Acute stroke care during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ictus Madrid Program recommendations. / Atención al ictus agudo durante la pandemia por COVID-19. Recomendaciones Plan Ictus Madrid.

INTRODUCTION: The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in complete saturation of healthcare capacities, making it necessary to reorganise healthcare systems. In this context, we must guarantee the provision of acute stroke care and optimise code stroke protocols to reduce the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection and rationalise the use of hospital resources. The Madrid Stroke multidisciplinary group presents a series of recommendations to achieve these goals. METHODS: We conducted a non-systematic literature search using the keywords "stroke" and "COVID-19" or "coronavirus" or "SARS-CoV-2." Our literature review also included other relevant studies known to the authors. Based on this literature review, a series of consensus recommendations were established by the Madrid Stroke multidisciplinary group and its neurology committee. RESULTS: These recommendations address 5 main objectives: 1) coordination of action protocols to ensure access to hospital care for stroke patients; 2) recognition of potentially COVID-19-positive stroke patients; 3) organisation of patient management to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection among healthcare professionals; 4) avoidance of unnecessary neuroimaging studies and other procedures that may increase the risk of infection; and 5) safe, early discharge and follow-up to ensure bed availability. This management protocol has been called CORONA (Coordinate, Recognise, Organise, Neuroimaging, At home). CONCLUSIONS: The recommendations presented here may assist in the organisation of acute stroke care and the optimisation of healthcare resources, while ensuring the safety of healthcare professionals.

[Hyperintensity on T2 MRI and size as predictors of obliteration in radiosurgically treated arteriovenous malformations]. / Hiperintensidad en secuencias T2 y tamaño como factores pronósticos de obliteración en malformaciones arteriovenosas tratadas mediante radiocirugía.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine which factors were statistically related to radiological and clinical outcomes following radiosurgical treatment of arteriovenous malformations (AVMs). METHODS: The data of 59 patients receiving radiosurgical treatment at our department were retrospectivelly reviewed. Different clinical and biological data, including Spetzler-Martin grade, the presentation of symptoms, radiation dose, number of isocenters and both radiological and clinical outcome, were subjected to multivariate analysis. RESULTS: AVM obliteration was achieved in 77% of patients, the majority of them occurring between 3-5 years after treatment. Ten patients (17%) showed either acute or delayed complications. Only one patient died due tor hemorrhage during the follow-up after radiosurgery. A multivariate analysis showed that, hyperintensity on T2 MRI and a nidus smaller than 3 cm were the only factors statistically related to oclusion of the AVM (p=0.03 and p=0.05, respectively). CONCLUSION: The nidus size and the development of hyperintensity on T2 MRI after the treatment were the strongest predictive factors of obliteration in our series of AVMs radiosurgically treated. Moreover, given that many AVMs showed complete obliteration between 3-5 years after treatment, we recommend to wait untill 5 years after treatment before considering a new terapeuthic approach in patients showing small residual nidus at control imaging.

[Embolization of indirect carotid-cavernous sinus fistula through the ophthalmic vein]. / Embolización de fístula cavernosa indirecta a través de la vena oftálmica superior.

Indirect or dural carotid cavernous fistulas are abnormal connections between the cavernous sinus and meningeal branches of the external and/or internal carotid arteries. Most of them are idiopathic and occurs spontaneously. Symptoms vary from a tiny episcleral injection to a severe visual loss. Conservative therapy is recomended in cases with few symptoms and no leptomeningeal drainage, as spontaneous resolution is not infrequent. Whenever symptoms worsen, treatment of the fistula should be prescribed. Nowadays, transvenous endovascular treatment consisting of packing the cavernous sinus is the first choice. In most cases, cavernous sinus can be approached through the inferior petrosal sinus. However, sometimes that is not possible, and an approach directly through the superior ophthalmic vein could be necessary. We report a case of a patient with a dural carotid cavernous fistula treated with embolization of the cavernous sinus through the ophthalmic vein.

[Subarachnoid hemorrhage caused by a dissecting carotid artery aneurysm]. / Hemorragia subaracnoidea como forma de presentación de aneurisma disecante carotídeo.

Dissecting aneurysms of the carotid artery as a cause of subarachnoid hemorrhage are rare. However, the association of arterial dissection with the etiology of some aneurysms of the dorsal or anterior wall of the carotid artery, carotid trunk or "blister-like" aneurysms has increased the interest in the description of dissecting aneurysms, as they are difficult to treat and require non-habitual surgical techniques. We present the case of a patient that presented with a poor grade subarachnoid hemorrhage secondary to a right carotid artery dissecting aneurysm characterised in angiography by a carotid artery stenosis accompanied by a post-stenotic dilatation and the finding of a saccular aneurysm that increased in size in the follow-up study. A carotid occlusion test showed an asymmetry in the opacification of the venous phase indicating the need for a revascularization procedure prior to arterial sacrifice. A high flow EC-IC bypass was performed using a saphenous vein graft prior to right carotid artery occlusion without morbidity. Eight months after the procedure the patient is free of neurological deficit. Control image studies demonstrate the resolution of the carotid lesion and the bypass permeability. We discuss the difficulties in the diagnosis of these aneurysms, their clinical and imaging characteristics and the problems related to their treatment as they often require arterial sacrifice with or without prior cerebral revascularization.

[Spontaneous regression of cerebral arteriovenous malformations: case report and review of the literature]. / Regresión espontánea de las malformaciones arteriovenosas cerebrales: presentación de un caso y revisión de la literatura.

