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We report the case of a 45-year-old man with a rare cerebellar dural arteriovenous fistula (dAVF) presenting with dizziness and gait imbalance. MRI revealed a hemorrhagic lesion compressing the fourth ventricle. Digital subtraction angiography confirmed a Borden Type III dAVF, which was successfully treated by balloon-assisted embolization using PHIL 25%. This case draws attention to the importance of early diagnosis and intervention in posterior fossa dAVFs. Cerebellar dAVFs, though rare, harbor a high risk of hemorrhage and require prompt imaging and endovascular treatment.

Introduction The introduction of the balloon remodeling and stent-assisted technique has revolutionized the approach to coil embolization for wide-neck aneurysms. The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency of thromboembolic events associated with single balloon-assisted, double balloon-assisted, and stent-assisted coil embolization for asymptomatic unruptured aneurysms. Methods A retrospective review was undertaken by 119 patients undergoing coiling with an adjunctive technique for unruptured saccular aneurysms (64 single balloon, 12 double balloon, 43 stent assisted). All underwent diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) within 24 h after the procedure. Results DWI showed hyperintense lesions in 48 (40 %) patients, and ten (21 %) of these patients incurred neurological deterioration (permanent, two; transient, eight). Hyperintense lesions were detected significantly more often in procedures with the double balloon-assisted technique (7/12, 58 %) than with the single balloon-assisted technique (16/64, 25 %, p  = 0.05). Occurrence of new lesions was significantly higher with the use of stent-assisted technique (25/43, 58 %) than with the single balloon-assisted technique ( p  = 0.001). Symptomatic ischemic rates were similar between the three groups. The increased number of microcatheters was significantly related to the DWI abnormalities (two microcatheters, 15/63 (23.8 %); three microcatheters, 20/41 (48.8 %) ( p  = 0.008); four microcatheters, 12/15 (80 %) ( p  = 0.001)). Conclusion Thromboembolic events detected on DWI related to coil embolization for unruptured aneurysms are relatively common, especially in association with the double balloon-assisted and stent-assisted techniques. Furthermore, the number of microcatheters is highly correlated with DWI abnormalities. The high rate of thromboembolic events suggests the need for evaluation of platelet reactivity and the addition or change of antiplatelet agents.

Abstract N-butyl cyanoacrylate glue (n-BCA, Cerenovus, Irvine, California) is commonly used to treat arteriovenous malformation (AVM). Even though Onyx (ethylene vinyl alcohol, Medtronic, Dublin, Ireland) presents more controlled injection, n-BCA is colorless, thus preferable for treatment of superficial facial malformations. N-BCA injection into AVM can result in premature distal migration or early precipitation and reflux into the feeder vessels. Here we describe a trans-arterial balloon assisted technique embolization of a complex facial AVM with n-BCA. A 22-yr-old female with chronic oral/gum bleeding presented with a complex facial AVM. She underwent selective transarterial n-BCA balloon assisted treatment with dextrose push. Informed written consent was obtained. A Scepter dual lumen balloon (MicroVention, Aliso Viejo, California) and a Prowler microcatheter (Cerenovus) were introduced via a 6-French Envoy guide catheter (Cerenovus) selectively into the AVM feeder. The balloon was positioned 3 cm proximal to the Prowler microcatheter tip and fully inflated to create flow arrest. Diluted 25% concentration of n-BCA in Ethiodol Oil was injected through the Prowler microcatheter. The distal migration of the n-BCA was modulated with simultaneous injection of Dextrose 5% in water via the Scepter balloon. This resulted in a controlled glue injection without early distal glue migration (because of the flow arrest) nor early proximal glue precipitation or reflux (because of the dextrose infusion), obtaining complete cure of the complex facial AVM. Glue embolization with flow arrest and dextrose push allows well controlled injection, and it represents a valid option also for high flow vascular lesions.

