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Biomedical subjects

M Sluzewski

Publications and source records attributed to M Sluzewski.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Brain AVM embolization with Onyx.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: To report the initial experience by using a new liquid embolic agent (Onyx) for embolization of brain arteriovenous malformations (AVMs). METHODS: Between May 2000 and December 2005, 44 patients with brain AVMs were embolized with Onyx. There were 18 women and 26 men with a mean age of 42.4 years (median 44, range 14-71 years). Clinical presentation included seizures in 26 patients (59%), hemorrhage from the AVM in 13 patients (30%), subarachnoid hemorrhage from a concomitant aneurysm in 3 patients (7%), visual disturbances in 1 patient (2.3%), and in 1 patient (2.3%) the AVM was an incidental finding. Mean estimated size of the AVM was 3.9 cm (median 4, range 2-7 cm). RESULTS: In 44 patients, 52 embolization procedures were performed with 138 feeding pedicles embolized, ranging from 1 to 7 per patient. Average estimated size reduction was 75% (median 80%, range 40%-100%). Total obliteration was achieved in 7 AVMs (16%), and partial embolization was followed by surgery in 10 patients and by radiosurgery in 20 patients. Complications occurred in 6 patients, leading to death in 1 patient (mortality 2.3%) and to permanent disability in 2 patients (morbidity 4.6%). CONCLUSION: Onyx is feasible and safe in the embolization of brain AVMs. Complete obliteration can be achieved in small AVMs. Large AVMs can be adequately reduced in size for additional surgical or radiosurgical treatment.

Adolescent↗

Ruptured cavernous sinus aneurysms causing carotid cavernous fistula: incidence, clinical presentation, treatment, and outcome.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: In this study, we present our experience with 11 patients with ruptured cavernous sinus aneurysms causing carotid cavernous fistulas (CCFs), to assess the incidence of ruptured cavernous sinus aneurysms causing CCFs and evaluate clinical presentations, treatments, and outcomes. PATIENTS AND METHODS: During a 10-year period, 10 of 689 (1.5%) endovascular-treated ruptured aneurysms were ruptured cavernous sinus aneurysms causing CCF. One additional patient with a CCF died shortly before treatment of intracranial hemorrhage. All patients had audible pulsatile bruit. Exophthalmus, ocular motor palsy, and decreased vision correlated with venous drainage to the superior ophthalmic veins and intracerebral hemorrhage was associated with major cortical venous drainage in 2 patients. RESULTS: Two low-flow CCFs closed spontaneously before treatment with resolution of symptoms; the aneurysms were subsequently treated. Eight CCFs were successfully occluded, 5 by coil occlusion of the aneurysm, one by occlusion of the aneurysm with a balloon, and 2 by simultaneous coil occlusion of the aneurysm and internal carotid artery. There were no complications of treatment. Visual acuity returned to normal in all but one patient, and ophthalmoplegia was cured in 6 of 8 patients. In 2 patients, a remaining abducens palsy was surgically corrected. CONCLUSION: The incidence of CCF by a ruptured cavernous sinus aneurysm was 1.5%. CCF was the presenting symptom in 24.4% of treated symptomatic cavernous sinus aneurysms. Clinical symptoms correlate with venous drainage. Drainage to cortical veins may lead to intracranial hemorrhage. Endovascular treatment with coils is effective in occluding the fistula.

Adult↗

Coiling of truly incidental intracranial aneurysms.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to report the morbidity, mortality, and angiographic results of coiling of asymptomatic incidental aneurysms and compare the characteristics of these aneurysms with other asymptomatic incidental aneurysms that were not treated. PATIENTS AND METHODS: During a 10-year period, 97 patients without previous subarachnoid hemorrhage, presented with incidentally found intracranial aneurysms. In 48 patients, 58 aneurysms were coiled. The mean size of the 58 coiled incidental aneurysms was 10.9 mm (median, 9 mm; range, 3-40 mm). Twenty-six of 58 coiled aneurysms (44.8%) were > or = 10 mm. RESULTS: Permanent morbidity of coiling was 2.1% (1 of 48), mortality was 0%. Compared with untreated patients with incidental aneurysms, coiled patients were younger and more often had multiple aneurysms. Aneurysms of coiled patients more often had a small neck, were more often located on the carotid artery, and were less often located on the middle cerebral artery. Of 46 aneurysms with angiographic follow up, 45 were completely or near completely occluded. To obtain these results, 3 aneurysms were coiled more than once. Coiled incidental aneurysms did not rupture during a median follow-up period of 28.5 months. Mean hospital stay per patient was 2.5 days. CONCLUSION: Coiling of incidental intracranial aneurysms has a low complication rate in selected aneurysms and patients. Coiling should be the first treatment option in incidental aneurysms suitable for this technique.

