Technical note and first results on JET 7 thromboaspiration device for T-ICA occlusions.

BACKGROUND: To describe technical features and initial results of a novel large-bore reperfusion catheter as first thromboaspiration approach for endovascular stroke treatment in terminal internal carotid artery (T-ICA) occlusions. METHODS: All patients treated with A Direct Aspiration first-Pass Technique (ADAPT) using JET 7 "Standard Tip" Penumbra Reperfusion catheter for acute T-ICA occlusion were retrospectively included in the study. Baseline data, puncture to recanalization time, number of attempts, switch to second device/technique rate and successful recanalization rate were assessed. Successful recanalization was defined by a thrombolysis in cerebral infarction (TICI) score ≥ 2b and favorable functional outcome was defined according to modified Rankin scale (score, 0-2). Catheter specifics and thromboaspiration reperfusion technique with JET 7 were reported. RESULTS: A total of 21 patients who underwent ADAPT with JET 7 Reperfusion catheter were enrolled for the final analysis. ADAPT was performed as first approach in all cases (100%). First attempt successful recanalization (eTICI ≥2b) was obtained in 90,5% of cases. Mean puncture to recanalization time was 16 minutes. Final successful recanalization was reached in 96.5%. Functional independence at 90 was achieved in 57,1% cases. Symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage occurred in one patient within 24 h. CONCLUSION: The large-bore JET 7 reperfusion catheter could be considered as first-line in patients with acute T-ICA occlusion, allowing rapid recanalization and low rate of rescue therapy with stent retriver. Further series and/or trial evaluation are required to confirm our results.

JET 7 catheter for direct aspiration in carotid T occlusions: preliminary experience and literature review.

OBJECTIVE: We report our preliminary experience with the Penumbra JET 7 reperfusion catheter (JET 7), a new large-bore (0.072″) aspiration catheter, in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) due to carotid T occlusion. METHODS: Data of all eligible patients who received A Direct Aspiration First Pass Technique (ADAPT) for AIS due to carotid T occlusion at our center from March 2018 through June 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. The safety and performance of JET 7 cases and smaller large-bore catheters (LBCs) were compared. RESULTS: JET 7 was used in 19 patients, and smaller LBCs were used in 41 patients. Median puncture to revascularization time was significantly different between the JET 7 and the smaller LBCs (16 vs. 27 min; P = 0.011). The rate of patients who received rescue therapy with a stent retriever was also significantly different between the JET 7 cases and the smaller LBCs cases (5.3% vs. 22.0%; P = 0.046). Successful revascularization (TICI ≥ 2b) was achieved in 94.7% of JET 7 cases and 75.6% of smaller LBCs cases (P = 0.148). Good functional outcome (mRS 0-2) at 90 days occurred in 63.2% of JET 7 cases and 46.3% of smaller LBCs cases (P = 0.274). CONCLUSIONS: In this early experience, ADAPT with JET 7 could be considered as one of the possible first-line therapies in carotid T occlusion, showing good rate of vascularization and lower rate of rescue therapy in comparison with smaller LBCs.

Acute ischemic stroke with cervical internal carotid artery steno-occlusive lesion: multicenter analysis of endovascular approaches.

BACKGROUND: Occlusion of the internal carotid artery (ICA), whether isolated or in the setting of a tandem lesion (TL) have a poor response to treatment with intravenous thrombolysis. Previous studies ​​have demonstrated the superiority of mechanical thrombectomy in the treatment of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) following large vessel occlusion, compared to standard intravenous fibrinolysis. The aim of our study was to describe endovascular treatment (EVT) in AIS due to isolated ICA occlusion or TL. METHODS: We assessed the association between 90-day outcome and clinical, demographic, imaging, and procedure data in 51 consecutive patients with acute isolated ICA occlusion or TL who underwent EVT. We evaluated baseline NIHSS and mRS, ASPECTS, type of occlusion, stent placement, use of stent retrievers and/or thromboaspiration, duration of the procedure, mTICI, postprocedural therapy and complications. RESULTS: A favorable 90-day outcome (mRS 0-2) was achieved in 34 patients (67 %) and was significantly associated with the use of dual antiplatelet therapy after the procedure (p = 0.008), shorter procedure duration (p = 0.031), TICI 2b-3 (p < 0.001) and lack of post-procedural hemorrhagic transformation (p = 0.001). Four patients did not survive, resulting in a mortality rate of 8 %. CONCLUSIONS: Our study has shown that EVT in the treatment of AIS due to ICA occlusion is safe, and effective in determining a good functional outcome. ICA stenting led to good angiographic results and therapy with a glycoprotein IIb / IIIa inhibitor immediately after stent release did not result in a greater risk of hemorrhage. The use of post-procedural dual antiplatelet therapy was associated with favorable outcome, without a significant increase in hemorrhagic transformation.

