies surgical intervention, since it does not require catheterization of the efferent vessels of the aneurysm.

Gamma Knife Radiosurgery of Distal Aneurysm: A Case Series

A series of 3 patients (35–60 years old) with bleeding distal aneurysm not associated with AVM who underwent radiosurgery by gamma knife are reported. One isocentre centralized over the aneurysm was used; peripheral dose 24–28.8 Gy was applied. Control angiography 20–36 months after gamma knife surgery (GKS) demonstrated obliteration of both the aneurysm and the feeding artery, without deterioration of the neurological symptoms. Our case series implies that GKS might serve as a safe mini-invasive technique in the treatment of selected distal aneurysms.

Efficacy of Navigating Through the Intraplaque Route using AnteOwl WR Intravascular Ultrasound in Femoropopliteal Chronic Total Occlusion

BackgroundThere is no consensus on the optimal guidewire passage route for femoropopliteal (FP) chronic total occlusion (CTO). If intraplaque wiring can be performed, a stent-less strategy using a drug-coated balloon (DCB) can be realized even with FP CTO, and there is a high possibility that good expansion can be obtained even when stent deployment is performed. AnteOwl WR (AnteOwl) is a novel intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) device useful for navigating the second guidewire into the intraplaque route under IVUS observation from the subintimal space. Here, we describe representative cases of FP CTO in which CTO-specific IVUS was extremely useful.Case presentationCase 1 was a 79-year-old man undergoing hemodialysis who presented with claudication of the left lower limb. Control angiography showed total occlusion of the left superficial femoral artery (SFA). We performed antegrade wiring, but the guidewire was advanced into the subintimal space. We advanced AnteOwl into CTO. Using the AnteOwl IVUS transducer and IVUS-wire bias, we found that the IVUS-wire is at the top and the transducer is at the bottom, and based on this information, a plaque to aim exists on the right side of the IVUS catheter at right anterior oblique of 30°. By aiming the wiring in that direction, we succeeded in traversing the center of the plaque and finally succeeded in obtaining good expansion using the DCB. Case 2 was of an 76-year-old woman with ulceration and gangrene of the left foot. Control angiography showed total occlusion from the SFA to the popliteal artery (Pop A). When AnteOwl was placed on the wire and advanced to the Pop A, the subintimal space in the middle of the SFA could be visualized. We employed an IVUS-guided parallel wire technique and succeeded in passing through all intraplaque routes. Although the CTO was long, we could easily advance through the intraplaque route by reflecting the information obtained from AnteOwl in angiography.ConclusionsAnteOwl is an effective IVUS technique for FP CTO and facilitates a complex IVUS-guided procedure.

Double stent assisted coiling of intracranial bifurcation aneurysms in Y and X configurations with the Neuroform ATLAS stent: immediate and mid term angiographic and clinical follow-up

PurposeSelf-expandable stents have broadened the spectrum of endovascular treatment of intracranial aneurysms. However, procedures involving double stenting in Y/X configurations carry a relatively high risk of procedural complications. The Neuroform ATLAS, the evolution of Neuroform EZ, is a nitinol self-expanding hybrid/open cell stent which can be delivered through a low profile 0.017 inch catheter. We present our experience in the treatment of intracranial aneurysms with this stent in Y and X configurations.Materials and methodsWe prospectively maintained a database from consecutive patients who underwent double stent assisted coiling with the Neuroform ATLAS, from July 2015 to February 2019. Clinical and angiographic results were analyzed.Results55 patients harboring 55 bifurcation aneurysms were treated with double stenting: 52 ‘Y’ configurations, 3 ‘X’ configurations. Deployment was successful in all cases. Post-treatment control angiography showed complete occlusion in 33 cases (60%), neck remnant in 8 cases (14.5%), and incomplete occlusion in 14 cases (25.4%). The overall symptomatic periprocedural complication rate was 12.7%. 38 aneurysms underwent follow-up (69%, mean duration 16 months): 33 aneurysms (87%) were completely occluded, 3 aneurysms (8%) had a neck remnant, and 2 aneurysms (5%) were incompletely occluded.ConclusionThe Neuroform ATLAS is an effective device for treatment of bifurcation aneurysms, allowing good conformability, a high level of navigability, and easy mesh crossing to perform Y/X stenting procedures. The rate of procedural complications remains non-negligible, and an indication for a double stenting procedure should be carefully discussed in a multidisciplinary meeting.

Preoperative Endovascular Embolisation of the Symptomatic Hemangioma in 7th Thoracic Vertebrae: Case Report

Although, as asymptomatic, they appear in about 10- 12% of the worldwide population, vertebrae hemangiomas are symptomatic in about 0.9-1.2% of all the cases. We showed the case of the symptomatic hemangioma in the 7th thoracic vertebrae in 67 year old patient, that was successfully preoperative embolised. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) detected the tumor in the body of 7th vertebrae with mass effect on the anterior aspect of the spinal cord. Multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) imaging describes this tumor as hemangioma that is in the body of the 7th vertebrae and in the both pedicules. We performed selective and supraselective spinal angiography which showed pathological vascularisation of the tumor, and then the tumor was embolised. The control angiography detected the reduction of the tumor blood vessels, as a sign of the successful embolisation. Ten days after embolisation, the patient went through corporectomia of the Th7 and the stabilization of the thoracic spine was performed. Intraoperative blood transfusion in our patient was 930 mL, while expected blood transfusion during the surgical intervention without preoperative embolisation is about 1600 mL. Method of choice in conditions with neurological compressive symptoms caused by vertebral hemangioma is surgery for the decompression of the nerve structures. Embolisation of aggressive vertebral hemangioma is recommended and preoperatively performed for the intraoperative hemorrhage reduction and decreasing of intraoperative complications.

Republished: Recurrence of a totally occluded aneurysm after treatment with a pipeline embolization device

Treatment with a pipeline embolization device (PED) is widely accepted as an excellent option for patients harboring giant, wide neck, saccular intracranial aneurysms. It has been shown to be safe and very effective. We describe a previously unreported case of a large middle cerebral artery aneurysm, related to the carotid tip, that was treated with a PED and coils. The 6 month follow-up angiogram demonstrated complete occlusion of the aneurysm. However, the 9 month angiogram revealed recurrent filling of the aneurysm sac. To our knowledge, this is the first report to describe recanalization of an aneurysm totally occluded on the control angiography after treatment with a PED. Unanswered questions include the mechanism of recanalization and the need for additional control angiograms and MRI following a previous examination revealing total aneurysm occlusion.