Remote Ischemic Preconditioning for Intracranial Aneurysm Treatment

The Role of Remote Ischemic Preconditioning in the Prevention of Ischemic Brain Damage During Intracranial Aneurysm Treatment (RIPAT) - A Prospective Randomized Exploratory Study

The RIPAT study is a prospective, randomized, double-blind study organized by the neurovascular group of the Clinical Department of Neurosurgery of Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria. Patients aged 18+ in whom the treatment of an un-ruptured intracranial aneurysm is indicated are eligible for study participation. Prior to aneurysm treatment, with the patient already under general anesthesia, the blood supply to an arm will be restricted for 3x 5minutes by inflating a standard blood pressure cuff. The study hypothesis is that this "remote ischemic preconditioning" maneuver is able to prevent a stroke during the following treatment of the aneurysm.

Prospective, randomized, double-blind, explorative single center clinical trial in patients subjected to the treatment of an un-ruptured intracranial aneurysm, either by surgical clipping or endovascular coiling. Goal of the study is to determine whether remote ischemic preconditioning (RIPC) prior to aneurysm treatment alters various biomarkers associated with ischemic central neuronal tissue damage. The trial takes place at Innsbruck University Hospital of Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria.

Patients fulfilling inclusion criteria are randomly allocated either to pre-interventional ischemic preconditioning (Group A = intervention group) or sham preconditioning (Group B = control group). RIPC is performed by inflating a blood pressure cuff around one upper extremity three times for five minutes with five minutes interval with the patient under general anesthesia prior to the start of the procedure.

Patients, all staff involved in diagnosis and treatment and all study members are blinded to the patients' group affiliation. The anesthesiologist and two staff members who perform preconditioning are not blinded.

Primary outcome is a difference of ± 2SD in the concentration-time curve of a panel of biochemical parameters indicative of cerebral ischemia (S100B, NSE, GFAP, MMP9, MBP, microparticles) in the first five days after the intervention. Secondary outcome parameters are changes in the post-interventional MRI and neuropsychological and clinical outcome at six and 12 months.

CONSORT and TIDieR guidelines will be followed. The trail will be registered in a public database. The trail protocol will be published in an open-access journal.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Informed written consent of patient
• Age > 18 years
• Intracranial aneurysm, single or multiple, intervention as indicated by interdisciplinary vascular board (includes previously treated aneurysms)
• Normal baseline MRI

Exclusion Criteria:

• Clinical or radiological signs of subarachnoid hemorrhage
• Planned vessel sacrifice as the primary modality for aneurysm treatment
• Dissecting or mycotic aneurysm
• Previous history of stroke or TIA within the last six months
• Signs or symptoms of upper and lower extremity peripheral vascular illness
• Drugs and lifestyle factors that interfere with biomarker Determination
• Inability to complete neuropsychological testing for language reasons
• Patients unable to have an MRI scan for any reason
• Previous serious cerebral disease that would preclude completion of the protocol or preclude MRI analysis of small strokes
• Pregnancy