Catheter-based therapy for high-risk or intermediate-risk pulmonary embolism: death and re-hospitalization.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Catheter-based therapies (CBTs) have been developed as a treatment option in patients with pulmonary embolism (PE). There remains a paucity of data to inform decision-making in patients with intermediate-risk or high-risk PE. The aim of this study was to characterize in-hospital and readmission outcomes in patients with intermediate-risk or high-risk PE treated with vs. without CBT in a large retrospective registry. METHODS: Patients hospitalized with intermediate-risk or high-risk PE were identified using the 2017-20 National Readmission Database. In-hospital outcomes included death and bleeding and 30- and 90-day readmission outcomes including all-cause, venous thromboembolism (VTE)-related and bleeding-related readmissions. Inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) was utilized to compare outcomes between CBT and no CBT. RESULTS: A total of 14 903 [2076 (13.9%) with CBT] and 42 829 [8824 (20.6%) with CBT] patients with high-risk and intermediate-risk PE were included, respectively. Prior to IPTW, patients with CBT were younger and less likely to have cancer and cardiac arrest, receive systemic thrombolysis, or be on mechanical ventilation. In the IPTW logistic regression model, CBT was associated with lower odds of in-hospital death in high-risk [odds ratio (OR) 0.83, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.80-0.87] and intermediate-risk PE (OR 0.76, 95% CI 0.70-0.83). Patients with high-risk PE treated with CBT were associated with lower risk of 90-day all-cause [hazard ratio (HR) 0.77, 95% CI 0.71-0.83] and VTE (HR 0.46, 95% CI 0.34-0.63) readmission. Patients with intermediate-risk PE treated with CBT were associated with lower risk of 90-day all-cause (HR 0.75, 95% CI 0.72-0.79) and VTE (HR 0.66, 95% CI 0.57-0.76) readmission. CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with high-risk or intermediate-risk PE, CBT was associated with lower in-hospital death and 90-day readmission. Prospective, randomized trials are needed to confirm these findings.

Single Center Experience with the JETi Hydrodynamic Thrombectomy System for Acute Limb Ischemia.

OBJECTIVE: Acute limb ischemia (ALI) remains a vascular emergency with high morbidity and mortality. While the JETi Hydrodynamic Thrombectomy System (Abbott, Abbott Park, IL) offers a percutaneous approach to fragment and aspirate thrombus in patients with arterial occlusions, data on its efficacy and safety is limited. This study reports our early experience using the JETi device to treat ALI at our institution. METHODS: This is a single-center retrospective review of ALI patients treated with the JETi device between September 2020 and December 2022. Patients were included if the JETi device was used either as primary intervention or as an adjunct procedure. The primary endpoint was technical success defined as <50% residual thrombus post-intervention. Secondary endpoints included achieving complete resolution of the thrombus on angiogram, acute kidney injury (AKI), major bleeding, 30-day major amputation, and 30-day mortality. RESULTS: A total of 59 JETi procedures for ALI (mean age 62 years [IQR 56,71]) were performed on 39 males and 20 females. Median time from onset of symptoms to hospitalization was 24 hours (IQR 4-168). Rutherford classifications were I (10), IIa (27), IIb (14) and undocumented (8). Etiology of ALI was native vessel thrombosis (27), embolism (16), graft/stent thrombosis (14), and iatrogenic (2). A total of 124 vessels were treated, with an average of 2.1 vessels per procedure. The primary outcome was achieved in 86% (107/124) of the arteries, with 82% (102/124) successfully opened using the JETi device alone without the need for any adjunctive therapy. Complete resolution of the thrombus using JETi was achieved in 81% (101/124) arteries, with or without the use of adjunctive therapy. 6.7% (4/59) of patients required a major limb amputation within 30 days despite successful recanalization, and one 30-day mortality was recorded. Complications included distal embolization (5), access site hematoma (2), and acute kidney injury (4). No major bleeding, hemolysis-induced AKI, or vessel dissection or perforation were observed. CONCLUSION: The JETi device appears to be a safe and effective percutaneous treatment option in the management of ALI. It provides definitive treatment with a high technical success rate of 86% and a good safety profile.

Percutaneous mechanical thrombectomy in acute pulmonary embolism: Outcomes from a safety-net hospital.

