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Purpose: The direct aspiration first pass technique (ADAPT) is an effective and safe endovascular treatment for distal medium vessel occlusions (DMVOs). We evaluated technical features and initial results of a novel reperfusion catheter (REDTM 62) used for frontline aspiration thrombectomy of M2 occlusions in acute ischemic stroke patients. Appropriate aspiration catheters are crucial for a successful ADAPT maneuver; however, the selection of catheters suitable for smaller-sized vessels is scarce compared to the ones for large vessel occlusions., Materials and Methods: All patients treated with ADAPT using REDTM 62 as the frontline treatment approach for acute M2 occlusions between December 2022 and February 2024 were retrospectively enrolled. Demographic data, procedural timings and safety, recanalization rates, and outcome data were recorded., Results: Twenty patients with a median admission National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score of 8 were identified. Successful revascularization (DMVO-thrombolysis in cerebral infarction [TICI]≥2b) with REDTM 62 aspiration thrombectomy was obtained in 65.0% (13/20) of cases. The first pass effect was 45.0% (9/20). In 2 cases, the REDTM 62 did not reach the clot due to marked distal vessel tortuosity. Stent retrievers were additionally used in 9 cases and led to an overall DMVO-TICI 2c/3 of 90.0% (18/20). Mean procedural time was 48 minutes. No complications directly related to ADAPT occurred. In-hospital mortality rate was 20.0% (4/20). The median discharge NIHSS score was 2.5. A good functional outcome at discharge (modified Rankin scale 0-2) was achieved in 55.0% (11/20) of cases., Conclusion: Our initial experiences with the novel REDTM 62 reperfusion catheter for treatment of M2 occlusions is in line with published data. ADAPT using this catheter may be considered as a safe and effective first-line treatment option. Further studies are warranted to validate the initial results.

Purpose: We report our initial experience with endovascular embolization of intracranial aneurysms using this new self-expanding open-cell stent system (pEGASUS stent system) with the antithrombogenic hydrophilic polymer coating., Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed all patients treated with stent-assisted coiling or the Woven EndoBridge device using the pEGASUS stent system between September 2022 and June 2023. Demographic, clinical, and angiographic data were analyzed as well as short-term follow-up, including procedural complication rates and aneurysmal occlusion rates using the Raymond-Roy occlusion classification (RROC)., Results: Twelve patients with 12 wide-necked intracranial aneurysms were treated with the pEGASUS stent system, including 2 acutely ruptured aneurysms embolized in an emergency setting. The treated aneurysms were located at the anterior communicating artery (25.0%), the basilar artery (50.0%), the middle cerebral artery (16.7%), and the internal carotid artery (8.3%). All stents were deployed successfully. Immediate complete aneurysmal occlusion (RROC class I) was achieved in 83.3% (10/12) and near-complete occlusion (RROC II) in 16.7% (2/12). No periprocedural complications occurred in patients treated in the elective setting. A single case of intraoperative in-stent thrombus formation occurred during the treatment of an acutely ruptured basilar aneurysm and was resolved with intravenous Tirofiban. No other periprocedural complications occurred. Eleven out of 12 patients were available for follow up (mean 7.4 months). Complete aneurysmal occlusion without in-stent stenosis (ISS) was seen in 10 patients (90.9%). One patient (9.1%) showed aneurysmal reperfusion (RROC IIIb) with asymptomatic moderate ISS., Conclusion: Our initial results demonstrate that the pEGASUS stent system appears to be a safe and effective device for stent assisted embolization of wide-necked intracranial aneurysms. More data is necessary to evaluate long-term follow-up.

Background: Data on impact of COVID-19 vaccination and outcomes of patients with COVID-19 and acute ischemic stroke undergoing mechanical thrombectomy are scarce. Addressing this subject, we report our multicenter experience., Methods and Results: This was a retrospective analysis of patients with COVID-19 and known vaccination status treated with mechanical thrombectomy for acute ischemic stroke at 20 tertiary care centers between January 2020 and January 2023. Baseline demographics, angiographic outcome, and clinical outcome evaluated by the modified Rankin Scale score at discharge were noted. A multivariate analysis was conducted to test whether these variables were associated with an unfavorable outcome, defined as modified Rankin Scale score >3. A total of 137 patients with acute ischemic stroke (48 vaccinated and 89 unvaccinated) with acute or subsided COVID-19 infection who underwent mechanical thrombectomy attributable to vessel occlusion were included in the study. Angiographic outcomes between vaccinated and unvaccinated patients were similar (modified Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction ≥2b: 85.4% in vaccinated patients versus 86.5% in unvaccinated patients; P =0.859). The rate of functional independence (modified Rankin Scale score, ≤2) was 23.3% in the vaccinated group and 20.9% in the unvaccinated group ( P =0.763). The mortality rate was 30% in both groups. In the multivariable analysis, vaccination status was not a significant predictor for an unfavorable outcome ( P =0.957). However, acute COVID-19 infection remained significant (odds ratio, 1.197 [95% CI, 1.007-1.417]; P =0.041)., Conclusions: Our study demonstrated no impact of COVID-19 vaccination on angiographic or clinical outcome of COVID-19-positive patients with acute ischemic stroke undergoing mechanical thrombectomy, whereas worsening attributable to COVID-19 was confirmed.

