European Stroke Organisation guideline on endarterectomy and stenting for carotid artery stenosis.

Atherosclerotic stenosis of the internal carotid artery is an important cause of stroke. The aim of this guideline is to analyse the evidence pertaining to medical, surgical and endovascular treatment of patients with carotid stenosis. These guidelines were developed based on the ESO standard operating procedure and followed the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. The working group identified relevant questions, performed systematic reviews and meta-analyses of the literature, assessed the quality of the available evidence, and wrote recommendations. Based on moderate quality evidence, we recommend carotid endarterectomy (CEA) in patients with ≥60-99% asymptomatic carotid stenosis considered to be at increased risk of stroke on best medical treatment (BMT) alone. We also recommend CEA for patients with ≥70-99% symptomatic stenosis, and we suggest CEA for patients with 50-69% symptomatic stenosis. Based on high quality evidence, we recommend CEA should be performed early, ideally within two weeks of the last retinal or cerebral ischaemic event in patients with ≥50-99% symptomatic stenosis. Based on low quality evidence, carotid artery stenting (CAS) may be considered in patients < 70 years old with symptomatic ≥50-99% carotid stenosis. Several randomised trials supporting these recommendations were started decades ago, and BMT, CEA and CAS have evolved since. The results of another large trial comparing outcomes after CAS versus CEA in patients with asymptomatic stenosis are anticipated in the near future. Further trials are needed to reassess the benefits of carotid revascularisation in combination with modern BMT in subgroups of patients with carotid stenosis.

European Stroke Organisation guideline on endarterectomy and stenting for carotid artery stenosis.

Atherosclerotic stenosis of the internal carotid artery is an important cause of stroke. The aim of this guideline is to analyse the evidence pertaining to medical, surgical and endovascular treatment of patients with carotid stenosis. These guidelines were developed based on the ESO standard operating procedure and followed the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. The working group identified relevant questions, performed systematic reviews and meta-analyses of the literature, assessed the quality of the available evidence, and wrote recommendations. Based on moderate quality evidence, we recommend carotid endarterectomy (CEA) in patients with ≥60-99% asymptomatic carotid stenosis considered to be at increased risk of stroke on best medical treatment (BMT) alone. We also recommend CEA for patients with ≥70-99% symptomatic stenosis, and we suggest CEA for patients with 50-69% symptomatic stenosis. Based on high quality evidence, we recommend CEA should be performed early, ideally within two weeks of the last retinal or cerebral ischaemic event in patients with ≥50-99% symptomatic stenosis. Based on low quality evidence, carotid artery stenting (CAS) may be considered in patients < 70 years old with symptomatic ≥50-99% carotid stenosis. Several randomised trials supporting these recommendations were started decades ago, and BMT, CEA and CAS have evolved since. The results of another large trial comparing outcomes after CAS versus CEA in patients with asymptomatic stenosis are anticipated in the near future. Further trials are needed to reassess the benefits of carotid revascularisation in combination with modern BMT in subgroups of patients with carotid stenosis.

Simultaneous assessment of plaque morphology, cerebral micro-embolic signal status and platelet biomarkers in patients with recently symptomatic and asymptomatic carotid stenosis.

The relationship between plaque morphology, cerebral micro-embolic signals (MES) and platelet biomarkers in carotid stenosis patients warrants investigation.We combined data from two prospective, observational studies to assess carotid plaque morphology and relationship with cerebral MES and platelet biomarkers in patients with recently symptomatic (≤4 weeks of transient ischaemic attack (TIA)/ischaemic stroke) versus asymptomatic carotid stenosis. Plaque morphology on ultrasound was graded with Grey-Scale Median (GSM) and Gray-Weale (GW) scoring. Bilateral transcranial Doppler ultrasound classified patients as 'MES+ve' or 'MES-ve'. Full blood counts were analysed and flow cytometry quantified CD62P and CD63 expression, leucocyte-platelet complexes and reticulated platelets.Data from 42 recently symptomatic carotid stenosis patients were compared with those from 36 asymptomatic patients. There were no differences in median GSM scores between symptomatic and asymptomatic patients (25 vs. 30; P = 0.31) or between MES+ve vs. MES-ve symptomatic patients (36 vs. 25; P = 0.09). Symptomatic patients with GSM-echodense plaques (GSM ≥25) had higher platelet counts (228 vs. 191 × 109/L), neutrophil-platelet (3.3 vs. 2.7%), monocyte-platelet (6.3 vs. 4.55%) and lymphocyte-platelet complexes (2.91 vs. 2.53%) than 'asymptomatic patients with GSM-echodense plaques' (P ≤ 0.03).Recently, symptomatic carotid stenosis patients with 'GSM-echodense plaques' have enhanced platelet production/secretion/activation compared with their asymptomatic counterparts. Simultaneous assessment with neurovascular imaging and platelet biomarkers may aid risk-stratification in carotid stenosis.

