A shift from open to endovascular repair in the treatment of ruptured middle cerebral artery aneurysms: a single institution experience.

Purpose: Middle cerebral aneurysms were underrepresented in the two largest trials (BRAT and ISAT) for the treatment of ruptured intracranial aneurysms. Recent institutional series addressing the choice between endovascular or open repair for this subset of aneurysms are few and have not yielded a definitive conclusion. We compare clinical outcomes of patients presenting with acute subarachnoid hemorrhage from ruptured middle cerebral artery aneurysms undergoing either open or endovascular repair.

The proximal balloon occlusion together with direct thrombus aspiration (protect plus) technique: Experience at a tertiary comprehensive stroke center.

Background: Timely restoration of cerebral blood flow using reperfusion therapy is the most effective maneuver for salvaging penumbra. We re-evaluated the previously described PROTECT (PRoximal balloon Occlusion TogEther with direCt Thrombus aspiration during stent retriever thrombectomy) Plus technique at a tertiary comprehensive stroke center.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed all patients who underwent mechanical thrombectomy with stentrievers between May 2011 and April 2020.

Inflammatory Biomarkers and Intracranial Hemorrhage after Endovascular Thrombectomy.

Background: Intracranial hemorrhage after endovascular thrombectomy is associated with poorer prognosis compared with those who do not develop the complication. Our study aims to determine predictors of post-EVT hemorrhage - more specifically, inflammatory biomarkers present in baseline serology.

Methods: We performed a retrospective review of consecutive patients treated with EVT for acute large vessel ischemic stroke.

Endovascular treatment of cavernous carotid artery aneurysms: A 10-year, single-center experience.

Background: Cavernous carotid artery aneurysms can be treated by several endovascular techniques including flow diversion (FD) and parent vessel occlusion (PVO). We reviewed our institution's consecutive series of endovascularly treated cavernous carotid artery aneurysms to compare these two modalities and their associated clinical and radiographic outcomes.

Methods: All patients harboring a cavernous carotid artery aneurysm treated by FD or PVO from January 2008 to December 2018 were enrolled.

Time for a Time Window Extension: Insights from Late Presenters in the ESCAPE Trial.

Background And Purpose: The safety and efficacy of endovascular therapy for large-artery stroke in the extended time window is not yet well-established. We performed a subgroup analysis on subjects enrolled within an extended time window in the Endovascular Treatment for Small Core and Proximal Occlusion Ischemic Stroke (ESCAPE) trial.

Materials And Methods: Fifty-nine of 315 subjects (33 in the intervention group and 26 in the control group) were randomized in the ESCAPE trial between 5.

Changes in Cerebral Perfusion with Induced Hypertension in Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: A Pilot and Feasibility Study.

Background: The effects of induced hypertension (IH) on cerebral perfusion after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) are unclear. The objectives of this investigation are to: (1) determine whether there are differences in cerebral blood flow (CBF), cerebral blood volume (CBV), and mean transit time (MTT) measured with computed tomography perfusion (CTP) before and after IH; (2) evaluate differences in the presence of infarction and clinical outcome between patients with and without IH.

Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort analysis of 25 aneurysmal SAH patients.

First-Pass Contrast-Enhanced MRA for Pretherapeutic Diagnosis of Spinal Epidural Arteriovenous Fistulas with Intradural Venous Reflux.

Background And Purpose: Spinal epidural AVFs are rare spinal vascular malformations. When there is associated intradural venous reflux, they may mimic the more common spinal dural AVFs. Correct diagnosis and localization before conventional angiography is beneficial to facilitate treatment.

Association Between MRI Exposure During Pregnancy and Fetal and Childhood Outcomes.

Importance: Fetal safety of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) during the first trimester of pregnancy or with gadolinium enhancement at any time of pregnancy is unknown.

Objective: To evaluate the long-term safety after exposure to MRI in the first trimester of pregnancy or to gadolinium at any time during pregnancy.

Design, Setting, And Participants: Universal health care databases in the province of Ontario, Canada, were used to identify all births of more than 20 weeks, from 2003-2015.

Intra-Arterial Therapy and Post-Treatment Infarct Volumes: Insights From the ESCAPE Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background And Purpose: The goal of reperfusion therapy in acute ischemic stroke is to limit brain infarction. The objective of this study was to investigate whether the beneficial effect of endovascular treatment on functional outcome could be explained by a reduction in post-treatment infarct volume.

Methods: The Endovascular Treatment for Small Core and Anterior Circulation Proximal Occlusion With Emphasis on Minimizing CT to Recanalization Times (ESCAPE) trial was a multicenter randomized open-label trial with blinded outcome evaluation.

Comparison of Sagittal FSE T2, STIR, and T1-Weighted Phase-Sensitive Inversion Recovery in the Detection of Spinal Cord Lesions in MS at 3T.

