Japanese Registry of Neuroendovascular Therapy: extracranial steno-occlusive diseases except for internal carotid artery stenosis

The Current Status of Endovascular Treatment for Extracranial Steno-occlusive Diseases in Japan: Analysis Using the Japanese Registry of Neuroendovascular Therapy 3 (JR-NET3)

Endovascular treatment of extracranial steno-occlusive lesions is an alternative to direct surgery. There is no consensus regarding the natural course and standard treatment of these lesions. The aim of this study was to identify the current status of endovascular treatment for extracranial steno-occlusive lesions. A total of 1154 procedures for extracranial steno-occlusive lesions, except for internal carotid artery stenosis, were collected from the Japanese Registry of Neuroendovascular Therapy 3 (JR-NET3). Atherosclerotic lesions were most frequent (1021 patients, 88.5%). Endovascular treatment was performed for 456 (39.5%) patients with subclavian artery, 349 (30.2%) with extracranial vertebral artery, 172 (14.9%) with the origin of common carotid artery, and 38 (3.3%) with innominate artery stenosis; the overall technical success rate was 98.0%. Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty was performed in 307 patients (26.6%) and stenting in 838 (72.6%). An embolic protection device (EPD) was used in 571 patients (49.5%), and procedure under general anesthesia was performed in 168 (14.6%). Preoperative antiplatelet therapy was administered in 1091 procedures (94.5%). A good outcome was obtained for 962 patients (83.4%). Complications were observed in 89 patients (7.7%). The procedure under general anesthesia was statistically significant factors (P <0.01), and also after multivariable adjustment (odds ratio 2.29; 95% confidence interval 1.25–4.17; P <0.01). Comparisons between JR-NET3 and previous cohorts (JR-NET1&2), the utilization of EPD and complications increased significantly, and the type of antiplatelet therapy changed markedly. Based on the results of this study, endovascular treatment for extracranial steno-occlusive lesions is relatively safe. Further prospective studies are necessary to validate the beneficial effects.

Safety and Feasibility of Neuroendovascular Therapy for Elderly Patients: Analysis of Japanese Registry of Neuroendovascular Therapy 3

Japan has a rapidly aging population and the application of neuroendovascular therapy (NET) for cerebrovascular diseases among elderly patients has increased, but feasibility and safety of NET for elderly patients are still debated. Therefore, this study aimed to elucidate feasibility and safety of NET by analyzing the Japanese nationwide database, the Japanese Registry of Neuroendovascular Therapy 3 (JR-NET 3). In total, 35,972 patients in the JR-NET 3 were analyzed retrospectively. "Elderly patients" were defined as those aged ≥75 years. Approximately one-quarter of patients who received NET were elderly patients. The proportion of patients with modified Rankin Scale (mRS) 0-2 before treatment and 30 days after NET was significantly low across all diseases in the elderly patients. Technical success rates were generally high across all procedures, but complication rate was significantly higher among elderly patients; ischemic complications were significantly higher with NET for unruptured aneurysms (UA) and carotid artery stenosis (CAS). Multivariate analysis revealed that mRS 0-2 before treatment [odds ratio (OR): 0.56, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.34-0.94, P = 0.03], middle cerebral artery aneurysm (OR: 0.33, 95% CI: 0.12-0.92, P = 0.04), and complete obliteration (OR: 0.66, 95% CI: 0.44-0.97, P = 0.03) were associated with ischemic complications with NET for UA. Moreover, mRS 0-2 before treatment (OR: 0.55, 95% CI: 0.36-0.86, P < 0.01), high intensity with time-of-flight magnetic resonance angiography (OR: 1.55, 95% CI: 1.03-2.32, P = 0.04), open-cell stent (OR: 2.20, 95% CI: 1.50-3.22, P <0.01) were associated with ischemic complications with NET for CAS. Taken together, our findings indicate that cautious and precise selection of patients suitable for NET is necessary.

A comparison of the prevalence and risk factors of complications in intracranial tumor embolization between the Japanese Registry of NeuroEndovascular Therapy 2 (JR-NET2) and JR-NET3

BACKGROUND

The Japanese Registry of NeuroEndovascular Therapy 2 (JR-NET2) and 3 (JR-NET3) were nationwide surveys that evaluated clinical outcomes after neuroendovascular therapy in Japan. The aim of this study was to compare the prevalence and risk factors of complications of intracranial tumor embolization between JR-NET2 and JR-NET3.

METHODS

A total of 1018 and 1545 consecutive patients with intracranial tumors treated with embolization were enrolled in JR-NET2 and JR-NET3, respectively. The prevalence of complications in intracranial tumor embolization and related risk factors were compared between JR-NET2 and JR-NET3.

RESULTS

The prevalence of complications in JR-NET3 (3.69%) was significantly higher than that in JR-NET2 (1.48%) (p = 0.002). The multivariate analysis in JR-NET2 showed that embolization for tumors other than meningioma was the only significant risk factor for complication (odds ratio [OR], 3.88; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.13-12.10; p = 0.032), and that in JR-NET3 revealed that embolization for feeders other than external carotid artery (ECA) (OR, 3.56; 95% CI, 2.03-6.25; p < 0.001) and use of liquid materials (OR, 2.65; 95% CI, 1.50-4.68; p < 0.001) were significant risks for complications. The frequency of embolization for feeders other than ECA in JR-NET3 (15.3%) was significantly higher than that in JR-NET2 (9.2%) (p < 0.001). Also, there was a significant difference in the frequency of use of liquid materials between JR-NET2 (21.2%) and JR-NET3 (41.2%) (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Embolization for feeders other than ECA and use of liquid materials could increase the complication rate in intracranial tumor embolization.