Background The balloon-assisted coil embolization (BACE) technique represents an effective tool for the treatment of complex wide-necked intracranial aneurysms; however, its safety is a matter of debate. This study presents the authors' institutional experience regarding the safety of the BACE technique. Methods 428 consecutive patients with 491 intracranial aneurysms (274 acutely ruptured and 217 unruptured) treated with conventional coil embolization (CCE) or with BACE were retrospectively reviewed. All procedure-related adverse events were reported, regardless of clinical outcome. Thromboembolic events, intraprocedural aneurysm ruptures, device-related complications, morbidity and mortality were compared between the CCE and BACE groups. Results The total rate of procedural and periprocedural adverse events was 9.6% (47/491 embolizations). Thromboembolic events, intraprocedural aneurysmal rupture and device-related complications occurred in 2.4%, 3.9% and 3.3% of procedures, respectively. The risk of thromboembolic events and device-related problems was similar between the CCE and BACE groups. A trend towards a higher risk of intraprocedural aneurysm rupture was observed in the BACE group (not statistically significant). The total cumulative morbidity and mortality for both groups was 2.6% (11/428 patients) and there was no statistically significant difference in the morbidity, mortality and cumulative morbidity and mortality rates between the two groups. Conclusion In this series of patients with acutely ruptured and unruptured aneurysms, the BACE technique allowed treatment of aneurysms with unfavorable anatomic characteristics without increasing the incidence of procedural complications.

Introduction Within the neurosurgical literature on intracranial aneurysms, balloon-assisted coiling (BAC) remains controversial when compared to conventional coiling (CC). The aim of this study was to compare our results with BAC and CC over a 4-year period. Methods Daily interventional neuroradiology has been available since March 2004 in our institution. Between March 2004 and February 2008, 275 patients with 357 aneurysms were treated by an endovascular approach, including 174 patients/204 aneurysms treated by CC (group I) and 80 patients/92 aneurysms treated by BAC (group II). The remaining patients were treated with other endovascular techniques. Indications of BAC were as follow: aneurysms with an unfavourable neck/sac ratio and/or a branch arising from the neck (90.2%), unstable coiling catheter (6.5%), and anticipated aneurysm rupture (3.3%). The clinical charts, procedural data, and angiographic results of groups I and II were compared. Results BAC was used in 25.8% (92/357) of all embolized aneurysms and it was successful in 83/92 aneurysms (90%). There was no significant difference in the procedure-related morbidity and mortality rates between group I (2.3% and 1.15%, respectively) and group II (2.5% and 1.25%, respectively). Although retreatment was more frequent in group II (13%) than in group I (11%), the difference was not statistically significant ( P = 0.8125). Conclusion When BAC is used frequently, it is a safe and effective technique that is associated with complication rates comparable to those of CC. Although BAC is not associated with more stable anatomical results, it should be considered as an alternative therapeutic option for the treatment of broad-based intracranial aneurysms.

Purpose The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness and safety of the pull-through technique through antegrade radial artery puncture without sheath insertion in balloon-assisted radiocephalic AVF maturation. Methods We retrospective studied a total of 62 patients with immature radiocephalic AVF, who received balloon-assisted maturation in our hospital. 15 patients received pull-through technique through radial artery without sheath insertion and 47 patients received treatment through a regular venous approach. Results The success rate of pull-through technique group and control group was 86.7% (13 out of 15), 89.1% (41 out of 46) respectively. There was no significant difference between two groups ( P  >  0.05 ). In our study, there were 2 patients in the pull-through technique group and 3 patients in the control group, which had hematoma in the vein puncture site ( P  = 0.59). There were also no differences in the primary patency rate between two groups at 6 months and 12 months (76.9% vs 70.7%, 38.4% vs 41.5%, respectively, P  > 0.05). Conclusion The pull-through technique through antegrade radial artery without sheath insertion in promoting radiocephalic AVF maturation is effective and safe.

Sacral insufficiency fractures commonly affect elderly women with osteoporosis and can cause debilitating lower back pain. First line management is often with conservative measures such as early mobilization, multimodal pain management, and osteoporosis management. If non-operative management fails, sacroplasty is a minimally invasive intervention that may be pursued. Candidates for sacroplasty are patients with persistent pain, inability to tolerate immobilization, or patients with low bone mineral density. Before undergoing sacroplasty, patients’ bone health should be optimized with pharmacotherapy. Anabolic agents prior to or in conjunction with sacroplasty have been shown to improve patient outcomes. Sacroplasty can be safely performed through a number of techniques: short-axis, long-axis, coaxial, transiliac, interpedicular, and balloon-assisted. The procedure has been demonstrated to rapidly and durably reduce pain and improve mobility, with little risk of complications. This article aims to provide a narrative literature review of sacroplasty including, patient selection and optimization, the various technical approaches, and short and long-term outcomes.