Adult↗

Endovascular treatment of posterior cerebral artery aneurysms.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to report the incidence, clinical presentation, endovascular treatment, and outcome of aneurysms of the posterior cerebral artery (PCA). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Among 1880 aneurysms treated between January 1995 and January 2005, 22 aneurysms (1.2%) in 22 patients were located on the PCA. Ten patients presented with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) from the PCA aneurysm: 2 of these patients had additional visual field deficits and 2 had additional occulomotor palsy. One patient presented with acute occulomotor palsy only. Eleven PCA aneurysms were unruptured: 9 were additional to another ruptured aneurysm and 2 were incidentally discovered. Three aneurysms were >15 mm and the other 19 aneurysms were < or = 8 mm. Eighteen aneurysms were saccular, 2 were fusiform, one was dissecting, and one was mycotic. RESULTS: All aneurysms were successfully treated, 17 with selective occlusion of the aneurysm with coils and 5 with simultaneous occlusion of the aneurysm and parent PCA with coils. There were no complications of treatment. Two patients died of sequelae of SAH shortly after treatment. One patient died 2 months after coiling of an unruptured P1 aneurysm with intramural thrombus of SAH from the same aneurysm. One patient had persistent hemianopsia. In 2 patients with intact visual field in which the parent PCA was occluded, no hemianopsia developed due to sufficient leptomeningeal collateral circulation. CONCLUSION: Aneurysms of the PCA are rare with an incidence in our practice of 1.2% of all types of aneurysms. Clinical presentation is variable with SAH, occulomotor palsy, visual field deficit or a combination. Endovascular treatment with either selective occlusion of the aneurysm or occlusion of the aneurysm together with the parent artery with coils is safe and effective with good clinical results.

Adult↗

Bone marrow edema in osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures after percutaneous vertebroplasty and relation with clinical outcome.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Little is known about the evolution of bone marrow edema (BME) in osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (VCF) after percutaneous vertebroplasty (PV) or about its relation with relief of pain. In this study, we prospectively assessed changes in BME with MR imaging at 3, 6, and 12 months after PV and related changes in BME with pain evolution and analgesic use over time. METHODS: BME percentage was assessed in 64 patients after PV of 89 VCF with serial MR imaging follow-up at 3, 6, and 12 months. Pain was assessed before PV and at every follow-up interval by visual analog scale for pain and type of analgesic used. Relation between changes in BME and pain evolution was assessed in a subgroup of 31 patients with a single treated VCF and neither new VCF at follow-up nor pain at another untreated level. RESULTS: BME gradually decreased over time. At 1 year after PV, 29% of treated VCF still demonstrated BME. Once BME disappeared, it did not return. Pain relief was most striking the first 3 months after PV and remained constant thereafter. There was no relation between relief of pain and extent, presence, or absence of BME after PV. CONCLUSION: A gradual decrease of BME in osteoporotic VCF treated with PV is apparent during 12 months of MR imaging follow-up. Decrease of BME is unrelated to relief of pain.

Aged↗

Procedural complications of coiling of ruptured intracranial aneurysms: incidence and risk factors in a consecutive series of 681 patients.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: To report the incidence of procedural complications of coiling of ruptured intracranial aneurysms leading to permanent disability or death in a consecutive series of 681 patients and to identify risk factors for these events. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between January 1995 and July 2005, 681 consecutive patients with ruptured intracranial aneurysms were treated with detachable coils. Procedural complications (aneurysm rupture or thromboembolic) of coiling leading to death or neurologic disability at the time of hospital discharge were recorded. For patients with procedural complications, odds ratios (OR) with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated for the following patient and aneurysm characteristics: patient age and sex, use of a supporting balloon, aneurysm location, timing of treatment, clinical condition at the time of treatment, and aneurysm size. RESULTS: Procedural complications occurred in 40 of 681 patients (5.87%; 95% CI, 4.2% to 7.9%), leading to death in 18 patients (procedural mortality, 2.6%; 95% CI, 1.6% to 4.2%) and to disability in 22 patients (procedural morbidity, 3.2%; 95% CI, 2.0% to 4.9%). There were 8 procedural ruptures and 32 thromboembolic complications. The use of a temporary supporting balloon was the only significant risk factor (OR, 5.1; 95% CI, 2.3 to 15.3%) for the occurrence of procedural complications. CONCLUSION: Procedural complication rate of coiling of ruptured aneurysms leading to disability or death is 5.9%. In this series, the use of a temporary supporting balloon in the treatment of wide-necked aneurysms was the only risk factor for the occurrence of complications.