BACKGROUND: Our study aims to present clinical outcomes of mechanical thrombectomy (MT) in a safety-net hospital. METHODS: This is a retrospective study of intermediate or high-risk pulmonary embolism (PE) patients who underwent MT between October 2020 and May 2023. The primary outcome was 30-day mortality. RESULTS: Among 61 patients (mean age 57.6 years, 47% women, 57% Black) analyzed, 12 (19.7%) were classified as high-risk PE, and 49 (80.3%) were intermediate-risk PE. Of these patients, 62.3% had Medicaid or were uninsured, 50.8% lived in a high poverty zip code. The prevalence of normotensive shock in intermediate-risk PE patients was 62%. Immediate hemodynamic improvements included 7.4 mmHg mean drop in mean pulmonary artery pressure (-21.7%, p < 0.001) and 93% had normalization of their cardiac index postprocedure. Thirty-day mortality for the entire cohort was 5% (3 patients) and 0% when restricted to the intermediate-risk group. All 3 patients who died at 30 days presented with cardiac arrest. There were no differences in short-term mortality based on race, insurance type, citizenship status, or socioeconomic status. All-cause mortality at most recent follow up was 13.1% (mean follow up time of 13.4 ± 8.5 months). CONCLUSION: We extend the findings from prior studies that MT demonstrates a favorable safety profile with immediate improvement in hemodynamics and a low 30-day mortality in patients with acute PE, holding true even with relatively higher risk and more vulnerable population within a safety-net hospital.

Catheter-based therapy for intermediate or high-risk pulmonary embolism is associated with lower in-hospital mortality in patients with cancer: Insights from the National Inpatient Sample.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a common complication among patients with cancer and is a significant contributor to morbidity and mortality. Catheter-based therapies (CBT), including catheter-directed thrombolysis (CDT) and mechanical thrombectomy, have been developed and are used in patients with intermediate or high-risk PE. However, there is a paucity of data on outcomes in patients with cancer as most clinical studies exclude this group of patients. AIMS: To characterize outcomes of patients with cancer admitted with intermediate or high-risk PE treated with CBT compared with no CBT. METHODS: Patients with an admission diagnosis of intermediate or high-risk PE and a history of cancer from October 2015 to December 2018 were identified using the National Inpatient Sample. Outcomes of interest were in-hospital death or cardiac arrest (CA) and major bleeding. Inverse probability treatment weighting (IPTW) was utilized to compare outcomes between patients treated with and without CBT. Variables that remained unbalanced after IPTW were adjusted using multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS: A total of 2084 unweighted admissions (10,420 weighted) for intermediate or high-risk PE and cancer were included, of which 136 (6.5%) were treated with CBT. After IPTW, CBT was associated with lower death or CA (aOR 0.54, 95% CI 0.46-0.64) but higher major bleeding (aOR 1.41, 95% CI 1.21-1.65). After stratifying by PE risk type, patients treated with CBT had lower risk of death or CA in both intermediate (aOR 0.52, 95% CI 0.36-0.75) and high-risk PE (aOR 0.48, 95% CI 0.33-0.53). However, patients with CBT were associated with increased risk of major bleeding in intermediate-risk PE (aOR 2.12, 95% CI 1.67-2.69) but not in those with high-risk PE (aOR 0.84, 95% CI 0.66-1.07). CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with cancer hospitalized with intermediate or high-risk PE, treatment with CBT was associated with lower risk of in-hospital death or CA but higher risk of bleeding. Prospective studies and inclusion of patients with cancer in randomized trials are warranted to confirm our findings.

Clot-based time attenuation curve as a novel imaging predictor of mechanical thrombectomy functional outcome in acute ischemia stroke.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether a novel assessment of thrombus permeability obtained from perfusion computed tomography (CTP) can act as a more accurate predictor of clinical response to mechanical thrombectomy (MT) in acute ischemic stroke (AIS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a study including two cohorts of AIS patients who underwent MT admitted to a single-center between April 2018 and February 2022: a retrospective development cohort (n = 71) and a prospective independent validation cohort (n = 96). Thrombus permeability was determined in terms of entire thrombus time-attenuation curve (TAC) on CTP. Association between thrombus TAC distributions and histopathological results was analyzed in the development cohort. Logistic regression was used to assess the performance of the TAC for predicting 90-day modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score, and good outcome was defined as a mRS score of ≤ 2. Basic clinical characteristics was used to build a routine clinical model. A combined model gathered TAC and basic clinical characteristics was also developed. The performance of the three models is compared on the independent validation set. RESULTS: Two TAC distributions were observed-unimodal (uTAC) and linear (lTAC). TAC distributions achieved strong correlations (|r|= 0.627, p < 0.001) with histopathological results, in which uTAC associated with fibrin- and platelet-rich clot while lTAC associated with red blood cell-rich clot. The uTAC was independently associated with poor outcome (odds ratio, 0.08 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.02-0.31]; p < 0.001). TAC distributions yielded an AUC of 0.78 (95% CI, 0.70-0.87) for predicting clinical outcome. When combined clinical characteristics, the performance was significantly improved (AUC, 0.85 [95% CI, 0.76-0.93]; p < 0.001) and higher than routine clinical model (AUC, 0.69 [95% CI, 0.59-0.83]; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Thrombus TAC on CTP were found to be a promising new imaging biomarker to predict the outcomes of MT in AIS. CLINICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT: This study revealed that clot-based time attenuation curve based on admission perfusion CT could reflect the permeability and composition of thrombus and, also, provide valuable information to predict the clinical outcomes of mechanical thrombectomy in patients with acute ischemia stroke. KEY POINTS: • Two time-attenuation curves distributions achieved strong correlations (|r|= 0.627, p < 0.001) with histopathological results. • The unimodal time-attenuation curve was independently associated with poor outcome (odds ratio, 0.08 [0.02-0.31]; p < 0.001). • The time-attenuation curve distributions yielded a higher performance for detecting clinical outcome than routine clinical model (AUC, 0.78 [0.70-0.87] vs 0.69 [0.59-0.83]; p < 0.001).