Background And Purpose: Determining the diagnostic accuracy of different MR sequences is essential to design MR imaging protocols. The purpose of the study was to compare 3T sagittal FSE T2, STIR, and T1-weighted phase-sensitive inversion recovery in the detection of spinal cord lesions in patients with suspected or definite MS.

Materials And Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of 38 patients with suspected or definite MS.

The future of endovascular treatment: Insights from the ESCAPE investigators.

The ESCAPE trial demonstrated strong morbidity benefit and mortality reduction for endovascular stroke treatment. Following the release of the main results, the ESCAPE trial investigators convened at a 2-day close-out meeting in March 2015 in Banff, Alberta, Canada. Meeting discussions focused on system implications, procedural characteristics, and future directions.

Use of a flow-diverting stent for ruptured dissecting aneurysm treatment in a patient with sickle cell disease.

Introduction: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a clinical phenotype that presents a unique challenge to the interventionalist, particularly when stent therapy is contemplated. Homozygous individuals are likely at increased risk for thromboembolic complications. There are no formal guidelines regarding antiplatelet therapy in the short or long term for intracranial stent use in SCD.

Magnetic resonance susceptibility weighted imaging in neurosurgery: current applications and future perspectives.

Susceptibility weighted imaging (SWI) is a relatively new imaging technique. Its high sensitivity to hemorrhagic components and ability to depict microvasculature by means of susceptibility effects within the veins allow for the accurate detection, grading, and monitoring of brain tumors. This imaging modality can also detect changes in blood flow to monitor stroke recovery and reveal specific subtypes of vascular malformations.

Evolving role of MRI in optimizing the treatment of multiple sclerosis: Canadian Consensus recommendations.

Background: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is increasingly important for the early detection of suboptimal responders to disease-modifying therapy for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. Treatment response criteria are becoming more stringent with the use of composite measures, such as no evidence of disease activity (NEDA), which combines clinical and radiological measures, and NEDA-4, which includes the evaluation of brain atrophy.

Methods: The Canadian MRI Working Group of neurologists and radiologists convened to discuss the use of brain and spinal cord imaging in the assessment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis patients during the treatment course.

Aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage from a neuroimaging perspective.

Neuroimaging is a key element in the management of patients suffering from subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH). In this article, we review the current literature to provide a summary of the existing neuroimaging methods available in clinical practice. Noncontrast computed tomography is highly sensitive in detecting subarachnoid blood, especially within 6 hours of haemorrhage.

Randomized assessment of rapid endovascular treatment of ischemic stroke.

Background: Among patients with a proximal vessel occlusion in the anterior circulation, 60 to 80% of patients die within 90 days after stroke onset or do not regain functional independence despite alteplase treatment. We evaluated rapid endovascular treatment in addition to standard care in patients with acute ischemic stroke with a small infarct core, a proximal intracranial arterial occlusion, and moderate-to-good collateral circulation.

Methods: We randomly assigned participants to receive standard care (control group) or standard care plus endovascular treatment with the use of available thrombectomy devices (intervention group).

Endovascular treatment for Small Core and Anterior circulation Proximal occlusion with Emphasis on minimizing CT to recanalization times (ESCAPE) trial: methodology.

ESCAPE is a prospective, multicenter, randomized clinical trial that will enroll subjects with the following main inclusion criteria: less than 12 h from symptom onset, age > 18, baseline NIHSS >5, ASPECTS score of >5 and CTA evidence of carotid T/L or M1 segment MCA occlusion, and at least moderate collaterals by CTA. The trial will determine if endovascular treatment will result in higher rates of favorable outcome compared with standard medical therapy alone. Patient populations that are eligible include those receiving IV tPA, tPA ineligible and unwitnessed onset or wake up strokes with 12 h of last seen normal.

Hemorrhagic epidermoid cyst in a patient with generalized tonic clonic seizure.

Epidermoid cysts account for approximately 1% of all intracranial tumors. Hemorrhage into an epidermoid cyst is extremely rare, and has only been reported a few times. To our knowledge, there are no reports of a hemorrhagic epidermoid cyst presenting with a first generalized tonic clonic seizure.

Highly proliferative sellar chordoma with unusually rapid recurrence.

Chordomas are tumors of notochordal differentiation of low to intermediate grade malignancy. These tumors are typically slow growing, with an indolent but progressive clinical course. We present a case of a highly proliferative chordoma arising in a 73-year-old woman with unusually rapid clinical growth and aggressive histologic and immunohistochemical features.

Comprehensive data visualization for high resolution endovascular carotid arterial wall imaging.

Carotid angioplasty and stenting is a minimally invasive endovascular procedure that may benefit from in vivo high resolution imaging for monitoring the physical placement of the stent and potential complications. The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate the ability of optical coherence tomography to construct high resolution 2D and 3D images of stenting in porcine carotid artery. Four Yorkshire pigs were anaesthetized and catheterized.