Background Controversy exists regarding the optimum number of flow diverters for the treatment of intracranial aneurysms. We explored the effect of the number of Pipeline embolization devices (PEDs; Medtronic, Dublin, Ireland) deployed on rates of aneurysm occlusion and complications. Methods Consecutive patients who underwent saccular intracranial aneurysm treatment solely with the PED were included in this retrospective study. Computed tomographic, magnetic resonance, or digital subtraction angiographic images at 6 and 12 months and last follow-up (>12 months) were reviewed for aneurysm occlusion. Complication and retreatment rates were recorded and analyzed statistically. Results The study included 141 aneurysm treatments in 119 patients. A single PED was deployed in 105 cases, two PEDs in 31 cases, and three PEDs in 5 cases (total = 182 devices). Six-month angiographic data were available for 103 patients. Occlusion rates were 67.1% for single-PED cases and 90.0% for cases with > 1 PED (p = 0.028). The 12-month occlusion rate (follow-up available for 132) for single-PED cases was 74.7% compared to 91.7% for multiple-PED cases (p = 0.04). On multivariate analysis, number of PEDs was an independent predictor of aneurysm occlusion at 12 months (odds ratio 6.3, 95% confidence interval 1.8–22.8, p = 0.005). Thromboembolic complication rates were the same in the single- and multiple-PED treatment groups (2.8%). The retreatment rate was higher in patients treated with a single PED (16.2% vs. 0%, p = 0.01). Conclusions Deployment of > 1 Pipeline embolization device was associated with higher intracranial aneurysm occlusion and lower retreatment rates. No significant difference was found in complication rates.

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Background Acute strokes involving complete, isolated occlusion of the extracranial cervical internal carotid artery (EC-ICA) with no intracranial clot burden account for a minority of stroke cases that are managed variably. Here we present our two-decade experience and a systematic review of endovascular management of acute isolated EC-ICA strokes in the hyperacute phase (<48 h) and attempt to evaluate clinical effectiveness and safety. Methods Our prospectively maintained database was retrospectively searched for patients who presented between January 1, 2003 and December 31, 2022 with acute cervical ICA stroke confirmed on angiography. Only patients who had an isolated 100% occlusion of the cervical ICA segment and attempted acute stenting with/without angioplasty within the first 48 h of time since last known well were included. Demographics, procedural details, and outcomes were recorded. For the systematic review, a search of PubMed and Embase databases was conducted. Results Forty-six patients with acute, isolated EC-ICA occlusive stroke were included. Median presenting National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score was 8 (interquartile range 3–10) with a perfusion deficit in 78.3% of the 40 cases assessed with computed tomography perfusion imaging. Median time from symptom onset to intra-arterial puncture was 14.4 h. Immediate recanalization was achieved in 82.6% cases. Two cases (4.3%) of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH) occurred postprocedure. Outcome measures were stable or improved discharge NIHSS score in 86.9% of cases, functional independence at 90 days (modified Rankin scale score ≤2) in 78.3%, and mortality in 6.5%. The systematic review included 167 patients from four articles. The estimated rate of immediate recanalization was 92.7% (95% confidence interval (CI), 88.77–96.77%), favorable outcome was 62.01% (95% CI, 55.04–69.87%), and sICH was 6.2% (95% CI, 3.41–11.32%). Conclusion Stenting and angioplasty for acute cervical ICA occlusive strokes during the hyperacute phase can be performed successfully with favorable clinical outcomes and an acceptable recanalization rate.

BACKGROUND Instantaneous wave-free ratios (iFRs) are functional measures of arterial stenosis that have become essential to interventional cardiology procedures. Their use for intracranial submaximal angioplasty (angioplasty with an undersized balloon) has not been studied extensively. OBJECTIVE To describe the feasibility and technique of iFR measurement for stenosis assessment during intracranial angioplasty. METHODS We present a series of consecutive patients treated between January 1, 2017 and June 30, 2018 with submaximal intracranial angioplasty in whom pre- and postprocedure iFR measurements were obtained with a Verrata-Volcano pressure wire (Philips, Amsterdam, The Netherlands). We collected patient data on age, sex, comorbid conditions, presenting complaints, modified Rankin scale (mRS) score at admission, neurological findings, procedure duration, fluoroscopy time, intraprocedural complications, length of hospital stay, and mRS score at last clinical follow-up (favorable outcome, 0-2). Angiographic stenosis severity and iFR values were recorded before and after angioplasty. RESULTS A total of 12 patients underwent iFR-guided angioplasty during the study period. The median patient age was 69.5 yr (range 48-81 yr). All patients had symptomatic intracranial arterial stenosis (3-basilar, 2-vertebral, 6-middle cerebral, 1-internal carotid). Preangioplasty stenosis ranged from 55% to 90%. The median postangioplasty reduction in stenosis was 17% (range 9%-30%). Preangioplasty values ranged from 0.30 to 0.40 (n = 4). Postangioplasty values ranged from 0.6 to 0.9 (n = 5). iFR values improved considerably in all patients. No procedure-related complications occurred. The median follow-up was 8.9 mo (range 3-25 mo). Follow-up outcomes were favorable in 10 patients. CONCLUSION iFR measurement before and after intracranial angioplasty is feasible. It may be used to assess the adequacy of intracranial angioplasty.