Movement disorders following mechanical thrombectomy resulting in ischemic lesions of the basal ganglia: An emerging clinical entity.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Post-stroke movement disorders (PMDs) following ischemic lesions of the basal ganglia (BG) are a known entity, but data regarding their incidence are lacking. Ischemic strokes secondary to proximal middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion treated with thrombectomy represent a model of selective damage to the BG. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and features of movement disorders after selective BG ischemia in patients with successfully reperfused acute ischemic stroke (AIS). METHODS: We enrolled 64 consecutive subjects with AIS due to proximal MCA occlusion treated with thrombectomy. Patients were clinically evaluated by a movement disorders specialist for PMDs onset at baseline, and after 6 and 12 months. RESULTS: None of the patients showed an identifiable movement disorder in the subacute phase of the stroke. At 6 and 12 months, respectively, 7/25 (28%) and 7/13 (53.8%) evaluated patients developed PMDs. The clinical spectrum of PMDs encompassed parkinsonism, dystonia and chorea, either isolated or combined. In most patients, symptoms were contralateral to the lesion, although a subset of patients presented with bilateral involvement and prominent axial signs. CONCLUSION: Post-stroke movement disorders are not uncommon in long-term follow-up of successfully reperfused AIS. Follow-up conducted by a multidisciplinary team is strongly advisable in patients with selective lesions of the BG after AIS, even if asymptomatic at discharge.

Value of intravenous alteplase before thrombectomy among patients with tandem lesions and emergent carotid artery stenting: A subgroup analysis of the SWIFT DIRECT trial.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The value of intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) in eligible tandem lesion patients undergoing endovascular treatment (EVT) is unknown. We investigated treatment effect heterogeneity of EVT + IVT versus EVT-only in tandem lesion patients. Additional analyses were performed for patients undergoing emergent internal carotid artery (ICA) stenting. METHODS: SWIFT DIRECT randomized IVT-eligible patients to either EVT + IVT or EVT-only. Primary outcome was 90-day functional independence (modified Rankin Scale score 0-2) after the index event. Secondary endpoints were reperfusion success, 24 h intracranial hemorrhage rate, and 90-day all-cause mortality. Interaction models were fitted for all predefined outcomes. RESULTS: Among 408 included patients, 63 (15.4%) had a tandem lesion and 33 (52.4%) received IVT. In patients with tandem lesions, 20 had undergone emergent ICA stenting (EVT + IVT: 9/33, 27.3%; EVT: 11/30, 36.7%). Tandem lesion did not show treatment effect modification of IVT on rates of functional independence (tandem lesion EVT + IVT vs. EVT: 63.6% vs. 46.7%, non-tandem lesion EVT + IVT vs. EVT: 65.6% vs. 58.2%; p for interaction = 0.77). IVT also did not increase the risk of intracranial hemorrhage  among tandem lesion patients (tandem lesion EVT + IVT vs. EVT: 34.4% vs. 46.7%, non-tandem lesion EVT + IVT vs. EVT: 33.5% vs. 26.3%; p for interaction = 0.15). No heterogeneity was noted for other endpoints (p for interaction > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: No treatment effect heterogeneity of EVT + IVT versus EVT-only was observed among tandem lesion patients. Administering IVT in patients with anticipated emergent ICA stenting seems safe, and the latter should not be a factor to consider when deciding to administer IVT before EVT.

Lower serum uric acid to serum creatinine ratio as a predictor of poor functional outcome after mechanical thrombectomy in acute ischaemic stroke.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The ratio of serum uric acid (SUA) to serum creatinine (SCr), representing normalized SUA for renal function, is associated with functional outcome in acute ischaemic stroke (AIS) patients. However, its effect on AIS patients undergoing mechanical thrombectomy (MT) remains unknown. This study aimed to investigate the influence of the SUA/SCr ratio on clinical outcome in MT-treated AIS patients. METHODS: Acute ischaemic stroke patients who underwent MT were continuously enrolled from January 2018 to June 2023. Upon admission, SUA and SCr levels were recorded within the initial 24 h. Stroke severity was determined using the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score. Clinical outcome included poor functional outcome (modified Rankin Scale score >2) at 90 days, symptomatic intracranial haemorrhage and death. RESULTS: Amongst 734 patients, 432 (58.8%) exhibited poor functional outcome at 90 days. The SUA/SCr ratio exhibited a negative correlation with NIHSS score (ρ = -0.095, p = 0.010). Univariate analysis revealed a significant association between SUA/SCr ratio and poor functional outcome. After adjusting for confounders, the SUA/SCr ratio remained an independent predictor of functional outcome (adjusted odds ratio 0.348, 95% confidence interval 0.282-0.428, p < 0.001). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis highlighted the ability of the SUA/SCr ratio to predict functional outcome, with a cutoff value of 3.62 and an area under the curve of 0.757 (95% confidence interval 0.724-0.788, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The SUA/SCr ratio is correlated with stroke severity and may serve as a predictor of 90-day functional outcome in AIS patients undergoing MT.