Adult↗

Pain response in the first trimester after percutaneous vertebroplasty in patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures with or without bone marrow edema.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Presence of bone marrow edema (BME) in osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (VCF) detected by MR imaging as selection criterion for percutaneous vertebroplasty (PV) is speculative. To clarify significance of BME in VCF, we assessed pain response after PV in patients with VCF with full BME versus patients with VCF with absent BME. METHODS: From a cohort of patients with painful VCF selected for PV, pain response in 14 patients with absent BME in VCF was prospectively compared with pain response in 31 patients with full BME in VCF. Pain was evaluated before PV and at 1 and 3 months after PV with visual analog scores and analgesics used. Back pain in general and at treated vertebral levels was assessed. RESULTS: Pain decrease after PV at treated levels was observed in 10 (71%) patients with absent BME in VCF at both follow-up periods and in 29 (94%) patients with full BME 1 month after PV and 30 (97%) at 3 months after PV. Differences between the groups were significant (P = .04 at 1 month; P = .01 at 3 months). Pain response was not affected by other patient or imaging characteristics. General back pain after PV was comparable in both groups after PV (P = .08 at 1 month; P = .4 at 3 months). CONCLUSION: Pain decrease after PV in patients with VCF is more frequently observed when full BME is present. Because 71% of patients with VCF with absent BME responded favorably on pain, PV should not be withheld based on absence of BME alone.

Aged↗

Procedural morbidity and mortality of elective coil treatment of unruptured intracranial aneurysms.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: To report morbidity, mortality, and angiographic results of elective coiling of unruptured intracranial aneurysms. METHODS: In a 10-year period, 176 unruptured aneurysms in 149 patients were electively treated with detachable coils. Seventy-nine aneurysms were additional to another ruptured aneurysm but were coiled more than 3 months after subarachnoid hemorrhage, 59 aneurysms were incidentally discovered, and 38 aneurysms presented with symptoms of mass effect. Mean size of the 176 unruptured aneurysms was 10.6 mm (median, 8 mm; range, 2-55 mm). One hundred thirteen aneurysms (64%) were small (<10 mm), 44 aneurysms (25%) were large (10-25 mm), and 19 aneurysms (11%) were giant (25-55 mm). Thirty wide-necked aneurysms (17%) were coiled with the aid of a supporting device. RESULTS: Procedural mortality of coiling was 1.3% (2 of 149; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.7-5.1%), and morbidity was 2.6% (4 of 149, 95% CI, 0.8-7.0%). The 4 patients with permanent morbidity were independent (GOS 4). Initial aneurysm occlusion was complete (100%) in 132 aneurysms, nearly complete (90%-98%) in 36 aneurysms, and incomplete (60%-85%) in 8 aneurysms. Six-month follow-up angiography was available in 132 patients with 154 coiled aneurysms (87.5%); partial reopening occurred in 25, mainly large and giant aneurysms (16.2%). Additional coiling was performed in 22 aneurysms and additional parent vessel occlusion in 1 aneurysm. There were no complications of additional treatments. CONCLUSION: Elective coiling of unruptured intracranial aneurysms has low procedural mortality and morbidity. For the management of unruptured aneurysms, endovascular treatment should be considered.

Adolescent↗

Spinal dural arteriovenous fistulas--an underdiagnosed disease. A review of patients admitted to the spinal unit of a rehabilitation center.

BACKGROUND: Spinal dural arteriovenous fistulas (SDAVF) are rare and present with non-specific symptoms. The diagnosis is difficult and it is therefore conceivable that patients may not be recognized. METHODS: We reviewed the intake forms of patients who had been admitted to the spinal cord injury ward of a rehabilitation center in the period 1980-2004 to identify possible patients with an undiagnosed SDAVF. Clinical and radiological data were evaluated in selected cases. RESULTS: In 20 of 1429 newly admitted patients to the rehabilitation center (in 614 of whom trauma was not the cause), we restudied the CT myelograms, MRI scans or spinal angiograms and in two of these we found an undiagnosed SDAVF, and one cerebral dural arteriovenous fistula. One of these three was diagnosed with SDAVF 8 years after the admission to the rehabilitation center; the other two patients had never been diagnosed with SDAVF. In 9 patients a diagnosis of SDAVF had already been established by the time they were admitted to the spinal cord unit. In 20 other patients the admission diagnosis was a vascular lesion or 'progressive myelopathy' but appropriate radiological studies had been destroyed or had never been performed. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that spinal dural arteriovenous fistulas are an underdiagnosed condition.

