Contribution to the Pathophysiology and Treatment of Varicoceles

Anatomical differences between adults and adolescents and between left and right varicoceles were shown in this work. We designed a standardized and reproducible method for pressure measurement in the inguinal internal spermatic vein (ISV). We demonstrated that the mean absolute pressure in the ISV in the upright position is higher than the veno-capillary pressure in the testicle, and hence could impair spermatogenesis prompting the need for treatment in varicoceles. Histoacryl transparent and Glubran2, the current commercially available adhesives for the treatment of varicoceles, do not differ with regard to efficiency, safety and tolerance during and after embolization. Both adhesives cause a mild pain in 30% of the patients in the week after embolization. The radiation exposure is low during embolizations of varicoceles with highly viscous liquid products. Therefore, the endovascular treatment with glue is an efficient, safe and tolerable method of treatment for varicoceles when applicable

CT perfusion as a selection tool for mechanical thrombectomy, a single-centre study

Background: Recently, CT perfusion (CTP) has been proposed as a selection tool for stroke patients to be treated with endovascular thrombectomy. We investigated whether functional outcome following endo-vascular treatment was improved after the introduction of CTP. Methods: This retrospective single-centre study includes all patients with a major vessel occlusion in the anterior circulation that received a CTP and underwent a mechanical thrombectomy from 2014 up to 2015. CTP were visually evaluated. Demographics, stroke and time data, procedural data, functional outcomes as measured by the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) and the association between these variables were studied. A comparison was made with the results of a similar local retrospective study from before the CTP "era". Results: Eighty-nine patients were included in this study. Median National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) was 16 (Interquartile range 6). At three months, good functional outcome (GFO; mRS 0-2) was achieved in 48.4% and excellent functional outcome (EFO; mRS 0-1) in 34.4% of patients. The mortality rate at three months was 14.5%. GFO at one year was 44.8%, EFO was 31.3% and mortality 21.1%. The duration of the thrombectomy procedure and the EFO were associated (p = 0.032). The outcome improvement achieved with CTP was higher compared to the reference study (GFO 48.4% versus 44%; EFO 34.4% versus 29%) but remained below the statistical significance. Conclusions: Mechanical thrombectomy for anterior circulation strokes based on CTP did not result in a significant functional outcome improvement. The duration of the thrombectomy procedure was the sole time-interval related to improved functional outcome

Unruptured brain arteriovenous malformations : primary ONYX embolization in ARUBA (A Randomized Trial of Unruptured Brain Arteriovenous Malformations)-eligible patients

Background and Purpose: In light of evidence from ARUBA (A Randomized Trial of Unruptured Brain Arteriovenous Malformations), neurovascular specialists had to reconsider deliberate treatment of unruptured brain arteriovenous malformations (uBAVMs). Our objective was to determine the outcomes of uBAVM treated with primary embolization using ethylene vinyl alcohol (ONYX). Methods: Patients with uBAVM who met the inclusion criteria of ARUBA and were treated with primary Onyx embolization were assigned to this retrospective study. The primary outcome was the modified Rankin Scale score. Secondary outcomes were stroke or death because of uBAVM or intervention and uBAVM obliteration. Results: Sixty-one patients (mean age, 38 years) were included. The median observation period was 60 months. Patients were treated by embolization alone (41.0%), embolization and radiosurgery (57.4%), or embolization and excision (1.6%). Occlusion was achieved in 44 of 57 patients with completed treatment (77.2%). Forty-seven patients (77.1%) had no clinical impairment at the end of observation (modified Rankin Scale score of <2). Twelve patients (19.7%) reached the outcome of stroke or death because of uBAVM or intervention. Treatment-related mortality was 6.6% (4 patients). Conclusions: In uBAVM, Onyx embolization alone or combined with stereotactic radiosurgery achieves a high occlusion rate. Morbidity remains a challenge, even if it seems lower than in the ARUBA trial

Evaluation of a neck-bridge device to assist endovascular treatment of wide-neck aneurysms of the anterior circulation

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Intracranial aneurysms with a wide-neck or an unfavorable dome-to-neck ratio may be difficult to treat properly and safely. Our aim was to evaluate the TriSpan neck-bridge device to assist coiling of wide-neck bifurcation aneurysms in the anterior circulation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 14 patients, we performed 16 TriSpan-assisted coil embolizations with wide-neck bifurcation aneurysms of the anterior circulation. Eleven procedures were indicated for acutely ruptured aneurysms. Five were performed electively for the following: recurrent aneurysm after coil only (n = 1) or after TriSpan-assisted embolization (n = 2), aneurysm remnant after clipping (n = 1), and aneurysm incidentally found in = 1). Procedural and clinical complications were recorded. Follow-up angiography was performed, and clinical outcomes were assessed by using the modified Rankin Scale score. RESULTS: TriSpan-assisted embolization was successful in 15/16 (93.8%) procedures, with complete occlusion in 2/16 (12.5%), near-complete occlusion in 10/16 (62.5%), and incomplete occlusion in 3/16 (18.75%). There were 6 (37.5%) intraprocedural complications: thrombus formation (n = 3), protrusion of a TriSpan loop in the parent artery (n = 1), TriSpan displacement in the aneurysm (n = 1), and tangling of a coil loop in the device (n = 1). Three patients died in the hospital (21.4%). Follow-up angiography or MR angiography was available in 8 (57.1%) patients and showed complete (n 2), near-complete (n = 2), and incomplete occlusion (n = 4). Long-term clinical outcome was no (n = 4) or minor symptoms (n = 1) and moderate (n 2), moderately severe (n = 2), or severe handicap (n 2). CONCLUSION: The use of the TriSpan device is feasible in the anterior circulation and can assist treatment of difficult wide-neck bifurcation aneurysms

Pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment of varicoceles: a review

In this article we reviewed the pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment of varicoceles. The etiology and pathogenesis of varicoceles cannot be explained by one theory. Valve dysfunction, ontogenetic collateral formation and the nutcracker phenomenon seem to act synergistically. Hyperthermia, elevated hydrostatic pressure and antisperm agents are suggested as possible causes for the pathophysiology how varicoceles induce infertility However the combination of patient's lifestyle, genetic factors and the consequences of reflux into the pampirtiform plexus are believed to contribute to the infertility. Although venography stays the gold standard, the combination of physical examination, color Doppler ultrasound and thermography has the highest sensitivity and specificity to diagnose a varicocele. Regarding infertility, we are still searching for strict criteria or grading, to decide which patients with a varicocele may or may not have benefit from treatment. Treatment of varicoceles can be performed by different open surgical or percutaneous techniques. Treatment of varicoceles for infertility or to prevent infertility remains controversial, because the majority of men with varicoceles are still fertile. At the moment, inguinal or subinguinal microscopic surgery gave the highest pregnancy rates, the lowest recurrence and lowest complication rates. But retrograde superselective glue embolization or sclerosing of the ISV are the best percutaneous alternative and can be performed on an outpatient basis under local anesthesia and with faster return to normal activities than surgery