Purpose, Retrograde recanalizations have gained increasing recognition in complex arterial occlusive disease. Re-entry devices are a well described adjunct for antegrade recanalizations. We present our experience with target balloon-assisted antegrade and retrograde recanalizations using re-entry devices in challenging chronic total occlusions. Materials and Methods: We report data from a retrospective multicenter registry. Eligibility criteria included either antegrade or retrograde use of the OutbackTM or GoBackTM re-entry catheter in combination with a balloon as a target to accomplish wire passage, when conventional antegrade and retrograde recanalization attempts had been unsuccessful. Procedural outcomes included technical success (defined as wire passage though the occlusion and delivery of adjunctive therapy with <30% residual stenosis at final angiogram), safety (periprocedural complications, e.g., bleeding, vessel injury, or occlusion of the artery at the re-entry site, and distal embolizations), and clinical outcome (amputation-free survival and freedom from target lesion revascularization after 12-months follow-up). Results: Thirty-six consecutive patients underwent target balloon-assisted recanalization attempts. Fourteen (39 %) patients had a history of open vascular surgery in the index limb. Fifteen patients were claudications (Rutherford Class 2 or 3, 21 presented with chronic limb threatening limb ischemia (Rutherford Class 4 to 6). The locations of the occlusive lesions were as follows: iliac arteries in 3 cases, femoropopliteal artery in 39 cases, and in below-the-knee arteries in 12 cases. In 15 cases, recanalization was attempted in multilevel occlusions. Retrograde access was attempted in 1 case in the common femoral artery, in the femoropopliteal segment in 10 cases, in below-the-knee arteries in 23 cases, and finally in 2 patients via the brachial artery. In 10 cases, the re-entry devices were inserted via the retrograde access site. Technical success was achieved in 34 (94 %) patients. There were 3 periprocedural complications, none directly related to the target balloon-assisted re-entry maneuver. Amputation-free survival was 87.8 % and freedom from clinically driven target lesion revascularization was 86.6 % after 12-months follow-up. Conclusion: Target balloon-assisted use of re-entry devices in chronic total occlusions provides an effective and safe endovascular adjunct, when conventional antegrade and retrograde recanalization attempts have failed.

Introduction The arteries of bifurcation aneurysms are sometimes so angulated or tortuous that an exchange maneuver is necessary to catheterize them with a balloon or stent delivery catheter. Because of the risk of distal wire perforation associated with exchange maneuvers, we sought to find an alternative technique. Methods Our experience shows that a microcatheter tends to preferentially follow a previously placed microcatheter, even if the initial catheterization might be challenging. Accessing an artery with two microcatheters simultaneously may thus be an alternative to an exchange maneuver. Because of this tendency for catheters to behave like sheep following one another, we named this method the sheeping technique (ST). The ST consists of (a) first placing a 1.7 French microcatheter into the division branch requiring balloon or stent protection to straighten the course of the arteries in order to facilitate and (b) positioning in the same artery of a larger and stiffer balloon or stent microcatheter. Once the second balloon or stent microcatheter is in place, the first microcatheter can be pulled back and used to coil the aneurysm. Results Between January 2009 and December 2012, The ST was successfully used in 208/246 procedures (85 %). Conversion to an exchange maneuver was necessary in 38/246 (15 %). There were no arterial perforations or ischemic events related to the handling of both microcatheters. Conclusion The sheeping technique may improve safety by replacing the need for an exchange maneuver during difficult balloon- or stent-assisted coiling.

Background Delivery of hydatid cysts, especially large ones, without rupture is very important and there is still no 100 % successful method. Methods After the hydatid cyst was reached, starting near the surface working around the cyst toward the base, a Foley probe was advanced and, in the region of desired dissection, the balloon of the Foley probe was inflated, and adhesion bands were freed to allow dissection. Conclusions We believe our balloon-aided dissection technique is a method that increases the chances of delivering hydatid cysts, with no calcification and secondary infection, without rupture.