Watershed subarachnoid hemorrhage after middle cerebral artery rescue stenting in patients with acute ischemic stroke.

Cortical subarachnoid hemorrhage is an infrequent subtype of non-aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage, rarely reported in watershed territories (wSAH) after carotid stenting. It has never been reported after treatment of middle cerebral artery stenosis (MCAS) that is increasingly used in selected patients, as rescue treatment of failed mechanical thrombectomy, due to recent advancements in endovascular interventions. We present a series of patients with MCAS that developed a wSAH after stenting.

The Impact of Covid-19 Lockdown on Stroke Admissions and Treatments in Campania.

OBJECTIVES: The enforcement of complete lockdown with home confinement has been necessary to limit SARS-CoV-2 contagions in Italy, one the most affected countries worldwide. Simultaneously, in several Emergency Departments, a reduction in cardio- and cerebrovascular presentations was noticed. This study analyses the impact of Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown measures on the incidence of stroke, in Campania, the most densely-populated region in Italy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed data regarding acute stroke patients presenting at 5 Campania stroke hubs, before and after the issue of lockdown in Italy on March 9th, 2020. RESULTS: Compared to the pre-lockdown, we observed a significant reduction in the number of acute reperfusion treatments in stroke (P for interact 0.001); however the global number of patients presenting with acute stroke did not significantly differ. The time to reach medical attention was significantly longer in the lockdown phase (230 versus 154 min, P 0.016). For patients who underwent acute reperfusion treatment we also observed significantly longer time-to-imaging (30 versus 40 min, P 0.0005) and a trend to longer time-to-needle (75 versus 90 min P 0.23), but not time-to-groin. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed the reduction in acute reperfusion treatments for acute ischemic stroke and the slowdown of stroke pathways, during the lockdown phase of Covid-19 pandemic, in Campania, the third-most-populous and the most-densely populated Italian Region. In the next future, the risk for high-grade disability and death, due to delayed or even avoided hospital presentation due to fear of contagion, may be high.

Efficacy of ADAPT with large-bore reperfusion catheter in anterior circulation acute ischemic stroke: a multicentric Italian experience.

INTRODUCTION: A direct aspiration first pass technique (ADAPT) is an alternative technique as first-line thrombectomy for large vessel occlusion in acute ischemic stroke, still debated when compared to first-line stent retriever. To retrospectively evaluate technical and clinical outcomes of the ADAPT as first-line treatment for anterior circulation acute ischemic stroke with large-bore reperfusion catheters. METHODS: A multicentric data collection from 14 medical centers was retrospectively analyzed. Large-bore catheters had a distal diameter between 0.64 and 0.71 in; stent retriever was added when aspiration alone failed. Baseline characteristics, technical and clinical variables were collected, including NIHSS, thrombolysis in cerebral infarction (TICI), peri-procedural complications, 90-day mRS and 90-day mortality. RESULTS: Overall, 501 patients were treated. No statistically significant difference in terms of baseline features or tPA administration was recorded between patients treated with ADAPT and with additional stent retriever. ADAPT alone was successful in achieving TICI ≥ 2b in 71.8% with a median of 1.55 aspiration attempts. In terms of TICI ≥ 2b, ADAPT alone was better than additional stent retriever (p < 0.001), while no statistical difference was achieved from catheter diameter. Embolization to a new territory was less frequent in ADAPT group (5.2 vs 18%; p = 0.0026). Patients treated with ADAPT alone had better clinical outcomes in terms of mRS ≤ 2 (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: ADAPT is a valid technique with respect to the rates of TICI 2b/3 recanalization and 90-day mRS scores. In this series, an attempt at recanalization with ADAPT with larger-bore reperfusion catheter may be warranted prior to stentriever thrombectomy.

Multicentric Experience with an Intermediate Aspiration Catheter for Distal M2 Ischemic Stroke.