Sex Alters the Effect of Perfusion Deficits on Functional Outcome in Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke Undergoing Mechanical Thrombectomy.

INTRODUCTION: The discourse surrounding differences in cerebral hemodynamics and clinical outcomes among male and female patients treated with mechanical thrombectomy (MT) for acute ischemic stroke (AIS) remains unresolved. We aimed to elucidate these differences by employing computed tomography perfusion (CTP) imaging before MT and examining the influence of perfusion deficits on the 90-day functional outcome. METHODS: This single-center retrospective analysis involved patients with anterior circulation AIS treated with MT at the Comprehensive Stroke Center, University Hospital, Krakow, from January 2019 to July 2023. We compared male and female patients in terms of baseline characteristics, CTP deficits, hypoperfusion intensity ratio (HIR, defined as T10max/T6max), and complications. The endpoints included the 90-day excellent functional outcome, defined as modified Rankin Score <2, and the 90-day mortality rate. RESULTS: We included 794 patients, of whom 408 were female (51.4%). Female patients had a smaller early infarct volume (median [interquartile range]: 7 mL [0-24.8] vs. 10 mL [0-33], p = 0.004), smaller penumbra volume (77.5 mL [46-117] vs. 99.5 mL [59.8-140], p < 0.001), lower HIR (0.34 [0.16-0.5] vs. 0.37 [0.2-9.53], p = 0.043) and were less likely to achieve an excellent functional outcome (55.6% vs. 66.1%, p = 0.003). For every 10 mL increase in early infarct volume, the odds for achieving an excellent outcome were lower in females (odds ratio [OR]: 0.82 [95% confidence interval: 0.73-0.92]) compared to males (OR: 0.96 [0.88-1.04]), whereas the risk of death was higher for females (OR: 1.25 [1.13-1.39] than for males (OR: 1.05 [0.98-1.14]). DISCUSSION: Despite more favorable cerebral hemodynamic profile, female AIS patients have worse outcomes than their male counterparts. This effect seems to be independently mediated by the more pronounced impact of early infarct volume on the prognosis in female patients. These findings underscore the possible explanatory power arising from sex-specific interpretation of early infarct volume in clinical practice.

Technical Aspects of Penumbra Indigo Lightning Flash System for Mechanical Thrombectomy of Pulmonary Embolism: A Comprehensive Review.

PURPOSE: To demonstrate the technical aspects of the novel Penumbra Indigo Lightning Flash System (Penumbra, Inc.) for mechanical thrombectomy of pulmonary embolism (PE). TECHNIQUE: The novel Penumbra Lightning Flash catheter is a 16 French (F) sheath-compatible device designed for advanced thrombectomy, especially in the pulmonary arteries. This device has large thrombus burden removal capacity; however, technical nuances are necessary to accomplish more with efficacy pulmonary embolism management. Access sites, pulmonary arteries catheterization technique, thrombectomy device navigation and mechanism of action are described thoroughly. CONCLUSION: Penumbra Indigo Lightning Flash system for mechanical thrombectomy as other catheter-directed treatments (CDTs) represents a major advance in contemporary PE management. With favorable safety profile and efficacy, CDTs have become an integral component of the multidisciplinary approach to PE care. CLINICAL IMPACT: The article highlights the Penumbra Indigo Lightning Flash System as a significant advancement in mechanical thrombectomy for pulmonary embolism (PE). By detailing technical aspects and procedural nuances, it supports clinicians for improvement in endovascular PE management. The system's integration into multidisciplinary care represents a major step forward, providing an effective alternative to traditional therapies, particularly for high-risk PE patients. This innovation promises to enhance patient outcomes in contemporary PE management.

