title: Stent deployment protocol for optimized real-time visualization during endovascular neurosurgery.
abstract: Successful application of endovascular neurosurgery depends on high-quality imaging to define the pathology and the devices as they are being deployed. This is especially challenging in the treatment of complex cases, particularly in proximity to the skull base or in patients who have undergone prior endovascular treatment. The authors sought to optimize real-time image guidance using a simple algorithm that can be applied to any existing fluoroscopy system. Exposure management (exposure level, pulse management) and image post-processing parameters (edge enhancement) were modified from traditional fluoroscopy to improve visualization of device position and material density during deployment. Examples include the deployment of coils in small aneurysms, coils in giant aneurysms, the Pipeline embolization device (PED), the Woven EndoBridge (WEB) device, and carotid artery stents. The authors report on the development of the protocol and their experience using representative cases. The stent deployment protocol is an image capture and post-processing algorithm that can be applied to existing fluoroscopy systems to improve real-time visualization of device deployment without hardware modifications. Improved image guidance facilitates aneurysm coil packing and proper positioning and deployment of carotid artery stents, flow diverters, and the WEB device, especially in the context of complex anatomy and an obscured field of view.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Alfred P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: See
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Hormuzdiyar H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Dasenbrock
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Ramsey
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ashour
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Priyank
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Khandelwal
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Nirav J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Kai U
authors.initials: KU
authors.lastname: Frerichs
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Mohammad A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Aziz-Sultan
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000465:Algorithms; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation / Q000379:methods*; D002533:Cerebral Angiography; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic / Q000379:methods*; D057510:Endovascular Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005471:Fluoroscopy; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D002532:Intracranial Aneurysm / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015607:Stents; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: CCA = common carotid artery; ICA = internal carotid artery; PED = Pipeline embolization device; WEB = Woven EndoBridge; aneurysm coiling; angiography; carotid stent; flow diversion; fluoroscopy; vascular disorders