BACKGROUND: To assess technical and clinical outcomes of an intermediate bore aspiration catheter (AXS Catalyst 5; Stryker) as front-line therapy for M2-M3 acute occlusions. METHODS: A multicentric, retrospective data collection of patients with symptomatic M2-M3 ischemic stroke, treated with direct aspiration first-pass technique was obtained. Time to recanalization, first attempt recanalization, and number of attempts were recorded. Successful recanalization was defined as a modified thrombolysis in cerebral infarction score ≥2b; incidence of procedure-related complications was recorded. National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale at discharge and modified Rankin Scale score at 90 days were evaluated by a dedicated neurologist. RESULTS: A total of 44 acute occlusions of distal M2-M3 segment were treated with a direct aspiration first-pass technique using CAT 5 (mean age 68,4 years). Median NIHSS at baseline was 10. Overall modified thrombolysis in cerebral infarction score ≥2b was obtained in 90,9% of patients with mean time to recanalization of 49,7 minutes and a mean of 1.6 attempts. First-attempt recanalization with CAT 5 was obtained in 52,3% of patients with a mean time to recanalization of 29.2 min. A stent retriever with proximal aspiration was incorporated as a rescue device in 3 cases. No major complications was detected. The median National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score at discharge was 4. At 90 days, a modified Rankin Scale score of 0-2 was achieved in 70,5% of patients. CONCLUSIONS: ADAPT technique with the intermediate aspiration catheter CAT 5 system achieves successful revascularization and functional independence for patients with acute ischemic stroke secondary to distal M2 occlusions.

Cortical pattern of reduced perfusion in hearing loss revealed by ASL-MRI.

Age-related hearing loss (HL) can be related to brain dysfunction or structural damage and may result in cerebral metabolic/perfusion abnormalities. Arterial spin labeling (ASL) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) allows investigating noninvasively brain perfusion changes. Pseudocontinuous ASL and T1-weighted MRI (at 3 T) and neuropsychological testing (Montreal Cognitive Assessment) were performed in 31 HL (age range = 47-77 years, mean age ± SD = 63.4 ± 8.4 years, pure-tone average [PTA] HL > 50 dB) and 28 normal hearing (NH; age range = 48-78 years, mean age ± SD = 59.7 ± 7.4 years) subjects. Cerebral blood flow (CBF) and gray matter volume (GMV) were analyzed in the cortical volume to assess perfusion and structural group differences. Two HL subjects showing cognitive impairment were excluded from group comparisons. No significant differences in either global or local atrophy were detected between groups but the HL group exhibited significant regional effects of reduced perfusion within the bilateral primary auditory cortex, with maximal CBF difference (-17.2%) in the right lateral Heschl's gyrus. For the whole sample of HL and NH subjects (n = 59 = 31 HL + 28 NH), the regional CBF was correlated positively to the regional GMV (p = 0.020). In HL subjects (n = 31), the regional CBF was correlated negatively to the audiogram steepness (frequency range: 2-4 kHz, right ear: p = 0.022, left ear: p = 0.015). The observed cortical pattern of perfusion reduction suggests that neuronal metabolism can be related to HL before the recognition of brain structural damage. This also illustrates the potential of ASL-MRI to contribute early functional markers of reduced central processing associated with HL.

Endovascular Flow Diversion in Cervical Internal Carotid Artery Dissections.

Extracranial artery dissections (EADs) represent leading causes of stroke in young patients, but are uncommon in the general population, thus making it challenging to conduct clinical trials and large observational studies. In this technical video, we present 2 adult patients with cervical internal carotid artery (ICA) dissection treated with flow diverters (Video 1). The first patient come to our attention without symptoms. He had a history of acute ischemic stroke owing to dissection of the right cervical ICA in 2013. He was on double antiplatelet therapy, and he had recurrent colorectal bleeding. Magnetic resonance imaging confirmed right frontal gliosis and occlusion of the right ICA with collaterals from the external carotid artery and showed a double lumen dissection of the left cervical ICA. The second patient was admitted to our emergency department with right tongue and vocal cord palsy. Computed tomography documented 2 carotid pseudoaneurysms, the bigger one on the right side. Flow diversion was successful in both patients. In 15%-20% of patients with EAD, multiple cervical arteries are affected. In EAD, stenosis resolution or recanalization occurs in 33%-90% of patients within 6 months. Dissecting aneurysms are reported to resolve or decrease in size in 40%-50% of patients, but can also increase in size. There are currently no controlled clinical trials comparing endovascular therapy and antithrombotic treatment with antithrombotic therapy alone in patients with carotid EAD, and only some reports have demonstrated the efficacy of angioplasty and stenting. However, we recommend some further reading on this topic.1-5.

Transvenous Embolization with Ethylene Vinyl Alcohol and Arterial Flow Control of a Dural Arteriovenous Fistula of the Isolated Transverse Sinus.