Directional Femoral Ultrasound-Guided Compression Technique Using in Percutaneous Mechanical Thrombectomy for Acute Deep Vein Thrombosis: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to investigate the early results of directional femoral ultrasound-guided compression technique (UCT) using in percutaneous mechanical thrombectomy (PMT) for acute deep vein thrombosis (DVT). METHODS: Consecutive single-center patients with acute iliofemoral DVT who underwent PMT from January 2020 to December 2021 were included. Directional femoral UCT was used to adjust the PMT catheter into the residual thrombus in the inguinal region by ultrasound compression to improve the thrombus clearance rate. Patients were retrospectively analyzed and divided into 2 groups based on PMT with or without directional femoral UCT. The primary efficacy outcome was the incidence of post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS) at 24-month follow-up. The secondary efficacy outcomes included common femoral venous thrombus removal grade, total thrombus removal grade, venous primary patency rate, and incidence of moderate-to-severe PTS at 24-month follow-up. The safety outcomes included complications, major bleeding events, and death at 24-month follow-up. RESULTS: A total of 96 patients were included in the study: 42 patients underwent PMT with directional femoral UCT and 54 patients underwent PMT without UCT. There was no significant difference in baseline characteristics between the 2 groups. The percentages of patients achieved common femoral venous thrombus removal grade 3 and total thrombus removal grade 3 were significantly higher in the PMT with UCT group than those in the PMT without UCT group (p<0.001). The 24-month primary patency rate was significantly higher in the PMT with UCT group than that in the PMT without UCT group (90.0% vs 71.2%, p=0.027). The incidence of PTS was significantly lower in the PMT with UCT group (10.0%) than that in the PMT without UCT group (28.8%) (p=0.027). CONCLUSION: PMT with directional femoral UCT could improve the thrombus clearance rate and primary patency rate of acute iliofemoral DVT and might decrease the incidence of PTS compared to traditional PMT treatment without UCT. CLINICAL IMPACT: Residual thrombus in common femoral vein is a difficult problem associated with higher incidence of PTS. Few studies have focused on common femoral venous thrombus clearance. PMT with directional femoral UCT could improve the thrombus clearance rate and primary patency rate of acute iliofemoral DVT, and might decrease the incidence of PTS compared to traditional PMT treatment without UCT. Directional femoral UCT is recommended in PMT treatment of acute iliofemoral DVT.

Percutaneous Transluminal Angioplasty Alleviate Pediatric Postthrombotic Syndrome: A Case Report and Literature Review.

PURPOSE: Postthrombotic syndrome (PTS) is one of the long-term sequelae of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), and effective symptom management in pediatric PTS remains a challenge, with interventional therapy rarely explored in this population. We present a successful case of interventional treatment pediatric PTS, resulting in a remarkable amelioration of her symptoms. CASE REPORT: This case features a 6-year-old girl diagnosed with hyperinsulinemia, leading to a hypoglycemic coma. Following a mini-pancreatic partial pancreatectomy, she required further intensive care in the pediatric intensive care unit. It was during this period that left lower extremity DVT was identified, prompting warfarin anticoagulation therapy. During the anticoagulation period, she had several bleeding events and was switched to anticoagulation with low molecular heparin. One month later, the left common iliac vein and external iliac vein was found to be completely occluded. Over time, she experienced a gradual onset of lower limb swelling and pain, which, after 6 months, was accompanied by perineal edema and venous claudication. As a result, she underwent successful percutaneous transluminal angioplasty. In addition, the anticoagulation regimen was adjusted to rivaroxaban. At the 8-month follow-up, we observed significantly improvement in her postoperative lower extremity swelling and symptoms related to venous occlusion had completely disappeared. Moreover, vascular imaging confirmed improvement in stenosis and uninterrupted blood flow. CONCLUSIONS: In our review of pediatric PTS studies, we observed limited options to alleviate symptoms, and interventional treatments have not been reported. Our case study, demonstrating the safe and effective use of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty, helps to illuminate this area and alleviate pediatric PTS symptoms. CLINICAL IMPACT: This case validates the efficacy and safety of using percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) for the treatment of postthrombotic syndrome (PTS) in pediatric patients. This interventional approach offers significant symptomatic relief and improves quality of life, especially in cases where traditional anticoagulation therapies fail or lead to complications. The successful case presented emphasizes the necessity of considering endovascular interventions for children with moderate to severe PTS, particularly when conservative management is ineffective. This research underscores the potential for PTA to be adopted in clinical practice, offering a promising new approach for managing pediatric PTS.

Paradigm Shift of Interventional Strategies and Outcomes for Acute Limb Ischemia Post-Pandemic.

