Abstract Some patients with large vessel occlusion (LVO) achieve insufficient clinical improvement (futile recanalization, FR) after intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) during inter-hospital transfer for thrombectomy, while others show good outcomes (effective recanalization, ER). This study assessed FR and ER rates among patients treated with IVT at non-thrombectomy primary stroke centers (PSCs) and aimed to identify predictors of FR. We analyzed data from two PSC registries (2016–2022). Inclusion criteria: IVT treatment, anterior circulation LVO, NIHSS ≥ 6, ASPECTS ≥ 5, and documented recanalization at thrombectomy centers. FR was defined as a 90-day poor outcome (mRS 3–6) despite LVO recanalization on initial angiography. Among 190 PSC patients with documented recanalization post-IVT, 113 (59.5%) had FR. Multivariable analysis identified age (OR = 1.03, 95%CI = 1.01–1.07, p = 0.021), NIHSS at the PSC (OR = 1.13, 95%CI = 1.05–1.22, p = 0.026), and collateral status (OR = 0.54, 95%CI = 0.39–0.75, p = 0.001) as independent predictors of FR and 90-day mortality. A model combining age, NIHSS, and collateral score provided the highest predictive accuracy for FR and mortality. FR is common in LVO-related ischemic stroke treated with IVT at non-thrombectomy centers. FR is common in LVO-related ischemic stroke treated with IVT at non-thrombectomy centers. Identifying predictors of FR can guide clinicians in early decision-making, allowing for tailored interventions and informed discussions about expected outcomes, potentially leading to more optimized patient management. The GOTIC-VTE trial Unique identifier, jRCTs031180124; Registration date, April 06, 2017. Graphical Abstract
Introduction Two recent trials demonstrated a benefit for endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) in the treatment of basilar artery occlusion (BAO). Considering the expected increase in the utilization of EVT for BAO, we sought to understand the technique preferences of neurointerventionalists currently performing EVT for BAO. Methods We conducted an international online survey of physician opinions on the use of EVT in BAO between January to March 2022. The survey was distributed through stroke and neurointerventional organizations. Survey questions examined selection of patients for the procedure and the techniques currently used for EVT in BAO. Results More than 3,000 participants were invited yielding 1,245 respondents, of which 543 were classified as neurointerventionalists across 52 countries and included in this analysis. Most neurointerventionalists would proceed to EVT for occlusions of the V4 segment, the basilar artery, or the PCA, without regard for prior IVT. For BAO of embolic etiology, aspiration only thrombectomy was the preferred method with 50.3% of neurointerventionalists. For BAO of intracranial atherosclerotic disease (ICAD) etiology, combined stent retriever and aspiration thrombectomy was the preferred method with 40.5% of neurointerventionalists (Figure 1). The majority of neurointerventionalists (88.0%) would proceed to stenting after three or fewer failed passes for patients with BAO of ICAD etiology. In patients undergoing stenting, aspirin and clopidogrel was the most common antiplatelet regime (52.4%). Conclusions Amongst the surveyed neurointerventionalists, the most common techniques for EVT of patients with BAO were contact aspiration or combined stent retriever with aspiration thrombectomy. For patients with BAO due to ICAD, the majority of neurointerventionalists were willing to stent and do so most often after three or fewer failed passes and with the use of dual antiplatelet medications. Further study is needed to determine the optimal technique for EVT of BAO with or without ICAD.
Apps and colleagues highlight the need for increased availability of acute thrombectomy services in light of recent stroke trials showing that thrombectomy is more efficacious than thrombolysis.1 However, involvement of cardiology services is not an effective solution.
