Publications by authors named "Tonetti D"

Background: Medium vessel occlusions (MeVOs) account for 25-40% of acute ischemic stroke. The Tenzing 5 (Route 92 Medical, San Mateo, California, USA) and FreeClimb 54 (Route 92 Medical, San Mateo, California, USA) catheter is a novel delivery-aspiration catheter combination designed to facilitate aspiration thrombectomy (AT) of MeVOs. We report our clinical experience using the Tenzing assisted delivery of aspiration (TADA) technique with FreeClimb 54 for first-line AT of MeVO.

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Background: External ventricular drains (EVDs) provide an invaluable diagnostic method for accessing cerebrospinal fluid and therapeutically treating elevated intracranial pressure. Although complications including hemorrhage and infection have been well documented, the formation of iatrogenic pseudoaneurysms following EVD placement has rarely been reported. The authors present a case of this exceedingly rare complication of iatrogenic pseudoaneurysm formation following EVD placement.

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White epidermoid cysts are a rare type of epidermoid cyst that appears hyperintense on T1 weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and are known for their characteristic pearly white outer appearance on gross pathology. White epidermoid cysts are not common findings; therefore, this illustrative case report was written to highlight the characteristics, progression, radiological evaluation, and management of a patient who presented to our center. This case report emphasizes the importance of determining the proper diagnosis to treat and manage the condition appropriately and avoid potential future complications.

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Background: For patients with suspected traumatic vertebral artery injury (TVAI), CT angiography (CTA) is the first-line screening modality. Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) serves as the confirmatory diagnostic imaging, and is the gold standard for cerebrovascular injury assessment, due to its higher sensitivity and specificity. Among patients with TVAI based on CTA who have undergone follow-up DSA, this study aims to investigate how diagnostic information with additional imaging affects clinical management.

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Background: Middle meningeal artery embolization (MMAE) is a safe and effective treatment for chronic subdural hematoma (cSDH); however, the appropriate level of postoperative care is unknown.

Objective: To evaluate whether elective MMAE for cSDH could be safely performed in an outpatient setting.

Methods: This was a multicenter, retrospective study of patients with cSDH who underwent elective MMAE.

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Background: In large vessel occlusion (LVO) stroke patients transferred to a comprehensive stroke center for thrombectomy, spontaneous reperfusion may occur during transport, and anecdotally more frequently in patients transferred via helicopter than by ground. This pattern has been more often observed in conjunction with tenecteplase (TNK) treatment prior to helicopter transport. We aim to explore the "chopperlysis" effect-how helicopter transport, particularly with thrombolytics, may affect reperfusion and clinical outcomes.

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Background And Objectives: First-line therapy for most intracranial dural arteriovenous fistulas (dAVFs) is endovascular embolization, but some require microsurgical ligation due to limited endovascular accessibility, anticipated lower cure rates, or unacceptable risk profiles. We investigated the most common surgically treated dAVF locations and the approaches and outcomes of each.

Methods: The Consortium for Dural Arteriovenous Fistula Outcomes Research database was retrospectively reviewed.

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Background And Objectives: Multiple preferences exist for embolic materials selection in middle meningeal artery embolization (MMAE) for chronic subdural hematoma with limited comparative literature data. Herein, we compare different embolic materials.

Methods: Consecutive patients undergoing MMAE for chronic subdural hematoma at 14 North-American centers (2018-2023) were classified into 3 groups: (a) particles, (b) Onyx, (c) n-butyl cyanoacrylate (n-BCA).

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Background: Iatrogenic vertebral artery injury during surgery can cause pseudoaneurysm, hemorrhage, thrombosis, ischemia, or death. Strategies to prevent cerebrovascular embolic complications include surgical ligation, endovascular stenting, and/or antiplatelet therapy.

Observations: A 73-year-old female with a known right vertebral artery occlusion underwent a C2-3 laminectomy, complicated by left vertebral artery injury and occlusion with subsequent posterior circulation ischemia.

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Background: Handheld neck massagers pose a risk for thromboembolic stroke, a topic that has not been thoroughly explored in the literature.

Case Description And Literature Review: We present a case of acute ischemic stroke in a 79-year-old male patient who experienced left upper extremity weakness after using a handheld neck massager. Imaging revealed a ruptured stenotic atherosclerotic plaque at the right internal carotid artery bulb and acute infarcts in the right middle cerebral artery vascular territory.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study evaluates the effectiveness of a new thrombus removal method called Contact Aspiration Mechanical Thrombectomy (CAMT) using specialized catheters (FreeClimb 88 and Tenzing 8) in treating large vessel occlusions in the brain.
  • A retrospective analysis of 53 patients showed a high success rate for delivering the FreeClimb 88 catheter to the occlusion site, with 94.3% successful deliveries and a first-pass success rate of 67.9% for restoring blood flow.
  • The procedure was found to be safe, with no complications or symptomatic hemorrhages, indicating that this technique could be a reliable option for treating these severe blockages.
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Background: With transradial access (TRA) being more progressively used in neuroendovascular procedures, we compared TRA with transfemoral access (TFA) in middle meningeal artery embolization (MMAE) for chronic subdural hematoma (cSDH).