PURPOSE: We performed a large-scale comparison of patients treated for acute limb ischemia (ALI) in the pre-COVID (2017-2019) and COVID (2020-2022) eras to evaluate changes in interventional strategies and compare factors associated with adverse outcomes. We sought to characterize patient outcomes in an evolving ALI treatment algorithm in response to pandemic-associated presentation delays and rapid technological advancements in mechanical thrombectomy (MT). METHODS: Using the TriNetX global research network, we conducted a multicenter query across 80 health care organizations (HCOs) spanning 4 countries for patients treated for ALI. Propensity score matching was performed to account for comorbidities. Risk of adverse outcomes within 30 days was calculated for each era, including re-intervention (RI30), major/minor amputation, and death. Patients were then stratified by initial intervention: open revascularization (OR), MT, or catheter-directed thrombolysis and adjunctive endovascular procedures alone (CDT/EP). Risk of adverse outcomes was compared between treatment groups of the same era. RESULTS: After propensity score matching, the pre-COVID era and COVID era cohorts included 7344 patients each. COVID era patients experienced a statistically significant higher risk of 30-day mortality (RR=1.211, p=0.027). Mechanical thrombectomy interventions were performed more frequently in the COVID era (RR=1.314, p<0.0001). Comparing outcomes between treatment groups, MT patients required RI30 more than OR patients (pre-COVID: RR=2.074, p=0.006; COVID: RR=1.600, p=0.025). Open revascularization patients had higher 30-day mortality (pre-COVID: RR=2.368, p<0.0001; COVID: RR=2.013, p<0.0001) and major amputations (pre-COVID: RR=2.432, p<0.0001; COVID: RR=2.176, p<0.0001) than CDT/EP. Pre-COVID CDT/EP patients were at higher risk for RI30 (RR=1.449, p=0.005) and minor amputations (RR=1.500, p=0.010) than OR. The MT group had higher major amputation rates than CDT/EP (pre-COVID: RR=2.043, p=0.019; COVID: RR=1.914, p=0.007). COVID-era MT patients had greater 30-day mortality (RR=1.706, p=0.031) and RI30 (RR=1.544, p=0.029) than CDT/EP. CONCLUSION: Significant shifts toward an MT-based approach have been observed in the last 3 years. Although MT required more RI30 than OR, there was no associated consequence of mortality and limb salvage. The increased mortality seen among COVID-era patients could be explained by delayed presentation, as well as poorly understood pro-thrombogenic or pro-inflammatory mechanisms related to the first waves of COVID. More research is necessary to determine an optimal treatment algorithm. CLINICAL IMPACT: Comorbid risk factors and severity of ischemia must be carefully considered before selecting an interventional strategy to prevent adverse outcomes and maximize limb salvage. Open revascularization strategies are associated with increased mortality and limb loss compared to less-invasive thrombolytic therapy alone. Mechanical thrombectomy (MT)-based approaches have been increasingly used in the last 3 years. Patients receiving MT are more likely to require reintervention within 30 days.

The impact of COVID 19 on the outcomes of thrombectomy in stroke patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

We aimed to conduct the current meta-analysis to provide better insight into the efficacy of mechanical thrombectomy (MT) in managing COVID-19 patients suffering from a stroke. An electronic search was conducted through eight databases for collecting the current evidence about the efficacy of MT in stroke patients with COVID-19 until 18 December 2021. The results were reported as the pooled prevalence rates and the odds ratios (ORs), with their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI). Out of 648 records, we included nine studies. The prevalence of stroke patients with COVID-19 who received MT treatment was with TICI ≥2b 79% (95%CI: 73-85), symptomatic intracranial haemorrhage 6% (95%CI: 3-11), parenchymal haematoma type 1, 11.1% (95%CI: 5-23), and mortality 29% (95%CI: 24-35). On further comparison of MT procedure between stroke patients with COVID 19 to those without COVID-19, we found no significant difference in terms of TICI ≥2b score (OR: 0.85; 95%CI: 0.03-23; p = 0.9). However, we found that stroke patients with COVID-19 had a significantly higher mortality rate than stroke patients without COVID-19 after MT procedure (OR: 2.99; 95%CI: 2.01-4.45; p < 0.001). Stroke patients with COVID-19 can be safely and effectively treated with MT, with comparable reperfusion and complication rates to those without the disease.

Outcomes With Hybrid Catheter-Directed Therapy Compared With Aspiration Thrombectomy for Patients With Intermediate-High Risk Pulmonary Embolism.

PURPOSE: Intermediate-high-risk pulmonary embolism (IHR PE) is a challenging form of embolism obstruction that causes right ventricular (RV) dysfunction. The optimal management of IHR PE has not been established. This single-center prospective, observational study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of complex catheter-directed therapy (CDT) - catheter-directed mechanical aspiration thrombectomy (CDMT) supplemented with catheter-directed thrombolysis (hybrid CDT) in comparison to CDMT alone for IHR PE. METHODS: A propensity score based on the pulmonary embolism severity index class and Miller obstruction index (MOI) was calculated, and 21 hybrid CDT cases (mean age 54.8 (14.7) years, 9/21 women) were matched with 21 CDMT cases (mean age 58.8 (14.9) years, 13/21 women). The baseline demographics, clinical, and treatment characteristics were analyzed. RESULTS: No significant differences were detected regarding baseline demographics and PE severity parameters. Hybrid CDT demonstrated a higher reduction in mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) (hybrid CDT: median mPAP reduction 8 mmHg (IQR: 6-10 mmHg) vs CDMT: median mPAP reduction 6 mmHg (IQR: 4-7 mmHg); P = 0.019), MOI score (hybrid CDT: median change - 5 points (IQR: 5-6 points) vs CDMT median change - 3 points (IQR: 3-5 points); P = 0.019), and median RV: left ventricular ratio (hybrid CDT: median change 0.4 (IQR: 0.3-0.45) vs CDMT median change 0.26 (IQR: 0.2-0.4); P = 0.007). No major bleeding was observed. Both the hybrid CDT and CDMT alone treatments are safe and effective in managing IHR PE. CONCLUSIONS: Hybrid CDT is a promising technique for the management of IHR PE with insufficient thrombus load reduction by CDMT. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT0447356-registration date 16 July 2020.