Purpose: The Pipeline Vantage flow diverter with Shield technology (PV) used in this study is a 4th-generation flow diverter (FD) designed to reduce thrombogenicity, promote endothelialization of the implant and increase efficiency in achieving aneurysm closure. In this study, we report the aneurysm occlusion rate, complication rate and clinical outcome with short-term dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) in the treatment of unruptured intracranial saccular aneurysms using the PV., Methods: We retrospectively identified patients treated between September 2021 and January 2023 with the PV and subsequently underwent short-term DAPT for 3 months. Patient and aneurysm characteristics, peri- and post-procedural complications, clinical outcomes and the grade of aneurysm occlusion were documented., Results: Thirty patients with 32 aneurysms were treated. Successful FD implantation was achieved in all cases (100%). No periprocedural complications were documented. The overall symptomatic complication rate was 10% and the neurologic, treatment-related symptomatic complication rate was 6.6%. Only one symptomatic complication (3.3%) was device-related. Permanent clinical deterioration occurred in 2/30 patients (6.6%), leading to deterioration of the mRS within the first 3 months after treatment. No mortality was documented. The rate of complete aneurysm occlusion after 3 months and after a mean imaging follow-up of 9.9 months was 65.6% and 75%, respectively., Conclusion: Implantation of the PV for the treatment of saccular intracranial aneurysms achieves a good aneurysm occlusion rate with a low rate of complications. In addition, the use of short-term DAPT after PV implantation appears to be safe., Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interestsThe authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

The association of dural arteriovenous fistulas (DAVF) in children with Vein of Galen malformation (VGM) has recently been reported for the first time. In a larger series of cases treated with transarterial NBCA embolization, 30% had DAVF. We wanted to analyze the development of DAVF in our cohort of children with VGM and to evaluate whether their occurrence depends on different treatment timing and embolic materials. We analyzed 43 VGM cases treated with a combined transarterial and transvenous approach between 2003 and 2016. In our early series until 2011, we used coils solely in 21 children. Since 2012, 22 children were treated with the combination of coils and Onyx. In the early series treated with coils solely, no case presented initially with or developed DAVF over time on follow-up angiograms. In our recent series we found four cases (9%) with DAVF. In two patients (5%), DAVF were found on the initial angiogram. Both patients presented at our department at age >2 years and were not treated elsewhere before. One patient (2%) presented at our department with too proximal occlusion of arterial feeders performed at another institution before. Only one patient (2%) developed DAVF in our department after the transarterial use of Onyx. Interestingly, this child did not develop DAVF as long as we used coils solely and his DAVF was localized exactly where an Onyx cast was identified. In conclusion, delayed and incomplete treatment may have a considerable impact on the occurrence of DAVF in VGM.

The low thyroxine (T(4)) state of acute critical nonthyroidal illnesses is characterized by marked decreases in serum total T(4) and triiodothyronine (T(3)) with elevated reverse T(3) (rT(3)) values. To better define the mechanisms responsible for these alterations, serum kinetic disappearance studies of labeled T(4), T(3), or rT(3) were determined in 16 patients with the low T(4) state and compared with 27 euthyroid controls and a single subject with near absence of thyroxine-binding globulin. Marked increases in the serum free fractions of T(4) (0.070+/-0.007%, normal [nl] 0.0315+/-0.0014, P < 0.001), T(3) (0.696+/-0.065%, nl 0.310+/-0.034, P < 0.001), and rT(3) (0.404+/-0.051%, nl 0.133+/-0.007, P < 0.001) by equilibrium dialysis were observed indicating impaired serum binding. Noncompartmental analysis of the kinetic data revealed an increased metabolic clearance rate (MCR) of T(4) (1.69+/-0.22 liter/d per m(2), nl 0.73+/-0.05, P < 0.001) and fractional catabolic rate (FCR) (32.8+/-2.6%, nl 12.0+/-0.8, P < 0.001), analogous to the euthyroid subject with low thyroxine-binding globulin. However, the reduced rate of T(4) exit from the serum (Kii) (15.2+/-4.6 d(-1), nl 28.4+/-3.9, P < 0.001) indicated an impairment of extravascular T(4) binding that exceeded the serum binding defect. This defect did not apparently reduce the availability of T(4) to sites of disposal as reflected by the increased fractional disposal rate of T(4) (0.101+/-0.018 d(-1), nl 0.021+/-0.003, P < 0.001). The decreased serum T(3) binding was associated with the expected increases in MCR (18.80+/-2.22 liter/d per m(2), nl 13.74+/-1.30, P < 0.05) and total volume of distribution (26.55+/-4.80 liter/m(2), nl 13.10+/-2.54, P < 0.01). However, the unaltered Kii suggested an extravascular binding impairment comparable to that found in serum. The decreased T(3) production rate (6.34+/-0.53 mug/d per m(2), nl 23.47+/-2.12, P < 0.005) appeared to result from reduced peripheral T(4) to T(3) conversion because of decreased 5'-deiodination rather than from a decreased T(4) availability. This view was supported by the normality of the rT(3) production rate. The normal Kii values for rT(3) indicated a comparable defect in serum and extravascular rT(3) binding. The reduced MCR (25.05+/-6.03 liter/d per m(2), nl 59.96+/-8.56, P < 0.005) and FCR (191.0+/-41.19%, nl 628.0+/-199.0, P < 0.02) for rT(3) are compatible with an impairment of the rT(3) deiodination rate. These alterations in thyroid hormones indices and kinetic parameters for T(4), T(3), and rT(3) in the low T(4) state of acute nonthyroidal illnesses can be accounted for by: (a) decreased binding of T(4), T(3), and rT(3) to vascular and extravascular sites with a proportionately greater impairment of extravascular T(4) binding, and (b) impaired 5'-deiodination activity affecting both T(4) and rT(3) metabolism.