Flat panel detector-CT with endovenous injection. Description of a novel technique for obtaining cerebral arteries imaging: Technical note Romanian Neurosurgery | Volume XXXI | Number 4 | 2017 | October-December Article Angiography procedure and endovascular treatment. Retrospective analysis in Neurosurgery Department of “Prof. Dr. N. Oblu” Clinic Emergency Hospital Iasi Georgiana Ion, A. Chiriac, N. Dobrin, I. Poeată ROMANIA DOI: 10.1515/romneu-2017-0071 444 | Ion et al - Angiography procedure and endovascular treatment DOI: 10.1515/romneu-2017-0071 Angiography procedure and endovascular treatment Retrospective analysis in Neurosurgery Department of “Prof. Dr. N. Oblu” Clinic Emergency Hospital Iasi Georgiana Ion1, A. Chiriac, N. Dobrin1, I. Poeată “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iasi 1“Prof. Dr. N. Oblu” Clinic Emergency Hospital, Iasi Abstract: A retrospective analysis of the cases admitted, investigated and treated in “Prof. Dr. N. Oblu” Clinic Emergency Hospital from the beginning of activity in the angiography laboratory from 2008 to June 2017. Key words: angiography, aneurysm, fistula, tumor, procedure, treatment Introduction Cerebral and spinal angiography is a procedure of diagnosis for patients with a neurologic disease that can be completed by a treatment maneuver. Pathology that can be explored and treated through neuroangiography is extensive: spinal AVM or fistula, extracranial carotid or vertebral stenosis or dissection, cerebral tumors, cerebral AVM or fistula ,aneurysms, SAH, nontraumatic parenchymal cerebral hemorrhage, carotid-cavernous fistula, cerebral spasm, stroke, cerebral vasculitis, cerebral venous thrombosis, etc. Regarding the treatment procedure, in this department the situation is at the level of international specialized centers. In neurosurgery department of “Prof. Dr. Nicolae Oblu” Emergency Hospital the angiography procedure through Seldinger catheterization it started in 2007, when it was a learning period for the neurosurgeons dedicated for this pathology (dr. Faiyad Ziyad, dr. Chiriac Alexandru, dr. Dobrin Nicolae with the support of Prof. Dr. Poeata Ion). After the introduction of angiography in the neuroradiological diagnosis, soon after it was used also in Neurosurgery Hospital from Iasi by senior neurosurgeons. Direct puncture of the carotid artery or vertebral artery with a trocar and direct injection of contrast substance has been heavily used with the purpose of diagnostic for tumors, intracerebral haemorrhage or vascular abnormalities, when the computer tomography or MRI were not available. Materials and Methods Starting the year 2008 the main procedures which were conducted in the laboratory of Romanian Neurosurgery (2017) XXXI 4: 444 - 454 | 445 angiography were: diagnostic angiography, endovascular treatment of aneurysms, AV fistula, AVMs, percutaneous angioplasty with stent or balloon and more recently, intraarterial injection of nimotop or thrombolysis and tumor embolization. It must to be noted that carotid-cavernous fistulas were included in the category of AVM/AVF. In the lower table are represented the main procedures conducted from January 2008 to June 2017. Procedure First of all, a patient's preparation must be carried out with some blood tests (urea, creatinine, blood cell count, coagulation) an electrocardiogram, a neurologic examination and a review of available imaging. If the patient is following treatment with antiplatelet or anticoagulants, medication in continue on the day of the procedure. Regarding the patient preparation, this should not eat or drink for 12 hours before the procedure, the inghinal region should be sterilely preparedand at least one peripheral access catheter. The family and the pacientare advised about the stages and alsothe risks and benefits of the procedure and they must to sign the consent. The patient is brought in the angiography room in an disposable costume with a saline solution 0,90% NaCl perfusion and is positioned on the angiography table in supine. 