Drip and ship versus direct to endovascular thrombectomy: The impact of treatment times on transport decision-making.

INTRODUCTION: In ischaemic stroke care, fast reperfusion is essential for disability free survival. It is unknown if bypassing thrombolysis centres in favour of endovascular thrombectomy (mothership) outweighs transport to the nearest thrombolysis centre for alteplase and then transfer for endovascular thrombectomy (drip-and-ship). We use conditional probability modelling to determine the impact of treatment times on transport decision-making for acute ischaemic stroke. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Probability of good outcome was modelled using a previously published framework, data from the Irish National Stroke Register, and an endovascular thrombectomy registry at a tertiary referral centre in Ireland. Ireland was divided into 139 regions, transport times between each region and hospital were estimated using Google's Distance Matrix Application Program Interface. Results were mapped using ArcGIS 10.3. RESULTS: Using current treatment times, drip-and-ship rarely predicts best outcomes. However, if door to needle times are reduced to 30 min, drip-and-ship becomes more favourable; even more so if turnaround time (time from thrombolysis to departure for the endovascular thrombectomy centre) is also reduced. Reducing door to groin puncture times predicts better outcomes with the mothership model. DISCUSSION: This is the first case study modelling pre-hospital transport for ischaemic stroke utilising real treatment times in a defined geographic area. A moderate improvement in treatment times results in significant predicted changes to the optimisation of a national acute stroke patient transport strategy. CONCLUSIONS: Modelling patient transport for system-level planning is sensitive to treatment times at both thrombolysis and thrombectomy centres and has important implications for the future planning of thrombectomy services.

First year post-stroke healthcare costs and fall-status among those discharged to the community.

INTRODUCTION: Falls are common post-stroke events but their relationship with healthcare costs is unclear. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between healthcare costs in the first year after stroke and falls among survivors discharged to the community. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Survivors of acute stroke with planned home discharges from five large hospitals in Ireland were recruited. Falls and healthcare utilisation data were recorded using inpatient records, monthly calendars and post-discharge interviews. Cost of stroke was estimated for each participant from hospital admission for one year. The association of fall-status with overall cost was tested with multivariable linear regression analysis adjusting for pre-stroke function, stroke severity, age and living situation. RESULTS: A total of 109 stroke survivors with complete follow-up data (mean age = 68.5 years (SD = 13.5 years)) were included. Fifty-three participants (49%) fell following stroke, of whom 28 (26%) had recurrent falls. Estimated mean total healthcare cost was €20,244 (SD=€23,456). The experience of one fall and recurrent falls was independently associated with higher costs of care (p = 0.02 and p < 0.01, respectively). DISCUSSION: The observed relationship between falls and cost is likely to be underestimated as aids and adaptions, productivity losses, and nursing home care were not included. CONCLUSION: This study points at differences across fall-status in several healthcare costs categories, namely the index admission, secondary/tertiary care (including inpatient re-admissions) and allied healthcare. Future research could compare the cost-effectiveness of inpatient versus community-based fall-prevention after stroke. Further studies are also required to inform post-stroke bone-health management and fracture-risk reduction.

Falls-Related EvEnts in the first year after StrokE in Ireland: Results of the multi-centre prospective FREESE cohort study.

INTRODUCTION: Falls are common post-stroke adverse events. This study aimed to describe the first-year falls incidence, circumstances and consequences among persons discharged home after stroke in Ireland, and to examine the association between potential risk factors and recurrent falls. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with acute stroke and planned home-discharge were recruited consecutively from five hospitals. Variables recorded pre-discharge included: age, stroke severity, co-morbidities, fall history, prescribed medications, hemi-neglect, cognition and functional independence (Barthel index). Falls were recorded with monthly diaries, and 6 and 12-month interviews. The association of pre-discharge factors with recurrent falls (>1 fall) was examined using univariable logistic regression. RESULTS: A total of 128 participants (mean age = 68.6, SD = 13.3) were recruited; 110 completed the 12-month follow-up. The first-year falls incidence was 44.5% (95% CI = 35.1-53.6) with 25.6% falling repeatedly (95% CI = 18.5-34.4). Fallers experienced 1-18 falls (median = 2) and five reported fractures; 47% of fallers experienced at least one fall outdoors. Only 10% of recurrent fallers had bone health medication prescribed at discharge. Lower Barthel index scores (<75/100, RR = 4.38, 1.64-11.72) and psychotropic medication prescription (RR = 2.10, 1.13-3.91) were associated with recurrent falls. DISCUSSION: This study presents prospectively collected information about falls circumstances. It was not powered for multivariable analysis of risk factors. CONCLUSION: One-quarter of stroke survivors discharged to the community fall repeatedly and mostly indoors in the first year. Specific attention may be required for individuals with poor functional independence or those on psychotropic medication. Future falls-management research in this population should explore falls in younger individuals, outdoor as well as indoor falls and post-stroke bone health status.