Davies, Jason M.

Abstract Transfemoral access has long been the main access site for cerebral angiography and neurointerventional procedures. Radial access is accepted as an alternative to the traditional transfemoral approach. Ulnar access may be undertaken if the radial artery is occluded or small caliber, or when radial artery preservation is needed. The safety and feasibility of ulnar access for neuroangiographic procedures has been demonstrated. 1-3 In this operative video, we demonstrate ulnar artery access in a patient in whom radial artery preservation was desired. We further elaborate on the technical nuances of this access. This nontraditional access site offers the same advantages as radial access, avoiding the need to switch to femoral artery access. A preoperative Allen's test is not necessary. Ultrasound imaging is used to aid in the identification and successful puncture of the ulnar artery. A medial to lateral approach for ulnar artery puncture is advised to avoid injury to the ulnar nerve. Careful application of wrist closure bands avoids hematoma accumulation. The patient gave informed consent for the procedure and video recording. Institutional review board approval was deemed unnecessary. Video. © University at Buffalo, May 2021. Used with permission.

Abstract Intracranial atherosclerotic disease (ICAD) is a common cause of stroke. Antiplatelet therapy is the mainstay for symptomatic ICAD treatment. Endovascular management with submaximal angioplasty and/or intracranial stenting is reserved for patients with repeated ischemic events despite optimal medical therapy. We demonstrate intracranial angioplasty and stenting technique, technique indications, and sizing of stent and target vessel diameter. Stenting and angioplasty have been described in the Stenting and Aggressive Medical Management for Preventing Recurrent Stroke in Intracranial Stenosis and Wingspan Stent System Post Market Surveillance trials. 1,2 Submaximal angioplasty has also been described. 3 This patient, who had been on dual antiplatelet therapy for several months, initially presented with occlusion of the left middle cerebral artery M2 inferior division and underwent mechanical thrombectomy with successful reperfusion. Postoperatively, the patient's symptoms did not improve. Medical management was optimized with heparin infusion. However, repeat stroke study demonstrated M2 inferior division reocclusion. A decision was made to proceed with intracranial angioplasty and stenting. P2Y12 levels were therapeutic. Under moderate conscious sedation, submaximal angioplasty of up to 80% of the normal M2 caliber was attempted. However, we observed persistent high-grade stenosis of the M2 inferior division. The major risk of crossing the lesion for angioplasty is vessel perforation. To safely perform this maneuver, we used a J-configured Synchro-2 microwire (Stryker). Because of the patient's recent thrombectomy, we also had prior tactile feedback about how much resistance was encountered while crossing the occlusion. We then deployed a balloon-mounted intracranial stent for optimal radial force across the stenotic area to restore perfusion. Postoperative computed tomography perfusion showed resolution of the previously noticed perfusion deficit. The patient gave informed consent for the procedures and video recording. Institutional review board approval was deemed unnecessary. Video. ©University at Buffalo Neurosurgery, September 2020. With permission.

Abstract The University at Buffalo's neuroendovascular fellowship is one of the longest running fellowship programs in North America. The burgeoning neurointerventional workforce and the rapid growth in the neurointerventional space on the heels of groundbreaking clinical trials prompted us to assess the fellowship's academic impact and its graduates’ perceptions and productivity. An anonymized web-based survey was sent to all former neuroendovascular fellows with specific questions pertaining to current practice, research and funding, and perceptions about the fellowship's impact on their skills, competitiveness, and compensation. Additionally, the h -index was calculated to assess the academic productivity of each graduated fellow. Among 50 former fellows, 42 (84%) completed the survey. The fellows came from various countries, ethnic backgrounds, and specialties including neurosurgery (n = 39, 93%), neurology (n = 2, 5%), and neuroradiology (n = 1, 2%). Twenty (48%) respondents were currently chairs or directors of their practice. Most (n = 30, 71%) spent at least 10% of their time on research activities, with 27 (64%) receiving research funding. The median h -index of all 50 former fellows was 14. The biggest gains from the fellowship were reported to be improvement in endovascular skills (median = 10 on a scale of 0-10 [highest]) and increase in competitiveness for jobs in vascular neurosurgery (median = 10), followed by increase in academic productivity (median = 8), and knowledge of vascular disease (median = 8). In an era with open calls for moratoriums on endovascular fellowships, concerns over market saturation, and pleas to improve training, fellowship programs perhaps merit a more objective assessment. The effectiveness of a fellowship program may best be measured by the academic impact and leadership roles of former fellows.

Abstract BACKGROUND Neuroendovascular intervention has become a key treatment option for acute ischemic stroke. The Sofia (6F) PLUS catheter was designed for neurovascular access for diagnostic or therapeutic interventions. OBJECTIVE To report the first series describing use of the Sofia PLUS intermediate/distal access reperfusion catheter in the treatment of acute ischemic stroke. METHODS In this retrospective study, 41 stroke cases were identified in which the catheter was utilized for thrombolysis/thrombectomy. Mean preprocedure National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score was 16.5 ± 5.2 (range 4-29). Occluded vessels included the M1 segment, M2 segment, internal carotid artery terminus, cervical internal carotid artery, and basilar artery. RESULTS Successful positioning of the Sofia PLUS catheter near the occlusion site was achieved in 38 (92.7%) of 41 cases in which thrombectomy or thrombolysis was attempted using intraarterial tissue plasminogen activator, a direct aspiration first-pass technique, and/or stent retrieval. A postprocedure thrombolysis in cerebral infarction (TICI) score of 2b/3 was achieved in 37 of 41 cases. Of 15 cases where the Sofia PLUS was used for a direct aspiration first-pass technique, TICI 2b/3 was achieved in 11 (73.3%). In one case where intra-arterial tissue plasminogen activator was used as the only treatment modality, TICI 2a was achieved. No device-related or catheter-related complications were observed. The mean 7-d-postprocedure National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score among the 39 survivors was 8.5 ± 7.3 (range 0-23). CONCLUSION Initial results with use of the Sofia (6F) PLUS for endovascular treatment of acute ischemic stroke have been encouraging. Experience with a larger series is warranted to further evaluate the safety and efficacy of this device and compare it with other reperfusion catheters.