446 | Ion et al - Angiography procedure and endovascular treatment The inguinal region is discovered and sterilized with betadine. Monitoring of the patient during the procedure is made through heart rate, blood pressure and electrocardiographic. Sedation and general anesthesia are used for the cases when treatment is required or in patients who are unable to cooperate. Otherwise, they are advised of the possible heat sensation that may occur when injecting the contrast substance and the need not to move during the procedure. After the positioning, the patient is covered with sterile disposable fields over which the necessary tools are placed (disposable). Local anesthesia with lidocaine 1% is performed at the puncture site and a standard 18 G needle is used for the access for a 5F sheath (in case of diagnostic angiography), a 6F or an 8F sheath (in case of treatment). All the instruments are washed with heparinized saline solution before use. In general, the right common femoral artery is the main access path. The catheterization is made with a catheter of varying sizes and shapes, depending of aortic arch anatomy and the tortuosity of the vessels, the most common being an 5Fangled catheter of 90-cm length. During the advancement, a guidewire (hydrophilic 0.035-inch wire) is advanced into the catheter under fluoroscopic monitoring. The catheter should be handled with care, especially in the case of very tortuous vessels, when sufficient forward guidewire can straighten them. A stopcock is used for contrast injection or for continuous saline flush. Contrast injection into the selective internal carotid artery, external carotid artery or vertebral artery highlights the cerebral vascular tree. In cases when is needed the catheterization of the smaller vessels (from Vertebral arery, distal ECA) or suprapetrous segment of the internal carotid artery, a microcatheter and microwire are used under the protection of a continuous heparinized saline infusion. The basic positions purchased are lateral, anteroposterior and oblique (45 degree) or three-dimensional rotation and 3D reconstruction of the vascular tree. After the procedure patients rest in dorsal decubitus for at least 8 hours under careful supervision in neurosurgery department or in neurointensive care units. Among contraindications of this procedure are counting coagulopathy, iodine contrast allergy or renal insufficiency, all of which being relative contraindications. Among the complications of the vascular catheterization are to be retained the dissection, spasm of the artery or embolus with distal occlusion. Results Starting in 2008 endovascular procedures were more limited to diagnostic procedure, 2 cerebral AVMs treated and 9 ruptured aneurysms embolization. In the next year were made 152 angiographies, 4 AVMs treated and Romanian Neurosurgery (2017) XXXI 4: 444 - 454 | 447 10 aneurysms. In 2010 the number of diagnostic procedure decreased to 109, with 9 aneurysms treated, 2 AVMs and 1 percutaneous angioplasty with stent. Regarding the year 2011, the activity was more intense, with 166 diagnosis, 13 aneurysms treated, 5 AVMs and 9 carotid artery stenosis treated. In the following year it was the first tumor embolization (pedicle from ECA with glue and coils), 256 diagnostic procedures, 20 aneurysms treated, 15 AVMs and 26 stent procedure. Regarding the year 2013, the procedures were similar (282 diagnosis angiography, 40 aneurysms treated, 22 AVMs, 3 tumors and 26 stent procedures). In 2014, the main procedures are represented in the chart below (274 diagnosis, 23 stent, 27 aneurysms, 37 AVMs and 2 tumor embolization). A similar a trend is observed in 2015, with 252 diagnostic angiography, 44 aneurysms treated endovascular, 18 AVMs, 2 tumors and 4 percutaneous angioplasty with stent. Regarding 2016, the number of percutaneous endovascular explorations were 294, 14 stent procedures, 45 aneurysms treated, 20 AVMs and 4 tumor pedicle closure. From January 2017 to June 2017 were made 226 procedures of diagnostic, 42 aneurysms, 15 stent application (of which 4 percutaneous angioplasty with balloon), 21 AVMs and 5 tumor embolization. It must be noted that the mean age of patients investigated and treated endovascular was 56 years old (varies between 12 and 83 years), with a slight predominance of the male gender. Representative cases Endovascular embolization of tumors Case1 M. 57Y epicranian formation vertex and right hemiparesis (crural predominant). 448 | Ion et al - Angiography procedure and endovascular treatment Pre/post STA, MMA, OA closure with glue Case 2: F, 12Y, 1 year progressive visual field disorder; bilateral papillary edema. Figure 2.1. Cerebral MRI with contrast Figures 2.2. & 2.3. A. of Tentorium Cerebelli Figure 2.4. Pedicular injection of PComA and PCA Precocious and tardive contrast injection Pre/post coils closure of the tentorial branch of vertebral Romanian Neurosurgery (2017) XXXI 4: 444 - 454 | 449 Case 3 F, 16Y. Right cervicobrahialgia followed by progressive tetraparesis (4/5). Figure 3.1. Cervical MRI Figures 3.2., 3.3. & 3.4. Tumoral blush injected from tyrocervical trunk Figures 3.5 & 3.6. Thyrocervical trunk closure with glue Figures 3.7. & 3.8. Pre-post glue injection Aneurysms Case 4: F, 54Y, SAH, H&H=3, day 1, ruptured PComA and AChoA aneurysms. Figure 4.1. Angio-CT 3D reconstruction Figure 