Dural arteriovenous fistulas draining into an isolated sinus often require a multimodal treatment, with transarterial and transvenous approaches.1-6 However, there is no consensus about the injection technique. Some authors suggest filling the sinus with coils in order to have a compact cast without unnecessary migration of the embolic material. We present a case of a patient with left temporal hemorrhage caused by a dural arteriovenous fistula on the isolated left transverse sinus. In this operative video we demonstrate how the arterial flow control during treatment allows us to obtain a compact cast of the embolic material inside the isolated sinus without coils (Video 1).

Comparison of aspiration versus combined technique as first-line approach in terminal internal carotid artery occlusion: a multicenter experience.

BACKGROUND: There is no consensus on the most effective endovascular technique to use in patients with acute ischemic stroke due to terminal internal carotid artery (ICA) occlusion. The aim of this study was to compare safety and efficacy of the aspiration technique (AT) and combined technique (CT) as first-line approach in terminal ICA occlusions. METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected databases from seven Italian stroke centers. Patients were divided into two subgroups according to the first-line approach: AT group or CT group. We followed the STROBE guidelines for cohort studies. We used Chi-square test, one-way and multivariate ANOVA analysis, together with contrast analysis and post hoc tests, logistic regression and Pearson's bivariate correlation for the statistical analyses. RESULTS: Between January 2018 and August 2020, 353 patients were treated for a terminal ICA occlusion, with either AT or CT. CT was associated with a higher Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction (TICI) 2B-3 after the first pass (51.0% vs 26.9%) and at the end of the procedure (84% vs 73.3%) and with an improved clinical outcome at discharge (modified Rankin Scale (mRs) 0-2 of 47.8% vs 34.0%) and at 3 months' follow-up (mRs 0-2 of 56.5% vs 38.9%) compared with AT. CONCLUSION: Thrombectomy of terminal ICA occlusions obtained using CT as first-line approach demonstrated better technical and functional outcomes in comparison with AT.

Cerebral hyperperfusion syndrome after intracranial stenting: Case report and systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Cerebral Hyperperfusion Syndrome (CHS) is an uncommon complication observed after intracranial angioplasty or stenting procedures. Given to the increasing use of new devices for intracranial angioplasty and stenting (INCS), in selected patients with high ischemic stroke risk, an equally increasing knowledge of complications related to these procedures is mandatory.Case description: a 63-year-old man was diagnosed with an hyperperfusion syndrome after percutaneous angioplasty and stenting for severe symptomatic right internal carotid artery (ICA) siphon stenosis. After treatment he complained generalized seizures and respiratory failure. While conventional imaging did not demonstrate any acute brain lesions, Pseudo-Continuous Arterial Spin Labeling (PCASL) Perfusion MRI early documented right hemisphere blood flow increase suggestive for CHS. CONCLUSIONS: Monitoring of perfusion changes after INCS could play an important a role in determining patients with high risk of CHS. ASL Perfusion MRI might be used for promptly, early diagnosis of CHS after treatment of severe intracranial artery stenosis.

ADAPT with New Catalyst 5 Reperfusion Catheter for Distal M2 Ischemic Stroke: Preliminary Experience.

OBJECTIVE: We sought to assess preliminary technical and clinical outcomes of Catalyst 5 (CAT 5) as front-line aspiration treatment for M2-M3 occlusion in acute ischemic stroke. METHODS: Patients with symptomatic stroke and distal M2 or M3 occlusions were enrolled retrospectively. A direct aspiration first-pass technique was used as the first treatment option for absolute contraindication to intravenous fibrinolytic therapy. Time to recanalization, first attempt recanalization, and number of attempts were recorded. Successful recanalization was defined as a modified thrombolysis in cerebral infarction score ≥2b; incidence of procedure-related complications was recorded. National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale at discharge and modified Rankin Scale score at 90 days were evaluated by a dedicated neurologist. RESULTS: A total of 11 acute occlusions of distal M2-M3 segment were treated with a direct aspiration first-pass technique using CAT 5 (mean age 69.3 years). Tandem occlusion was present in 2 cases. Intracranial preocclusive mean vessel diameter was 1.9 mm. Overall modified thrombolysis in cerebral infarction score ≥2b was obtained in 72.7% of patients with mean time to recanalization of 36.4 minutes and a mean of 1.9 attempts. First-attempt recanalization with CAT 5 was obtained in 54% of patients with a mean time to recanalization of 29.2 minutes. A stent retriever with proximal aspiration was incorporated as a rescue device in 2 cases. Embolization of new territories was reported after CAT 5 aspiration in 1 patient. No intracranial hemorrhage was detected on follow-up computed tomography. The median National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score at discharge was 3. At 90 days, a modified Rankin Scale score of 0-2 was achieved in 90.9% of patients. CONCLUSIONS: Preliminary experience using CAT 5 in distal occlusions demonstrates that it may be safe and effective in acute stroke treatment.