Impact of post-thrombectomy isolated subarachnoid hemorrhage on neurological outcomes in patients with anterior ischemic stroke - a retrospective single-center observational study.

PURPOSE: We aimed to investigate the impact of post-thrombectomy isolated subarachnoid hemorrhage (i-SAH) and other types of intracranial hemorrhage (o-ICH) on patient's neurological outcomes. METHODS: Stroke data from 2018 to 2022 in a tertiary care center were retrospectively analyzed. Patients with large vessel occlusion from ICA to M2 branch were included. Post-thrombectomy intracranial hemorrhages at 24 h were categorized with Heidelberg Bleeding Classification. Neurological impairment of patients was continuously assessed at admission, at 24 h, 48 h and 72 h, and at discharge. Predictors of i-SAH and o-ICH were assessed. RESULTS: 297 patients were included. i-SAH and o-ICH were found in 12.1% (36/297) and 11.4% (34/297) of patients. Overall, NIHSS of i-SAH patients at discharge were comparable to o-ICH patients (median 22 vs. 21, p = 0.889) and were significantly higher than in non-ICH patients (22 vs. 7, p < 0.001). i-SAH often resulted in abrupt deterioration of patient's neurological symptoms at 24 h after thrombectomy. Compared to non-ICH patients, the occurrence of i-SAH was frequently associated with worse neurological outcome at discharge (median NIHSS increase of 4 vs. decrease of 4, p < 0.001) and higher in-hospital mortality (41.7% vs. 23.8%, p = 0.022). Regardless of successful reperfusion (TICI 2b/3), the beneficial impact of thrombectomy appeared to be outweighed by the adverse effect of i-SAH. Incomplete reperfusion and shorter time from symptom onset to admission were associated with higher probability of i-SAH, whereas longer procedure time and lower baseline ASPECTS were predictive for o-ICH occurrence. CONCLUSION: Post-thrombectomy isolated subarachnoid hemorrhage is a common complication with significant negative impact on neurological outcome.

Impact of obesity-related indicators on first-pass effect in patients with ischemic stroke receiving mechanical thrombectomy.

PURPOSE: The first-pass effect (FPE), defined as complete revascularization after a single thrombectomy pass in large vessel occlusion, is a predictor of good prognosis in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) receiving mechanical thrombectomy (MT). We aimed to evaluate obesity-related indicators if possible be predictors of FPE. METHODS: We consecutively enrolled patients with AIS who were treated with MT between January 2019 and December 2021 at our institution. Baseline characteristics, procedure-related data, and laboratory test results were retrospectively analyzed. A multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the independent predictors of FPE. RESULTS: A total of 151 patients were included in this study, of whom 47 (31.1%) had FPE. After adjusting for confounding factors, the independent predictors of achieving FPE were low levels of body mass index (BMI) (OR 0.85, 95% CI 0.748 to 0.971), non-intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis (OR 4.038, 95% CI 1.46 to 11.14), and non-internal carotid artery occlusion (OR 13.14, 95% CI 2.394 to 72.11). Patients with lower total cholesterol (TC) (< 3.11 mmol/L) were more likely to develop FPE than those with higher TC (≥ 4.63 mmol/L) (OR 4.280; 95% CI 1.24 to 14.74) CONCLUSION: Lower BMI, non-intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis, non-internal carotid artery occlusion, and lower TC levels were independently associated with increased rates of FPE in patients with AIS who received MT therapy. FPE was correlated with better clinical outcomes after MT.

Balloon angioplasty as first-choice recanalization strategy for intracranial atherosclerosis-related emergent large vessel occlusion with small clot burden.

