Background: Hemodynamic therapy with Flow-Diverters has become a fundamental option for treatment of cerebral aneurysms. A major obstacle of Flow-Diverters is the comparatively stiff microcatheter required for implantation. Consequentially, maneuverability is limited and primary catheterization of peripheral targets may be difficult or even futile in challenging vascular anatomies. To overcome this, a highly navigable microcatheter must be used to attain the desired vascular segment, followed by a hardly controllable exchange-maneuver via a long microwire, involving a high risk for wire-perforation. Our study aimed to investigate the value of low-profile stentretrievers as a railway for introduction of the required microcatheter, which allows to maintain a stable endovascular position and reduce the risk for procedural vessel injury. Methods: 14cases (8females, mean-age 59y) of Flow-Diverter-Implantation requiring the use of a low-profile stentretriever were reviewed. All cases featured a challenging vascular anatomy. After micro-catheterization of the desired segment, the stent-retriever was carefully deployed as an anchor in a secure, distal location. In all cases a pREset/LITE-stent-retriever was used for introduction of the equipment required for implantation. Results: In all cases the anchoring-maneuver was performed without technical complications. The stent-retrievers maintained a stable position after deployment in all situations. No potential traumatic sudden movements of the microcatheter occurred. No procedure-related perforations, dissections or vasospasms were observable during the interventions or their aftermath. Conclusions: In our experience the stent-retriever-anchoring-maneuver represents a potentially essential and safe amendment for flow diverter treatment in technically challenging situations.

Background and Purpose: Low-profile flow diverter stents (FDS) quite recently amended peripheral segments as targets for hemodynamic aneurysm treatment; however, reports on outcomes, especially later than 3 months, are scarce. This study therefore reports our experience with the novel silk vista baby (SVB) FDS and respective outcomes after 8 and 11 months with special respect to specific adverse events.Materials and Methods: Forty-four patients (mean age, 53 years) harboring 47 aneurysms treated with the SVB between June 2018 and December 2019 were included in our study. Clinical, procedural, and angiographic data were collected. Follow-ups were performed on average after 3, 8, and 11 months, respectively. Treatment effect was assessed using the O'Kelly Marotta (OKM) grading system.Results: Overall, angiographic follow-ups were available for 41 patients/45 aneurysms. Occlusion or significant reduction in aneurysmal perfusion (OKM: D1, B1–B3 and A2–A3) was observed in 98% of all aneurysms after 8 months. Only 2% of the treated aneurysms remained morphologically unaltered and without an apparent change in perfusion (OKM A1). Adverse events in the early post-interventional course occurred in seven patients; out of them, mRS-relevant morbidity at 90 days related to FDS treatment was observable in two patients. One death occurred in the context of severe SAH related to an acutely ruptured dissecting aneurysm of the vertebral artery.Conclusion: The SVB achieves sufficient occlusion rates of intracranial aneurysms originating from peripheral segments, which are comparable to prior established conventional FDS with acceptably low complication rates. However, alteration of a hemodynamic equilibrium in distal localizations requires special attention to prevent ischemic events.

Conclusions: Implantation of the p48MW/p48MW HPC is safe and effective for treatment of distally located cerebral aneurysms. Considering the reported rates of Schob et al. p48MW for Distal Bifurcation Aneurysms ischemic complications associated with flow diversion of complex bifurcation aneurysms, the p48MW/p48MW HPC potentially provides increased safety for complex bifurcation aneurysms in the anterior and posterior circulation.

BackgroundEndovascular thrombectomy (ET) has transformed acute ischemic stroke (AIS) therapy in patients with large vessel occlusion (LVO). Left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) decreases global cerebral blood flow and predisposes to hypoperfusion. We evaluated the relationship between LVSD, as measured by LV ejection fraction (LVEF), and clinical outcomes in patients with anterior cerebral circulation LVO who underwent ET.MethodsThis multicenter retrospective cohort study examined anterior circulation LVO AIS patients from six international stroke centers. LVSD was measured by assessment of the echocardiographic LVEF using Simpson’s biplane method of discs according to international guidelines. LVSD was defined as LVEF <50%. The primary outcome was defined as a good functional outcome using a modified Rankin Scale (mRS) of 0–2 at 3 months.ResultsWe included 440 AIS patients with LVO who underwent ET. On multivariate analyses, pre-existing diabetes mellitus (OR 2.05, 95% CI 1.24 to 3.39;p=0.005), unsuccessful reperfusion (Treatment in Cerebral Infarction (TICI) grade 0-2a) status (OR 4.21, 95% CI 2.04 to 8.66; p<0.001) and LVSD (OR 2.08, 95% CI 1.18 to 3.68; p=0.011) were independent predictors of poor functional outcomes at 3 months. On ordinal (shift) analyses, LVSD was associated with an unfavorable shift in the mRS outcomes (OR 2.32, 95% CI 1.52 to 3.53; p<0.001) after adjusting for age and ischemic heart disease.ConclusionAnterior circulation LVO AIS patients with LVSD have poorer outcomes after ET, suggesting the need to consider cardiac factors for ET, the degree of monitoring and prognostication post-procedure.

Objective: Dissecting aneurysms (DAs) of the vertebrobasilar territory manifesting with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) are associated with significant morbi-mortality, especially in the case of re-hemorrhage. Sufficient reconstruction of the affected vessel is paramount, in particular, if a dominant vertebral artery (VA) is impacted. Reconstructive options include stent-assisted coiling and flow diversion (FD). The latter is technically less challenging and does not require catheterization of the fragile aneurysm. Our study aims to report a multicentric experience with FD for reconstruction of DA in acute SAH.Materials and Methods: This retrospective study investigated 31 patients (age: 30–78 years, mean 55.5 years) who had suffered from SAH due to a DA of the dominant VA. The patients were treated between 2010 and 2020 in one of the following German neurovascular centers: University Hospital Leipzig, Katharinenhospital Stuttgart, BG Hospital Bergmannstrost Halle/Saale, and Heinrich-Braun-Klinikum Zwickau. Clinical history, imaging, implanted devices, and outcomes were reviewed for the study.Results: Reconstruction with flow-diverting stents was performed in all cases. The p64 was implanted in 14 patients; one of them required an additional balloon-expandable stent to reconstruct severe stenosis in the target segment. One case demanded additional liquid embolization after procedural rupture, and in one case, p64 was combined with a PED. Further 13 patients were treated exclusively with the PED. The p48MW-HPC was used in two patients, one in combination with two additional Silk Vista Baby (SVB). Moreover, one patient was treated with a single SVB, one with a SILK+. Six patients died [Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) 1]. Causes of death were periprocedural re-hemorrhage, thrombotic occlusion of the main pulmonary artery, and delayed parenchymal hemorrhage. The remaining three patients died in the acute–subacute phase related to the severity of the initial hemorrhage and associated comorbidities. One patient became apallic (GOS 2), whereas two patients had severe disability (GOS 3) and four had moderate disability (GOS 4). Eighteen patients showed a complete recovery (GOS 5).Conclusion: Reconstruction of VA-DA in acute SAH with flow-diverting stents is a promising approach. However, the severity of the condition is reflected by high overall morbi-mortality, even despite technically successful endovascular treatment.