Vein of Galen aneurismal malformations-clinical characteristics,treatment and presentation: Three cases report

BACKGROUND The vein of Galen aneurismal malformations(VGAM) are rare arteriovenous malformations of the embryonic choroid plexus. They represent about 30% of paediatric neurovascular disorders and show diverse characteristics. The VGAM is constituted by a midline dilated venous structure that receives blood from abnormal macroscopic or microscopic arteriovenous shunting vessels. Two types of VGAM exist, the choroidal and the mural. The treatment represents a challenge with the therapeutic objective to preserve the normal brain development without creating new neurological deficits.CASE SUMMARY We present three cases of VGAM in the early postnatal period and their treatment. All patents were treated with the endovascular technique, which was successful. According to our experience, the endovascular technique is a safe and efficient mode of VGAM treatment.CONCLUSION The objective of treatment aims to child's normal neurological development. A proper selection of patients and a thorough diagnostic workup is of vital importance. When the endovascular treatment is performed, the primary aim is not a complete VGAM exclusion at one time, which could produce a sudden reversal of blood flow with consequent venous infarction and ischemia. The aim is therefore to occlude as much of the VGAM as needed to relieve the congestive cardiac failure, to gain time and to create the conditions for a normal maturation of the neurovascular system. With the use of endovascular techniques, which represent not only the first choice of treatment but also the only safe therapeutic modality, the natural history of VGAM and their risks may be avoided safely.

Predicting vasospasm after aneurismal subarachnoid hemorrhage with C reactive protein levels

Aim: The interest of inflammatory marker increased in the last years, even in preventing clinical outcome after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Our objective was to study the relationships between C-reactive protein levels and clinical outcome and the development of cerebral vasospasm after aneurismal SAH. Methods: One hundred adult patients with aneurismal SAH were prospectively evaluated. Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score, Hunt and Hess grade, Fisher grade, CT scans, digital subtraction angiography studies, transcranial doppler (TCD) and daily neurological examinations were recorded. Serial serum CRP measurements were obtained on daily between admission and 10th days. Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) and the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) were used to predict outcome. Results: A progressive increase in the CRP levels from the admission to the 3rd postictal day was observed, followed by a slow decrease until the 9th day. Hemodynamic changes in TCD were associated with higher serum CRP levels. Patients with lower GCS scores presented with increased CRP levels. Patients with higher Hunt and Hess grades on admission developed significantly higher CRP serum levels. Patients with higher admission Fisher grades showed increased levels of CRP. A statistically significant inverse correlation was established in our series between CRP serum levels and GOS and mRS scores on discharge and CRP levels. Conclusion: Increased CRP levels were strongly associated with poor clinical outcome. CRP levels can predict cerebral vasospasm and delayed ischemic deficits with higher statistic significance. There are relationships between hemodynamic chances in TCD and higher CRP levels.

Angiographic Features of Intracranial Aneurisms in Mali: A Preliminary Study of 105 Patients

Introduction: Rupture of intracranial aneurisms leads to severe morbidity and mortality. There are two modalities of treatment surgery and endovascular treatment. The diagnosis is made by angiography (DSA, CTA, RMA). The angiographic features used to assess the risk of the complications and choose the treatment modality are size, location and aneurism morphology. Materials and Methods: We reviewed and analyzed the computed tomographic angiography and magnetic resonance angiography of all patients admitted to the hospital of Mali with IAs from 2015 to 2021 either 7 years. Patients who were less than 18 years old, those with non-aneurysmal SAH, patients who request a discharge and those with an incomplete angiographic description of the IAs were excluded from the analysis. Results: We have collected 105 patients with 109 aneurysms. The sex ratio was 2/1 in favor of females. The mean age was 44.51 years with the range from 18 to 70 years. The presentation mode was subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) in 97% of cases. 76.19% had confirmed high blood pressure before the bleeding. 19.04% were diabetics. 98% of our patients have made a CT angiography and 2% have made MR angiography for the aneurysm diagnosis. 97.24% of aneurisms were located in the anterior part of the Willis circle. 39.44% of these aneurisms were the anterior communicating complex aneurysm. 27.52% of aneurysm had a small size, 42.20% had a medium size, 20.18% large size against 5.50% of the giant (Figure 3) and the middle cerebral artery was the most involved in the least. 95.41% of cases were saccular aneurysms against 4.59% fusiform. Conclusion: The angiographic feature of an intracranial aneurism in the Malian population may differ from other populations of the sub-region. The anterior communicating complex aneurysm is more common and the aneurism of the posterior part of the Willis circle is less common. We found the aneurism size ≥ 6 mm, ACA, MCA and Pcom more frequent.

The Role of Atherosclerosis and Inflammation in the Development of Descending Aortic Aneurysms: Special Aspects of Medical Correction

Modern medicine has achieved much progress in the field of medical and surgical repair of a variety of disorders. It is especially true for the early stages of treatments. In long-term period, however, instead of recovery, we frequently observe progressive regression, which completely annuls all our efforts. Moreover, the algorithm used to correct acute process may sometimes be detrimental to organs and tissues. Such situation is also frequent in the treatment of atherosclerotic descending aortic aneurysms (DAA). This is because the successful medical and even surgical repair to prevent aneurysm rupture in long-term period may trigger some detrimental processes in other regions thus producing negative results of the treatment. The present article doesn’t aim to prove some provisions in DAA clinical picture, atherosclerosis and inflammatory states. But we have faced some systematicity at these clinical implications which are absolutely not specified in literature. We have managed to find an explanation for this thing making a scrupulous analysis of nonsurgical sources. Comparing them with our observations, we have found out that aseptic and septic inflammation of connective tissue, probably, is a key component in the formation of DAA disregarding of which correction of dyslipidemia may lead to negative results. We are looking for in-depth research and discussion.

Bilateral Carotid Aneurysms Secondary to Catastrophic Antiphospholipid Syndrome in a Patient with Differential Diagnosis of Polyarteritis Nodosa

Background: Extracranial Carotid Artery Aneurysm is considered a therapeutic and diagnostic challenge. In an unprecedented way in the literature, we describe an aneurysm originating from the Catastrophic Antiphospholipid Syndrome. Case Presentation: A 25-year-old male patient came to the Emergency Room of the ABC University Hospital in Sao Bernardo do Campo referring to bilateral neck pain for 1 month, associated with carotid aneurysms. Due to the severity and urgency of the clinical condition, immediate surgical therapy was performed without a definitive etiological diagnosis. The initial morphological analysis of the carotid artery suggested a diagnosis of Polyarteritis Nodosa. After anamnesis, physical examination, the use of a specific primary vasculitis algorithm, and a review of the pathological anatomy was requested, which showed bilateral carotid aneurysms secondary to catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome. Conclusion: It remains evident that Extracranial Carotid Artery Aneurysm-related morbidity and mortality caused by Catastrophic Antiphospholipid Syndrome are influenced by a quick and correct diagnosis.