AJNR. American journal of neuroradiology
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AJNR Am J Neuroradiol · Jan 2012
Review Meta AnalysisSafety and efficacy of balloon remodeling technique during endovascular treatment of intracranial aneurysms: critical review of the literature.
The balloon remodeling technique was initially designed for the endovascular treatment of anatomically complex aneurysms, specifically wide-neck aneurysms. A nondetachable balloon is inflated in front of the aneurysm neck during coil deposition and removed at the end of the procedure. ⋯ Anatomic results are also probably better after remodeling. Finally, due to equivalent safety and better anatomic results, the remodeling technique can be widely used in the management of both ruptured and unruptured aneurysms.
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AJNR Am J Neuroradiol · Jan 2012
Hospitalization costs for endovascular and surgical treatment of unruptured cerebral aneurysms in the United States are substantially higher than medicare payments.
Both endovascular and surgical options are available for treatment of unruptured cerebral aneurysms. We conducted a study to determine the costs versus Medicare reimbursement for hospitalization of these patients, which is important information for understanding the economic impact of these patients on hospitals. ⋯ Hospitalization costs for patients undergoing clipping and coiling of unruptured cerebral aneurysms are substantially higher than Medicare payments.
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AJNR Am J Neuroradiol · Jan 2012
Utilization rates of neuroradiology across neuroscience specialties in the private office setting: who owns or leases the scanners on which studies are performed?
Recent literature shows an increasing portion of imaging studies being conducted and interpreted by nonradiologists, especially across the modalities with the highest RVUs. We examined the trends in the Medicare technical charges for private office neuroradiology studies submitted by subspecialists to identify utilization trends among MR and CT scanner owners or lessees over the last decade. ⋯ All nonradiologists showed greater overall utilization growth in private office neuroradiology than did radiology. Also, nonradiologists generally showed greater utilization increases in MR than CT. Radiologists' private office neuroradiology technical fee share shrank from 83.6% to 56.6% between 1998 and 2008.
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AJNR Am J Neuroradiol · Jan 2012
A safe and efficacious alternative: sonographically guided internal jugular vein puncture for intracranial endovascular intervention.
Transvenous interventions for intracranial vascular lesions are usually performed via venous access of a femoral vein puncture. However, the transjugular route is an alternative with a shorter and less tortuous vascular access for intracranial lesions. ⋯ We present our experience with a total of 44 transjugular intervention procedures between April 1999 and June 2010. We believe sonographically guided internal jugular vein puncture is a safe and efficacious technique for establishing transvenous access for an intracranial endovascular intervention.