Subintimal recanalization for non-acute occlusion of intracranial vertebral artery in an emergency endovascular procedure:A case report

BACKGROUND Endovascular recanalization of non-acute intracranial artery occlusion is technically difficult,particularly when the microwire enters the subintima.Although the subintimal tracking and re-entry technique has been well established in the endovascular treatment of coronary artery occlusion,there is limited experience with its use in intracranial occlusion due to anatomical variations and a lack of dedicated devices.CASE SUMMARY A 74-year-old man was admitted to the hospital two days after experiencing acute weakness in both lower extremities,poor speech,and dizziness.After admission,imaging revealed acute ischemic stroke and non-acute occlusion of bilateral intracranial vertebral arteries(ICVAs).On the fourth day of admission,the patient's condition deteriorated and an emergency endovascular recanalization of the left ICVA was performed.During this procedure,a microwire was advanced in the subintima of the vessel wall and successfully reentered the distal true lumen.Two stents were implanted in the subintima.The patient's Modified Rankin Scale was 1 at three months postoperatively.CONCLUSION We present a technical case of subintimal recanalization for non-acute ICVA occlusion in an emergency endovascular procedure.However,we emphasize the necessity for caution when applying the subintimal tracking approach in intracranial occlusion due to the significant dangers involved.

Modified subintimal plaque modification improving future recanalization of chronic total occlusion percutaneous coronary intervention

Background Subintimal plaque modification(SPM) is often performed to restore antegrade flow and facilitate subsequent lesion recanalization. This study aimed to compare the safety and efficacy of modified SPM with traditional SPM. Methods A total of 1454 consecutive patients who failed a chronic total occlusion percutaneous coronary intervention(CTO PCI) attempt and underwent SPM from January 2015 to December 2019 at our hospital were reviewed retrospectively. Fifty-four patients who underwent SPM finally were included in this study. We analyzed the outcomes of all the patients, and the primary endpoint was recanalization rate, which was defined as Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction(TIMI) grades 2-3 flow on angiography 30 to 90 days post-procedure. Results The baseline characteristics were similar between the two groups. In the follow-up, the recanalization rate was noticeably higher in the modified SPM group compared with the traditional SPM group(90.9% vs. 62.5%, P < 0.05). The proposed strategy in the modified group was more aggressive, including a larger balloon size(1.83 ± 0.30 vs. 2.48 ± 0.26 mm, P < 0.05) and longer subintimal angioplasty(0.59 ± 0.16 vs. 0.92 ± 0.12 mm, P < 0.05). Also, the common use of a Stingray balloon and guide catheter extension resulted in improvement of patients in the modified SMP group(12.5% vs. 100%, P < 0.05). Conclusion Modified SPM, which is associated with a high likelihood of successful recanalization, is an effective and safe CTO PCI bail out strategy.

Endovascular treatment of diabetic foot ischemic ulcer–Technical review

This article is a technical review of the common techniques used in the treatment of lower-limb occlusive arterial disease associated with diabetes.The techniques described here reflect the author’s own practice and are methods that the author finds helpful in avoiding complications and in making the technical aspects of the procedures easier.

Hybrid Common Femoral Artery Surgical Revascularization Associated to Endovascular Femoropopliteal Recanalization in High-Risk (ASA 3 - 4) Patients: A Seven-Year Period Institutional Experience

Objective: The present study was conceived to analyze the clinical benefit of hybrid interventions with surgical common femoral artery (CFA) reconstruction coupled to superficial femoral/popliteal endovascular recanalization for severe infrainguinal multilevel occlusive disease in high-risk ASA Class 3 - 4 patients. Material and Methods: From August 2008 until May 2015, a series of 143 hybrid infrainguinal interventions in 124 ASA Class 3 - 4 patients were performed in our department for Rutherford category 2 - 6 ischemic presentations. Patient demographics, specific risk factors, technical characteristics and patency results were retrospectively examined during a mean 36.8 months of follow-up. In a majority of 94 limbs (65%), the endovascular stage of interventions focused on long (>15 cm) femoropopliteal occlusions in parallel to regular CFA surgical revascularization. Two or three runoff tibial trunks were evinced in 84% cases, while one or none permeable vessel was found in 23 (16%) limbs. Results: Inasmuch surgical approach was successful in all cases, the endovascular stage was technically profitable in 134 (93%) cases. The ABI posto-peratively improved (>1.5) in 73% of cases, while clinical presentation gained at least one Rutherford category in 89% limbs. The mean hospital stay was 6.1 days (3 - 12 days) whereas the 30-day mortality rate in this homogeneous “high-risk” group of patients was 3.2%. Global risk factors alike age (>70 years/p = 0.0005), smoking ((p = 0.0170) and female gender (p = 0.0111), together with CTOs length (>15 cm/(p = 0.0470), severe calcifications (p = 0.0001), poor tibial runoff (p = 0.0001), TASC “C” and “D” lesions (p = 0.360 and (p = 0.0394), the stent number ((n = 3) and length (>6 cm) ((p = 0.0039 and (p = 0.0003) and the initial ABI scoring ((p = 0.0051) showed statistical negative influence on primary patency. Conclusion: Hybrid infrainguinal revascularization may afford useful results in selected ASA “high risk” patients, owning low invasiveness, reproducibility and acceptable patency in return to punctual postoperative surveillance.