Off-label use of drugs and devices in the neuroendovascular suite

The Feasibility of Eustachian Tube Dilation With a Standard Endovascular Balloon: A Comparative Cadaver Study

BACKGROUND

Balloon dilation of the eustachian tube is a new therapeutic option for eustachian tube dysfunction. One of the limiting factors of wider adoption of this technique in many parts of the world is the high cost of the devices, in spite of regulatory approval of safety.

OBJECTIVE

Evaluate the performance and usability of standard less-expensive endovascular balloons for eustachian tube dilation in comparison to an approved device in a preclinical study.

STUDY DESIGN

Comparative cadaver feasibility study.

SETTING

University tertiary care facility.

METHODS

Ten eustachian tube dilations were performed with an approved eustachian tube dilation device. Ten other procedures were carried out with an endovascular balloon of similar dimensions. Cone beam computerized tomography was performed to evaluate the extent of dilation and possible damages. The lumen and mucosal lining were inspected endoscopically post-dilation. Volume measurements were compared before and after the procedure in both groups using contrast enhancement.

RESULTS

All 20 eustachian tube dilations were carried out successfully. No tissue damages could be identified on cone-beam computerized tomography or via endoscopic examination. There was a statistically significant difference of eustachian tube volumes between pre- and post-dilations, with no statistically significant difference between the devices.

CONCLUSION

Eustachian tube dilation with a less costly endovascular balloon achieved similar results to an approved eustachian tube dilation device. No damages or any other safety concerns were identified in a cadaver study.

Management of a decompensated acute-on-chronic intracranial venous sinus thrombosis

A 34-year-old female patient presented during the 10th week of her second gravidity with headache, nausea and vomiting 2 weeks before admission. Her medical history was remarkable for a heterozygous factor V Leiden mutation, elevated lipoprotein A, and a cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) after oral contraceptive intake 15 years before. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) suggested acute and massive intracranial sinus thrombosis. Despite full-dose anticoagulation, the patient deteriorated clinically and eventually became comatose. Now, MRI/magnetic resonance angiography revealed vasogenic edema of both thalami, of the left frontal lobe, and of the head of the caudate nucleus, with venous stasis and frontal petechial hemorrhage. She was referred for endovascular treatment. Diagnostic angiography confirmed a complete superficial and deep venous sinus occlusion. Endovascular access to the straight and superior sagittal sinus was possible, but neither rheolysis nor balloon angioplasty resulted in recanalization of the venous sinuses. Monitored heparinization was continued and antiaggregation was initiated. The patient remained comatose for another 5 days and MRI showed progress of the cytotoxic edema. On day 6, infusion of eptifibatide at body-weight-adapted dosage was started. The following day, the patient improved and slowly regained consciousness. MRI confirmed regression of the edema. The eptifibatide infusion was continued for a total of 14 days. Thereafter two doses of 180 mg ticagrelor per os (PO) daily were started. The patient remained on acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), ticagrelor, and enoxaparin on an unchanged dosage regimen. She was discharged home 26 days after the endovascular treatment without serious neurological deficit, with the pregnancy intact. At the 30th week of pregnancy the dosage of ASA was reduced to 300 mg once PO daily. Cesarian delivery was carried out at the 38th week of pregnancy. The newborn was completely healthy. Ultima ratio therapeutic options for severe intracranial venous sinus thrombosis refractory to anticoagulation are discussed, with an emphasis on platelet-function inhibition.

Neuro Elutax SV drug-eluting balloon versus Wingspan stent system in symptomatic intracranial high-grade stenosis: a single-center experience

BACKGROUND

Intracranial atherosclerotic disease is a well-known cause of ischemic stroke. Following the SAMMPRIS trial, medical treatment is favored over stenting. Drug-eluting balloons (DEB) are widely used in coronary angioplasty, showing better results than bare-surface balloons. There is little evidence of DEB employment in intracranial stenosis, especially of paclitaxel-eluted balloons (pDEB). The Neuro Elutax SV (Aachen Resonance) is the first CE certificated pDEB for intracranial use.

OBJECTIVE

To compare pDEB Neuro Elutax SV (ElutaxDEB) with the Wingspan/Gateway stent system (WingspanStent).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A single-center, open-label, retrospective cohort study of 19 patients with symptomatic atherosclerotic intracranial high-grade stenosis treated with either ElutaxDEB or WingspanStent from a tertiary stroke center in Switzerland.

RESULTS

Eight patients (42%) received ElutaxDEB. Median clinical follow-up was 10 months for the WingspanStent and 9.5 months for ElutaxDEB (P=0.36). No differences were found in the clinical baseline characteristics, with a median stenosis grade of 80% for the WingspanStent and 81% for the ElutaxDEB (P=0.87). The compound endpoint 'ischemic re-event and/or restenosis' was significantly lower for ElutaxDEB (13% vs 64%; P=0.03, OR 0.08 (95% CI 0.007 to 0.93; P=0.043) than for the WingspanStent.