Methods: Consecutive patients undergoing MMAE for cSDH at 14 North American centers (2018-23) were included. TRA and TFA groups were compared using propensity score matching (PSM) controlling for: age, sex, concurrent surgery, previous surgery, hematoma thickness and side, midline shift, and pretreatment antithrombotics.

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Objective: The placement of flow-diverting devices has become a common method of treating unruptured intracranial aneurysms of the internal carotid artery. The progressive improvement of aneurysm occlusion after treatment-with low complication and rupture rates-has led to a dilemma regarding the management of aneurysms in which occlusion has not occurred within 6-24 months. The authors aimed to identify clinical consensus regarding management of intracranial aneurysms displaying persistent filling 6-24 months after flow diversion and to ascertain questions that may drive future investigation.

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Article Synopsis
  • This study looked at how men and women are affected differently after surgery for unruptured brain aneurysms.
  • They found that more women were part of the study and that women were usually older but had fewer other health issues.
  • Although women had fewer lung problems after surgery, both men and women had similar overall health issues, survival rates, and brain function immediately after the operation.
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Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is characterized by hematoma development within the brain's parenchyma, contributing significantly to the burden of stroke. While non-contrast head computed tomography (CT) remains the gold standard for initial diagnosis, this review underscores the pivotal role of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in ICH management. Beyond diagnosis, MRI offers invaluable insights into ICH etiology, prognosis, and treatment.

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Article Synopsis
  • * A retrospective analysis of trauma patients from 2020 to 2022 identified a small number of cerebral stroke cases, out of which 10 met the criteria for further evaluation, mostly admitted after falls.
  • * The AI program successfully detected 83.3% of large vessel occlusions within an hour of patient arrival without misidentifying any non-occlusions, suggesting potential benefits for timely stroke treatment in trauma settings and a need for further research on its effectiveness.
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Objective: Decision for intervention in acute subdural hematoma patients is based on a combination of clinical and radiographic factors. Age has been suggested as a factor to be strongly considered when interpreting midline shift (MLS) and hematoma volume data for assessing critical clinical severity during operative intervention decisions for acute subdural hematoma patients. The objective of this study was to demonstrate the use of an automated volumetric analysis tool to measure hematoma volume and MLS and quantify their relationship with age.

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Article Synopsis
  • Middle meningeal artery embolization (MMAE) is being recognized as an effective treatment for non-acute subdural hematomas (NASHs), but its impact on coagulopathic patients needs further investigation.
  • In a study analyzing 537 patients undergoing MMAE from 2019 to 2023, researchers found that coagulopathy significantly increases the likelihood of needing additional surgical intervention post-treatment.
  • Specifically, patients with coagulopathy required rescue surgery at rates almost three times higher than those without coagulopathy, suggesting that anticoagulant and antiplatelet use may worsen outcomes.
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Objective: Treatment of intracranial aneurysms by flow diversion is safe and effective and is increasingly popular. However, the correct treatment paradigm for aneurysms incompletely treated by initial placement of a flow diverter has not been established, nor have the subsequent natural history and occlusion rates of such aneurysms. The authors sought to outline the natural history of such aneurysms, which to date have been considered partially treated.

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Background And Objectives: The choice of anesthesia type (general anesthesia [GA] vs nongeneral anesthesia [non-GA]) in middle meningeal artery embolization (MMAE) procedures for chronic subdural hematomas (cSDH) differs between institutions and left to care team discretion given lack of standard guidelines. We compare the outcomes of GA vs non-GA in MMAE.

Methods: Consecutive patients receiving MMAE for cSDH at 14 North American centers (2018-2023) were included.

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Background: Eagle syndrome is characterized by an elongated styloid process, which can cause acute neurological symptoms when the projection impinges on local structures. One method by which Eagle syndrome can cause acute stroke is via internal carotid artery dissection.

Observations: A patient presented with acute aphasia and right-arm weakness.

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Background And Objectives: Microsurgical aneurysm repair by clipping continues to be highly important despite increasing endovascular treatment options, especially because of inferior occlusion rates. This study aimed to present current global microsurgical treatment practices and to identify risk factors for complications and neurological deterioration after clipping of unruptured anterior circulation aneurysms.

Methods: Fifteen centers from 4 continents participated in this retrospective cohort study.

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