Blood Pressure and Outcome After Mechanical Thrombectomy With Successful Revascularization.

Background and Purpose- Successful reperfusion can be achieved in more than two-thirds of patients treated with mechanical thrombectomy. Therefore, it is important to understand the effect of blood pressure (BP) on clinical outcomes after successful reperfusion. In this study, we investigated the relationship between BP on admission and during the first 24 hours after successful reperfusion with clinical outcomes. Methods- This was a multicenter study from 10 comprehensive stroke centers. To ensure homogeneity of the studied cohort, we included only patients with anterior circulation who achieved successful recanalization at the end of procedure. Clinical outcomes included 90-day modified Rankin Scale, symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (sICH), mortality, and hemicraniectomy. Results- A total of 1245 patients were included in the study. Mean age was 69±14 years, and 51% of patients were female. Forty-nine percent of patients had good functional outcome at 90-days, and 4.7% suffered sICH. Admission systolic BP (SBP), mean SBP, maximum SBP, SBP SD, and SBP range were associated with higher risk of sICH. In addition, patients in the higher mean SBP groups had higher rates of sICH. Similar results were found for hemicraniectomy. With respect to functional outcome, mean SBP, maximum SBP, and SBP range were inversely associated with the good outcome (modified Rankin Scale score, 0-2). However, the difference in SBP parameters between the poor and good outcome groups was modest. Conclusions- Higher BP within the first 24 hours after successful mechanical thrombectomy was associated with a higher likelihood of sICH, mortality, and requiring hemicraniectomy.

Rate of Symptomatic Intracerebral Hemorrhage Related to Intravenous tPA Administered Over Telestroke Within 4.5-Hour Window.

BACKGROUND: Intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) remains the cornerstone medical treatment for acute ischemic stroke. The establishment of telestroke technology has allowed patients presenting to hospitals that lack expert stroke care to be evaluated and receive tPA. The safety of tPA administered through telestroke has been evaluated only when tPA is given within the 3-h window of last known normal. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety of tPA when administered through telestroke within a 4.5-h window. METHODS: A retrospective analysis on the prospectively collected database for all patients who received tPA at the Medical University of South Carolina Comprehensive Stroke Center (MUSC) (hub), as well as the MUSC telestroke network partner hospitals (spokes), was performed. Collected data included demographics, baseline characteristics, time from last known well to tPA administration, and symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (sICH) rates. Logistic regression was used to examine the odds of a sICH in patients at spoke sites compared with the hub controlling for patient stroke severity, gender, age, and race. RESULTS: A total of 830 patients were identified. Median National Institute of Health Stroke Scale was significantly higher among patients treated at the hub (9 vs. 8, p = 0.013), and the hub treated a higher percentage of nonwhite patients (p = 0.039). sICH occurred in 27 (4.8%) in the spoke group and 10 (3.8%) in the hub group (p = 0.523). Logistic regression results found no significant difference in the odds of sICH if tPA is given in a spoke site. CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows similar rates of sICH when intravenous tPA is administered at spokes through telestroke network compared with the hub.