A major reason for the success of these trials is careful patient selection based on advanced neuroimaging. In particular, …
Apical ground-glass opacification (GGO) identified on CT angiography (CTA) performed for suspected acute stroke was developed in 2020 as a coronavirus-disease-2019 (COVID-19) diagnostic and prognostic biomarker in a retrospective study during the first wave of COVID-19. To prospectively validate whether GGO on CTA performed for suspected acute stroke is a reliable COVID-19 diagnostic and prognostic biomarker and whether it is reliable for COVID-19 vaccinated patients. In this prospective, pragmatic, national, multi-center validation study performed at 13 sites, we captured study data consecutively in patients undergoing CTA for suspected acute stroke from January-March 2021. Demographic and clinical features associated with stroke and COVID-19 were incorporated. The primary outcome was the likelihood of reverse-transcriptase-polymerase-chain-reaction swab-test-confirmed COVID-19 using the GGO biomarker. Secondary outcomes investigated were functional status at discharge and survival analyses at 30 and 90 days. Univariate and multivariable statistical analyses were employed. CTAs from 1,111 patients were analyzed, with apical GGO identified in 8.5 % during a period of high COVID-19 prevalence. GGO showed good inter-rater reliability (Fleiss κ = 0.77); and high COVID-19 specificity (93.7 %, 91.8–95.2) and negative predictive value (NPV; 97.8 %, 96.5–98.6). In subgroup analysis of vaccinated patients, GGO remained a good diagnostic biomarker (specificity 93.1 %, 89.8–95.5; NPV 99.7 %, 98.3–100.0). Patients with COVID-19 were more likely to have higher stroke score (NIHSS (mean +/- SD) 6.9 +/- 6.9 COVID-19 negative, 9.7 +/- 9.0 COVID-19 positive; p = 0.01), carotid occlusions (6.2 % negative,14.9 % positive; p = 0.02), and larger infarcts on presentation CT (ASPECTS 9.4 +/- 1.5 negative, 8.6 +/- 2.4 positive; p = 0.00). After multivariable logistic regression, GGO (odds ratio 15.7, 6.2–40.1), myalgia (8.9, 2.1–38.2) and higher core body temperature (1.9, 1.1–3.2) were independent COVID-19 predictors. GGO was associated with worse functional outcome on discharge and worse survival after univariate analysis. However, after adjustment for factors including stroke severity, GGO was not independently predictive of functional outcome or mortality. Apical GGO on CTA performed for patients with suspected acute stroke is a reliable diagnostic biomarker for COVID-19, which in combination with clinical features may be useful in COVID-19 triage.
Background Recently, two randomized controlled trials demonstrated the benefit of mechanical thrombectomy performed between 6 and 24 h in acute ischemic stroke. The current economic evidence is supporting the intervention only within 6 h, but extended thrombectomy treatment times may result in better long-term outcomes for a larger cohort of patients. Aims We compared the cost-utility of mechanical thrombectomy in addition to medical treatment versus medical treatment alone performed beyond 6 h from stroke onset in the UK National Health Service (NHS). Methods A cost-utility analysis of mechanical thrombectomy compared to medical treatment was performed using a Markov model that estimates expected costs and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) over a 20-year time horizon. We present the results of three models using the data from the DEFUSE 3 and DAWN trials and evidence from published sources. Results Over a 20-year period, the incremental cost per QALY of mechanical thrombectomy was $1564 (£1219) when performed after 12 h from onset, $5253 (£4096) after 16 h and $3712 (£2894) after 24 h. The probabilistic sensitivity analysis demonstrated that thrombectomy had a 99.9% probability of being cost-effective at the minimum willingness to pay for a QALY commonly used in the UK. Conclusions The results of this study demonstrate that performing mechanical thrombectomy up to 24 h from acute ischemic stroke symptom onset is still cost-effective, suggesting that this intervention should be implemented by the NHS on the basis of improvement in quality of life as well as economic grounds.
We report our preliminary results in terms of safety and efficacy in using the low-profile LEO Baby stent for the treatment of large-neck and complex intracranial aneurysms with balloon-then-stent-assisted coiling and single- or dual-stent-assisted coiling.
MATERIALS AND METHODS:
Clinical and radiologic data of all consecutive patients treated at our institution from September 2012 to October 2013 for an intracranial aneurysm by using a LEO Baby stent were retrospectively analyzed. Immediate and midterm clinical and anatomic follow-up of each patient is reported.
RESULTS:
Twenty-nine patients with 29 aneurysms were treated with LEO Baby stents at our institution. The mean age of patients was 48 years; 20 patients were women (71%). One patient was treated in the acute phase of a subarachnoid hemorrhage. In 8 procedures, a double-lumen-catheter balloon was used for balloon-then-stent-assisted coiling. In 3 cases, a LEO Baby stent was used in a Y-, T-, and telescopic dual-stent configuration. In 18 cases, a single LEO Baby stent was used. In 2 cases, technical failure to deploy the stent resulted in acute parent artery thrombosis. In 3 further cases, thromboembolic complications occurred intraoperatively. MR imaging and angiographic midterm follow-up showed complete aneurysm occlusion for 96% of the followed patients (27/29). Clinical outcome was favorable for all patients followed up.
CONCLUSIONS:
Results obtained in our study by using the LEO Baby stent for balloon-then-stent and single- or dual-stent-assisted coiling of complex and distally located intracranial aneurysms are encouraging. Incomplete or inadequate opening of the device is a potential cause of laminar blood flow alteration and thrombus formation.
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