CONCLUSIONS

The ElutaxDEB may be a promising alternative treatment for patients with symptomatic high-grade intracranial stenosis showing a significantly lower rate of ischemic re-events or restenosis in comparison with the WingspanStent-treated patients with a similar safety profile. Further studies will be needed to definitively elucidate the role of pDEB in the management of symptomatic intracranial high-grade stenosis.

Intraoperative Eptifibatide Administration During Urgent Arterial Bypass in Neurosurgery

BACKGROUND

In some cases when risk of occlusion of a blood vessel is greater than risk of bleeding when patients undergo urgent or unplanned bypass during neurosurgery, the use of eptifibatide may be an option. We describe 2 patients who underwent arterial bypass in whom eptifibatide was used successfully intraoperatively during neurosurgery for prevention of bypass occlusion.

CASE DESCRIPTION

The first patient presented with a right middle cerebral artery (MCA) aneurysm with subocclusive stenosis of the M1 branch. After right-sided osteoplastic frontotemporal craniotomy, the MCA bifurcation was exposed with a bifurcational 6-mm aneurysm with a wide neck. Prebifurcation stenosis was found, with yellow calcification of the vessel wall, and postbifurcation calcification was found on the upper M2 branch. Superficial temporal artery-MCA bypass and occlusion of the MCA aneurysm was done. Before the bypass, continuous intravenous infusion of eptifibatide 1 μg/kg/minute was administered. The patient recovered normally without hemorrhage or neurologic deficit. The second patient presented with a left-sided lateral sphenoid wing meningioma. Left-sided frontotemporal craniotomy was performed, and the tumor was completely removed from the arachnoid layer. The temporal M3 branch was invaded by the meningioma. As there was no flow through the invaded segment of the aforementioned artery, termino-terminal M3 arterial anastomosis was done. Continuous intravenous infusion of eptifibatide 1 μg/kg/minute was administered. Indocyanine green angiography showed normal flow through the anastomosis, and the patient recovered normally.

CONCLUSIONS

Future studies are needed to test the safety and potential efficacy of eptifibatide in intraoperative settings.

Availability of endovascular therapies for cerebrovascular disease at primary stroke centers

Background Endovascular therapies (EVTs) are useful for treating cerebrovascular disease. There are few data about the availability of such services at primary stroke centers (PSCs). Our hypothesis was that some of these services may be available at some PSCs. Methods We conducted an internet-based survey of hospitals certified as PSCs by the Joint Commission. The survey inquired about EVTs such as intra-arterial (IA) lytics, IA mechanical clot removal, coiling of aneurysms, and cervical arterial stenting, physician training, coverage models, hospital type, and outcomes. Chi-square analyses were used to detect differences between academic and community PSCs. Results Data were available from 352 PSCs, of which 75% were community hospitals, 23% academic medical centers, and 80% were non-profit; almost half (48%) see 300 or more patients annually with ischemic stroke. A majority (60%) provided some or all EVTs on site, while 29% had none on site and no plans to add them. Among the respondents offering EVTs, 95% offered stenting of neck vessels, 86% IA lytics, 80% IA mechanical, and 74% aneurysm coiling. The majority (>55%) that did offer such services provided them 24/7/365. Most endovascular coverage was provided by interventional neuroradiologists (60%), fellowship trained endovascular neurosurgeons (42%), and interventional radiologists (41%). The majority of hospitals (81%) did not participate in an audited national registry. Conclusions A variety of EVT services are offered at many PSCs by interventionalists with diverse types of training. The availability of such services is clinically relevant now with the proven efficacy of mechanical thrombectomy for ischemic stroke.

Catheter-Based Transepidural Approach to Cervical and Thoracic Posterior and Perineural Epidural Spaces: A Cadaveric Feasibility Study

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Approaching the cervical and high thoracic level epidural space through transepidural route from lumbar region represents a method to lower the occurrence of complications associated with direct approach. The authors performed a cadaveric pilot project to determine the feasibility of various catheter-based manipulation and cephalad advancement using the transepidural route.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

Two cadavers were used to determine the following: 1. Ability to place a guide sheath over a guidewire using a percutaneous approach within the posterior lumbar epidural space; 2. The highest vertebral level catheter can be advanced within the posterior epidural space; 3. Ability to cross midline within the posterior epidural space; and 4. Ability to catheterize the perineural epidural sheaths of the nerve roots exiting at cervical and thoracic vertebral levels.

RESULTS

We were able to advance the catheters up to the level of cervical vertebral level of C2 within the posterior epidural space under fluoroscopic guidance from a sheath inserted via oblique parasagittal approach at the lumbar L4-L5 intervertebral space. We were able to cross midline within the posterior epidural space and catheterize multiple perineural epidural sheaths of the nerve roots exiting at cervical vertebral level of C2, C3, and C4 on ipsilateral or contralateral sides. We also catheterized multiple epidural sheaths that surround the nerve roots exiting at the thoracic vertebral level on ipsilateral or contralateral sides.

CONCLUSIONS

We were able to advance a catheter or microcatheter up to the cervical vertebral level within the posterior epidural space and catheterize the perineural epidural sheath of the nerve root exiting at cervical and thoracic vertebral levels. Such observations support further exploration of percutaneous catheter based transepidural approach to cervical and thoracic dorsal epidural spaces for therapeutic interventions.