4.2. DSA after clipping the 2nd rupture Figure 4.3. Coils partial occlusion 450 | Ion et al - Angiography procedure and endovascular treatment Case 5 M, 34Y, right hemiparesis, dysphagia for 3 months. Figures 5.1., 5.2. & 5.3. Basilar trunk aneurysm Figure 5.4. Left vertebral artery closure with coils Figure 5.5. Right VA Figure 5.6. Stent assisted coiling Figure 5.7. DSA after 3 months Romanian Neurosurgery (2017) XXXI 4: 444 - 454 | 451 Case 6 F, 34Y, SAH, H&H=3 Figures 6.1. & 6.2. Diagnosis angio CT Figures 6.3. & 6.4. Vertebral artery at admission and after 19 days Figure 6.5. Endovascular closure with coils AVMs and Fistula Case 7 F, 43Y, motor facio-brachial seizures for 24 h, headache. Figures 7.1., 7.2. & 7.3. Left ICA Onyx closure 2 pedicle left ACA 452 | Ion et al - Angiography procedure and endovascular treatment Case 8 F, 53Y, sudden headache and vomiting, sleepiness. Pre/post closure one pedicle –distal right PCA with glue Case 9 F, 40Y, chemozis, right exophthalmia, severe cranial trauma 5 months ago Figure 9.1. Right carotid-cavernous fistula Figures 9.2. & 9.3. Pre/post balloon inflation Romanian Neurosurgery (2017) XXXI 4: 444 - 454 | 453 Case 10 - F, 85Y, right third nerve paresis, exophthalmia Figures 10.1. & 10.2. Right ICA catheterization Figure 10.3. GDC closure of the CC fistula Case 11 - M.13, GTC seizures Figure 11.1. MRI venous ectasia Figure 11.2. Right VA Figures 11.3. & 11.4 Closure of the fistula with coils A complete and comparative graph is shown below, from 2008 to 2017. 454 | Ion et al - Angiography procedure and endovascular treatment Discussion AngioCT scan and AngioIRM are useful tools in the diagnosis of neurological and neurosurgical pathology, but with a lower sensitivity and specificity than angiography. Is observed that, after less than 3 years of practice, the number of proceedings made in Iasi angiography laboratory has increased significantly. After the year 2012 the diagnostic angiographies made remain relatively constant, but the number of aneurysms treated endovascular(coiling, stent assisted coiling or flow diverter) has increased ,as well as the number of tumors combined treated (presurgical closure of pedicles from ECA,ICA or vertebral artery with glue or coils). The number of stent or balloon angioplasties is relative constant during the almost 10 years of activity. In the last year protocols for stoke and endovascular treatment have been established, and the first trombaspiration was experienced in a case of carotid dissection. In case when vascular spasm is present during or after the embolization, nimodipine injection (5ml dissolved in 15 ml of saline solution) is often effective, even in segmental vasospasm. It was observed that, patients who benefit from intraarterial injection of Nimotophave a better evolution during the first 21 days. Conclusions Diagnosis and endovascular treatment is indispensable to any neurosurgical center, because the pathology involved is more and more diverse and numerous. Every few year’s new devices and substances are being developed that increase the efficiency of this procedure. During this years an increasing efficiency was observed both as procedure, duration, resultsand impact on the patient. But, the most important, is that this team is complete (regardingthe possibility of treating both surgically and endovascular) and is made up of neurosurgeons with a vast experience of over 10 years. References 1.Sun Ho Ahn, MD1 Ethan A. Prince, MD1 Gregory J. Dubel, MD1;BasicNeuroangiography: Review of Techniqueand Perioperative Patient Care;SeminInterventRadiol 2013;30:225–233 2.Tratat de chirurgie vol. VI – Neurochirurgie, Ioan St. Florian, Ion Poeata, AcademieiRomane 2015 3.http://neuroangio.org/neuroangio- topics/introductory-brain-angiography/ 4.Masaaki Shojima, MD; Marie Oshima, PhD; Kiyoshi Takagi, MD, PhD; Ryo Torii, PhD;MotoharuHayakawa, MD, PhD; Kazuhiro Katada, MD, PhD;Akio Morita, MD, PhD; TakaakiKirino, MD, PhD;Magnitude and Role of Wall Shear Stress onCerebral AneurysmComputational Fluid Dynamic Study of 20 Middle CerebralArtery Aneurysms ; Stroke. 2004;35:2500-2505 5.Timothy J. Kaufmann, MD, John Huston, III, MD, Jay N. Mandrekar, PhD, Cathy D. Schleck, BS, Kent R. Thielen, MD, and David F. Kallmes, MD; Complications of Diagnostic Cerebral Angiography: Evaluation of 19 826 Consecutive Patients;Radiology;June2007,Volume 243, Issue 3 6. Richard E. Latchaw; Guidelines for Diagnostic Neuroangiography: A Model to Emulate from Neuroradiologist's Perspective; American Journal of Neuroradiology January 2000, 21 (1) 44-45. 7.Neil M. Borden, MD, 3d angiographic atlas of neurovascular anatomy and pathology, Cambridge University Press,2006