PURPOSE: The optimal primary recanalization strategy for intracranial atherosclerosis-related emergent large vessel occlusion (ICAS-ELVO) remains controversial. We aimed to explore the safety and efficacy of balloon angioplasty as the first-choice recanalization strategy for ICAS-ELVO with small clot burden. METHODS: Consecutive ICAS-ELVO patients presenting with microcatheter "first-pass effect" during endovascular treatment (EVT) were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into preferred balloon angioplasty (PBA) and preferred mechanical thrombectomy (PMT) groups based on the first-choice recanalization strategy. The reperfusion and clinical outcomes between the two groups were compared. RESULTS: Seventy-six patients with ICAS-ELVO involving the microcatheter "first-pass effect" during EVT were enrolled. Compared with patients in the PMT group, those in the PBA group were associated with (i) a higher rate of first-pass recanalization (54.0% vs. 28.9%, p = .010) and complete reperfusion (expanded thrombolysis in cerebral ischemia ≥ 2c; 76.0% vs. 53.8%, p = .049), (ii) shorter puncture-to-recanalization time (49.5 min vs. 89.0 min, p < .001), (iii) lower operation costs (¥48,499.5 vs. ¥ 99,086.0, p < .001), and (iv) better 90-day functional outcomes (modified Rankin scale:0-1; 44.0% vs. 19.2%, p = .032). Logistic regression analysis revealed that balloon angioplasty as the first-choice recanalization strategy was an independent predictor of 90-day excellent functional outcomes for ICAS-ELVO patients with microcatheter "first-pass effect" (adjusted odds ratio = 6.01, 95% confidence interval: 1.15-31.51, p = .034). CONCLUSION: Direct balloon angioplasty potentially improves 90-day functional outcomes for ICAS-ELVO patients with small clot burden, and may be a more appropriate first-choice recanalization strategy than mechanical thrombectomy for these patients.

The utility of NIRS in follow-up of patients with acute ischaemic stroke treated with IV thrombolysis and mechanical thrombectomy in the emergency department.

Revascularization treatments (IV thrombolysis, mechanical thrombectomy) related to ischemic stroke have developed in recent years. With devices such as NIRS, non-invasive monitoring of treatment efficacy is provided. In this study, we aimed to use near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) as an objective monitoring method to see the effect of intravenous (IV) thrombolysis or mechanical thrombectomy treatments applied for cerebral oxygenation in patients with acute ischemic stroke. This study was carried out as a prospective study involving patients admitted to the emergency department in the years 2021-2022. NIRS measured regional oxygen saturation (rSO2) of both hemispheres of the brain before IV thrombolysis treatment, during the treatment at 0. min, 15. min, 30. min, 45. min, 60. min, after the treatment, and before and after the mechanical thrombectomy procedure. The significance level of the change in rSO2 values measured by NIRS was examined. 80 patients were included in the study. IV thrombolysis was applied to 58 patients, mechanical thrombectomy was applied to 5 of them, and both treatments were applied to 17 of them. In patients receiving IV thrombolysis, a significant difference was found in the affected hemisphere between the NIRS values measured at 0.min-15.min, 0.min-30.min, 0.min-45.min, 0.min-60.min, 0.min-post-treatment, 15.min-60.min (p < 0.001). In the patients included in the study, there was a strong and significant negative correlation between the deltaNIHSS value and the deltaNIRS values in the affected hemisphere (r=- 0.307, p = 0.013). There was a significant increase in the NIRS measurement values during and after the IV thrombolysis treatment in the affected hemisphere in the group with clinical improvement (p < 0.001). It is thought that IV thrombolysis or mechanical thrombectomy treatment applied to patients admitted to the emergency department with acute ischemic stroke can be followed objectively by NIRS.

Outcomes of mechanical thrombectomy in acute stroke patients with atrial fibrillation detected after stroke versus known atrial fibrillation.

We aim to compare the outcomes in patients with atrial fibrillation detected after stroke (AFDAS) and their counterparts with known AF (KAF) presenting with large vessel occlusion (LVO) treated with mechanical thrombectomy (MT). This observational, prospective study included consecutive patients with acute LVO ischemic stroke of the anterior circulation with AFDAS, KAF and without AF. The primary study outcome was functional independence at 90 days after stroke. The secondary study outcomes were variation of the NIHSS score at 24 h, rate of successful reperfusion, death at 90 days and rate of immediate complications post-procedure. Overall, our cohort included 518 patients with acute ischemic stroke and LVO treated with MT, with 289 (56.8%) without a diagnosis of AF; 107 (21%) with AFDAS; 122 (22.2%) with KAF. There was no significant difference in terms of functional independence at 90 days after stroke between the three groups. Regarding the secondary study outcome, the rate of symptomatic intracranial haemorrhage (sICH) and/or parenchymal hematoma (PH) were significantly higher in the group of patients without AF (respectively, P = 0.030 and < 0.010). Logistic regression analysis showed that the subtypes of AF were not statistically significantly associated with functional independence at 90 days after stroke and with the likelihood of any ICH. Our results suggest that the subtypes of AF are not associated with clinical and safety outcomes of MT in patients with acute stroke and LVO. Further studies are needed to confirm our findings.