Arterial Spin Labeling Magnetic Resonance Imaging to Diagnose Contrast-Induced Vasospasm After Intracranial Stent Embolization.

BACKGROUND: Contrast-induced encephalopathy (CIE) is a rare and misdiagnosed complication of intravascular injection of contrast, responsible for arterial vasospasm and neurologic effects. Conventional radiologic findings are not in themselves specific for cerebral vasospasm diagnosis. We present a case in which arterial spin labeling (ASL) perfusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was useful in early diagnosis of CIE. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 56-year-old woman was admitted for elective flow-diverter embolization of a recanalized left supra-ophthalmic internal carotid artery aneurysm; at 4 hours postprocedure, she acutely developed sensitive aphasia and right arm paresis. Although no-contrast computed tomography and MRI with fluid-attenuated inversion recovery and diffusion-weighted imaging sequences did not demonstrate acute ischemic/hemorrhagic cerebral foci or cortical edema, ASL showed decreased cerebral blood flow (CBF) in the insular-temporal-parietal anterior lobe, suspected for hypoperfusion due to vasospasm, which was not confirmed by subsequent emergent digital subtraction angiography. At 16 hours, because of worsening symptoms, patient underwent an additional MRI, which showed slight insular cortical edema on fluid-attenuated inversion recovery and corresponding slight restricted diffusion-weighted imaging with a severe reduction in CBF value; at this time, emergent digital subtraction angiography demonstrated distal arterial vasospasm of left middle cerebral artery, and vasospasm therapy was started. Within 48 hours of symptom onset, the patient gradually improved to a complete neurologic recovery, with normalization of CBF values in the concerning cerebral region. CONCLUSIONS: CIE should always be considered in patients with focal neurologic deficits after iodinate contrast exposure. ASL perfusion MRI with CBF maps could be a promising tool for prompt, early confirmation of underlying vasospasm, as cortical edema and distal vasospasm could not be detected on conventional radiologic imaging.

A group-level comparison of volumetric and combined volumetric-surface normalization for whole brain analyses of myelin and iron maps.

Quantitative MRI (qMRI) provides surrogate brain maps of myelin and iron content. After spatial normalization to a common standard brain space, these may be used to detect altered myelination and iron accumulation in clinical populations. Here, volumetric and combined volumetric and surface-based (CVS) normalization were compared to identify which procedure would afford the greatest sensitivity to inter-regional differences (contrast), and the lowest inter-subject variability (under normal conditions), of myelin- and iron-related qMRI parameters, in whole-brain group-level studies. Ten healthy volunteers were scanned twice at 3 Tesla. Three-dimensional T1-weighted, T2-weighted and multi-parametric mapping sequences for brain qMRI were used to map myelin and iron content over the whole brain. Parameter maps were spatially normalized using volumetric (DARTEL) and CVS procedures. Tissue probability weighting and isotropic Gaussian smoothing were integrated in DARTEL for voxel-based quantification (VBQ). Contrasts, coefficients of variations and sensitivity to detecting differences in the parameters were estimated in standard space for each approach on region of interest (ROI) and voxel-by-voxel bases. The contrast between cortical and subcortical ROIs with respectively different myelin and iron content was higher following CVS, compared to DARTEL-VBQ, normalization. Across cortical voxels, the inter-individual variability of myelin and iron qMRI maps were comparable between CVS (with no smoothing) and DARTEL-VBQ (with smoothing). CVS normalization of qMRI maps preserves higher myelin and iron contrast than DARTEL-VBQ over the entire brain, while exhibiting comparable variability in the cerebral cortex without extra smoothing. Thus, CVS may prove useful for detecting small microstructural differences in whole-brain group-level qMRI studies.

Aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage in pregnancy: a case series.

Pregnancy is a recognized risk factor for aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Headache is very frequent in normal pregnancy and it is a common sign shared between several intracranial diseases. We present a case series of 10 women in the third trimester of pregnancy admitted to our intensive care unit (ICU) with neurological signs and symptoms. 4 of these patients were diagnosed with SAH. Data in this study suggest that a timely diagnosis and an appropriate treatment is crucial for mother and baby.