This report concerns a male patient suffered from refractory dysphagia after subarachnoid hemorrhage. A 49-year-old man admitted with severe headache followed by mental change. Imaging studies revealed that subarachnoid hemorrhage was located in basal cistern, and demonstrated ruptured vertebral dissecting aneurysm. After operation, the patient recovered well except severe dysphagia. Initial VFSS showed aspiration in fluid trial, penetration in semisolid bolus, and large amount of pharyngeal residue with poor relaxation of upper esophageal sphincter. For about 5 months, his symptom and several follow-up VFSS findings did not show marked improvement by various treatments. On magnetic resonance imaging for further evaluation of his brain lesion, an old infarction in right lateral side of medulla was found. He kept dysphagia rehabilitation more than one year, and his symptom improved to the level of oral feeding at last.
In treatment for intracranial aneurysms by coil embolization, recanalization remains the major limitation of coiling, particularly wide-necked or larger aneurysms. The aim of this study was to evaluate technical results and clinical outcome in a single center of consecutive patients with intracranial aneurysms treated with endovascular embolization using polyglycolic-lactic acid (PGLA) coated coils.
Between January 2005 and December 2010, 33 patients (male, 8 patients; female, 25 patients; mean age, 57 years) with saccular intracranial aneurysms were treated by means of an endovascular approach using PGLA coated coils. The endovascular procedures and technical outcomes were evaluated. The mean follow-up duration was 15.9 months (range, 6 to 72 months).
Successful embolizations with satisfactory results were achieved in 91%. The degree of occlusion of the treated aneurysm was complete in 23 (69.6%), small neck remnant in 7 (21.2%), and residual filling in 3 (9%). Thirty patients (90.9%) showed no interval change of the residual neck. Three patients (9.1%) demonstrated the recanalization, and 2 of them were successfully recoiled.
This preliminary study showed that PGLA coated coils may be safe option and preventable for recanalization in patients with intracranial aneurysms. Further study with more cases, longer follow-up data and well controlled design are required to confirm our results.
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