Aged↗

[Posture-dependent headache due to the spontaneous hypotension syndrome].

A 40-year-old woman and a 47-year-old man presented with acute posture-dependent headache. A spontaneous intracranial hypotension syndrome was diagnosed in both cases. MRI with a gadolinium contrast medium revealed staining of the pachymeninges. In the woman, cisternography revealed leakage of spinal fluid at the level of the cauda equina. Neither an infusion of caffeine nor an epidural blood patch helped, but the symptoms disappeared spontaneously. In the man, cisternography indicated leakage at the level of the 3rd thoracic vertebra. The symptoms disappeared rapidly after treatment with a local blood patch. Posture-dependent headache is typical for the intracranial hypotension syndrome. The headache is usually relieved by lying down and aggravated by standing up, but the reverse has also been reported. This headache can develop in a short time, sometimes acutely, and may persist continuously. The syndrome is usually caused by leakage of cerebrospinal fluid due to rupture of the dura mater, which may occur spontaneously. The diagnosis can be established by gadolinium MRI, revealing a striking pattern of diffuse pachymeningeal enhancement. Subdural fluid accumulations may also be seen. Indium-pentetreotide cisternography can often localise the spinal fluid leak. Intravenous caffeine and the application of an autologous epidural blood patch are possible treatment options, but spontaneous recovery may also occur.

Adult↗

Spinal dural arteriovenous fistulas: long-term follow-up of 44 treated patients.

To assess the long-term clinical course of 44 patients treated for a spinal dural arteriovenous fistula, patients were re-examined after a median follow-up of 5.7 years. In total, 70% of patients rated their activities of daily life as better or much better than before treatment. In most patients, gait disturbances and muscle strength had improved after treatment, with reduced disability; problems with micturition, defecation, and erection tended to remain unchanged.

Activities of Daily Living↗

Type I cerebral dural arteriovenous fistulas of the lateral sinus: clinical features in 24 patients.

To review the clinical and diagnostic characteristics of type I cerebral dural arteriovenous fistulas (CDAVF) of the lateral sinus medical records of 24 patients with Type I CDAVF were retrospectively reviewed. All patients were interviewed aiming at presenting symptoms, impact on daily functioning, diagnostic delay, relevant medical history and post-treatment status. Nineteen of 24 patients (79%) were women. The median age at the time of diagnosis was 56 years (range 32-69). Unilateral pulsatile tinnitus was the presenting symptom in all patients. A bruit could be heard at auscultation on the retroauricular skull in all patients. The median diagnostic delay was 17.9 months (range 1-120). Standardized magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain was normal in all patients. The diagnosis of CDAVF was confirmed on cerebral angiography. In conclusion, CDAVF type I of the lateral sinus occurs predominantly in middle aged women and presents with unilateral pulsatile tinnitus, which resulted in impairment of social and occupational functioning in the vast majority of patients. An audible bruit at retroauricular auscultation confirms the clinical diagnosis of a cerebral dural fistula. MRI is not helpful in the diagnosis and cerebral angiography is indicated to classify the dural fistula.

Adult↗

Coiling of saccular basilar trunk aneurysms.

We reviewed the selective endosaccular coiling of eight consecutive patients with saccular basilar trunk aneurysms, seven after subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH). All aneurysms could be coiled in a mean procedure time of 61 min. There were no procedure-related complications, but one patient died of vasospasm following the SAH. The remaining seven had a good outcome, and five of seven aneurysms were completely occluded with a stable result on follow-up angiography. Compaction of the coils occurred in one very large aneurysm necessitating additional coiling. One patient with a giant, partially thrombosed aneurysm was coiled four times in a 3-year period to obtain a satisfactory anatomical result.

Basilar Artery↗

Patient and occupational dose in neurointerventional procedures.

