Neurosurgery
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Treatment of small-caliber vessel lesions using flow diverters remains challenging because of vasculature's narrow luminal diameter and tortuosity. This in turn makes navigation and delivery of conventional devices with standard microcatheters more difficult. The Silk Vista Baby (SVB, Balt) flow diversion device was designed for ease of use in vessels with a smaller diameter, distal lesions, and 0.017 ″ microcatheter delivery systems. ⋯ The SVB device was safely and effectively used in the treatment of PICA aneurysms. The smaller delivery system profile reduces the risk of procedure complications and creates new treatment options for distal lesions.
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Multicenter Study
SMART Registry: Safety and Performance of the Penumbra SMART COIL System for Patients With Intracranial Aneurysms 4 mm and Smaller.
The Penumbra SMART COIL System includes a novel generation of embolic coils composed of complex and WAVE shape properties with varying levels of softness. ⋯ This analysis suggests that the SMART COIL System is safe and efficacious in small aneurysms with satisfactory occlusion rates and low rates of rupture or rerupture. At 1 year, patients had low retreatment rates and good clinical outcomes.
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For patients with vestibular schwannoma (VS), stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) has proven effective in controlling tumor growth while hearing preservation remains a key goal. ⋯ Hearing preservation after SRS for patients with VS with serviceable hearing is correlated to the specific baseline GR score (1 or 2), age, cochlear dose, and biological effective dose. Increased tumor-free canal space correlates with better outcomes. The most durable hearing preservation correlates with factors commonly associated with smaller tumors away from the cochlea.
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Multicenter Study
Intracranial Aneurysms in Loeys-Dietz Syndrome: A Multicenter Propensity-Matched Analysis.
Loeys-Dietz syndrome (LDS) is an autosomal dominant connective tissue disorder characterized by a classic triad of hypertelorism, bifid uvula and/or cleft palate, and generalized arterial tortuosity. There are limited data on the prevalence and rupture risk of intracranial aneurysms (IAs) in the setting of LDS, with no established guidelines. ⋯ Patients with LDS have an increased risk of IAs, especially with a history of smoking. The prevalence rate of IAs in our series was 30%. Screening imaging should be considered at diagnosis, and patients should be encouraged to abstain from smoking. Further studies are needed to elucidate the risk of IA rupture and treatment considerations in this unique population.