Neurointerventional procedures can involve very high doses of radiation to the patient. Our purpose was to quantify the exposure of patients and workers during such procedures, and to use the data for optimisation. We monitored the coiling of 27 aneurysms, and embolisation of four arteriovenous malformations. We measured entrance doses at the skull of the patient using thermoluminescent dosemeters. An observer logged the dose-area product (DAP), fluoroscopy time and characteristics of the digital angiographic and fluoroscopic projections. We also measured entrance doses to the workers at the glabella, neck, arms, hands and legs. The highest patient entrance dose was 2.3 Gy, the average maximum entrance dose 0.9+/-0.5 Gy. The effective dose to the patient was estimated as 14.0+/-8.1 mSv. Other average values were: DAP 228+/-131 Gy cm(2), fluoroscopy time 34.8+/-12.6 min, number of angiographic series 19.3+/-9.4 and number of frames 267+/-143. The highest operator entrance dose was observed on the left leg (235+/-174 microGy). The effective dose to the operator, wearing a 0.35 mm lead equivalent apron, was 6.7+/-4.6 microSv. Thus, even the highest patient entrance dose was in the lower part of the range in which nonstochastic effects might arise. Nevertheless, we are trying to reduce patient exposure by optimising machine settings and clinical protocols, and by informing the operator when the total DAP reaches a defined threshold. The contribution of neurointerventional procedures to occupational dose was very small.

Adolescent↗

[Subarachnoid hemorrhage without aneurysm on the angiogram: the value of repeat angiography].

OBJECTIVE: To determine the yield of repeated angiography in patients with a non-perimesencephalic subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) and a negative first cerebral angiogram. DESIGN: Retrospective. METHOD: All diagnostic data of patients with a spontaneous SAH admitted to the Department of Neurology, St. Elisabeth Hospital, Tilburg, the Netherlands, in the period 1 January 1992-30 June 2000 were analysed. Patients with a perimesencephalic haemorrhage on a CT-scan were excluded and follow-up was completed. A negative angiogram was considered false-negative, if an aneurysm was shown on a repeat angiogram or after a rebleed. These angiograms were reviewed. RESULTS: A total of 333 patients with a spontaneous SAH were registered. Of these, 249 patients had one or more angiograms made, which resulted in 59 first angiograms being negative (24%). A total of 36 patients had a non-perimesencephalic SAH (26 women and 10 men; mean age: 54 years (range: 25-77)). In 25 of these 36 patients, angiography was repeated revealing 9 aneurysms. Four patients suffered from a rebleed after a previous negative angiogram. Altogether, in 13 of these 36 patients the first negative angiogram was false-negative (36%). In 5 of the 9 patients with a positive repeat angiogram, the first angiogram had been incorrectly assessed as negative. CONCLUSION: Of the 36 patients with a non-perimesencephalic subarachnoid haemorrhage and a negative angiogram, 13 were revealed to have an aneurysm. Nine of these 13 aneurysms were demonstrated on a repeat angiogram. Technical and interpretation factors appeared to play an important role in missing an aneurysm on a cerebral angiogram.

Adult↗

Endovascular coiling versus neurosurgical clipping in patients with a ruptured basilar tip aneurysm.

OBJECTIVES: To compare endovascular coiling with neurosurgical clipping of ruptured basilar bifurcation aneurysms. METHODS: Patient and aneurysm characteristics, procedural complications, and clinical and anatomical results were compared retrospectively in 44 coiled patients and 44 patients treated by clipping. The odds ratios for poor outcome (Glasgow outcome scale 1, 2, 3) adjusted for age, clinical condition, and aneurysm size were assessed by logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: In the endovascular group, five patients (11%) had a poor outcome v 13 (30%) in the surgical group; the adjusted odds ratio for poor outcome after coiling v clipping was 0.28 (95% confidence interval, 0.08 to 0.99). Procedural complications were more common in the surgical group. Optimal or suboptimal occlusion of the aneurysm immediately after coiling was achieved in 41 patients (93%). Clipping was successful in 40 patients (91%). CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that embolisation with coils is the preferred treatment for patients with ruptured basilar bifurcation aneurysms.

Aneurysm, Ruptured↗

[Traumatic atlanto-occipital dislocation with minimal neurologic deficits].

A 21-year-old woman presented with mild neck pain following a scooter accident. Conventional cervical radiographs showed a lateralisation of the dens axis to the left in relation to the foramen magnum. A subsequent CT with a multiplanar reconstruction revealed an atlanto-occipital dislocation that was repositioned under fluoroscopic control. The patient had an uneventful recovery; a mild loss of strength in the left arm remained. The atlanto-occipital dislocation without neurological deficit is rare.

Accidents, Traffic↗