Spontaneous regression of intracranial arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) is a rare phenomenon. Such an event is more likely to occur with small AVMs that present with intracranial hemorrhage, which are fed by a unique artery and drained through a single vein. The factors responsible for AVMs regression remain unclear. Thrombosis of the AVM secondary to intracranial hemorrhage ha been the most commonly associated factor. Other possible causes are the gliosis around the clot secondary to repeated frequent microbleedings or occlusion of the feeding arteries by small emboli. We report a new case of spontaneous regression of a AVM and review the literature related to this entity.

Bilateral internal carotid aneurysms presenting as a nonpulsatile parapharyngeal mass: complementary diagnosis by CT, MR imaging, and digital subtraction angiography.

SUMMARY: We report fusiform aneurysms in both internal carotid arteries in a 74-year-old man who presented with a nonpulsatile retropharyngeal mass. Both helical CT and MR imaging disclosed the nature of the lesions. Arteriography, required for therapeutic decisions, confirmed the diagnosis. Because of the rarity of this condition and the potential for misdiagnosis, we describe the findings on complementary radiologic examinations.

Cerebral aneurysm rupture after r-TPA thrombolysis for acute myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: Intracranial hemorrhage is the most dreaded risk of thrombolytic therapy for acute myocardial infarction because of the high mortality and disability rates associated with this complication. Brain structural lesions may predispose a patient to bleeding. To date, aneurysm rupture has not been described as a complication of such therapy. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 66-year-old hypertensive woman was admitted because of chest pain. Myocardial infarction was diagnosed and fibrinolytic therapy with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (r-TPA) was initiated. Eight hours after admission she became unconscious. Brain computed tomography scan showed subarachnoid hemorrhage, and a cerebral arteriography showed an anterior communicating artery aneurysm. Because of her poor clinical condition treatment was postponed. Death occurred 7 days later because of multiorgan failure. CONCLUSIONS: Cerebral aneurysms should be considered as a possible contributing factor to intracranial bleeding after thrombolytic therapy.

[Subarachnoid hemorrhage secondary to dissecting aneurysms of the vertebral artery. Description of 2 cases and review of the literature]. / Hemorragia subaracnoidea secundaria a aneurismas disecantes de la arteria vertebral. Descripción de 2 casos y revisión de la literatura.

UNLABELLED: OBJECTIVES AND INTRODUCTION: The pathogenesis and natural history of intracranial vertebral artery dissection remain uncertain up to now due in part to its relative rarity. In this article we review the state of the art of this process and remark the good outcome obtained with embolization using Guglielmi detachable coiling (GDC). METHODS: Two cases with subarachnoid hemorrhage secondary to rupture of a vertebral dissection aneurysms are described. The first patient initially suffered brain stem infarction, followed by a subarachnoid hemorrhage a year later. The second patient who had a severe subarachnoid hemorrhage with two early rebleedings was successfully treated with embolization using GDC. CONCLUSIONS: Subarachnoid hemorrhage due to rupture of vertebral dissecting aneurysm is a relatively unknown disease with some important aspects that should be known. The high incidence of early rebleeding (up to 60%), makes early diagnosis and treatment important goals. Classically the preferred treatment has been proximal vertebral artery occlusion. However, the recent introduction of embolization with GDC has made possible the occlusion of the dissection with very good final outcome.

Unruptured dural arteriovenous malformation of the transverse-sigmoid sinus presenting with focal symptoms and coma.

We are presenting the case of a 63 year-old man with a dural arteriovenous malformation of the transverse sigmoid sinus who developed focal deficits followed by less localized symptoms such a disorientation, lethargy and eventually comatose status. Initial cerebral angiography showed retrograde filling of the cortical and deep cerebral venous system with marked delay in venous empting. Following embolization clinical symptoms completely cleared at the time that control angiography showed retrograde venous flow turning anterograde. Patient's symptoms recurred four months later when there was a relapse of retrograde cerebral venous drainage at the time he developed thrombosis of the superior longitudinal and right transverse sinuses. Sinus thrombosis and thrombosis of the central retinal artery were coincidental with hypercoagulability related to hyperhomocysteinemia. Since control angiography still showed persistence of the AV shunting radical excision of the involved dural sinuses was performed. The final outcome was excellent. The physiopathological mechanism responsible for neurological deficits in our patient most likely was ischemia of venous origin secondary to venous hypertension resulting from retrograde cerebral venous drainage. The clinical and angiographic presentation in few similar cases reported in the literature is reviewed.

[Arteriovenous malformation of the middle and posterior third section of the corpus callosum treated with embolization and surgery]. / Malformación arteriovenosa de los tercios medio y posterior del cuerpo calloso tratada con embolización y cirugía.

We are presenting the case of a 58 year-old woman with an arteriovenous malformation (AVM) of the middle and posterior thirds of the corpus callosum which had produced two episodes of bleeding before admission to our Department, when the patient was neurologically intact. The nidus was fed by the anterior and posterior pericallosal arteries draining through the left medial atrial vein to the vein of Galen, by parasagittal cortical veins to the superior sagittal sinus and by right temporal veins to the sphenoparietal sinus. The patient underwent embolization of the anterior and posterior feeders in two sessions separated by a week interval, and then the AVM was removed through a left paramedial parietooccipital craniotomy in a single stage. The patient showed transient mild short term memory deficit, but the final outcome was excellent.

[Parasplenial arteriovenous malformations. Report of 15 surgically treated cases]. / Malformaciones arteriovenosas paraesplénicas. A propósito de 15 casos tratados quirúrgicamente.

INTRODUCTION: Yasargil called paraesplenial those AVMs located at the confluence of the hippocampus, the isthmus of the cingulate girus and the girus occipitotemporalis medialis. Large AVMs at this location are among the most difficult to delineate and to treat. OBJECTIVE: Analyze the clinical presentation, the findings in the imaging studies, the surgical management and the final outcome in 15 patients with paraesplenial AVMs treated with embolization (the last 4 cases), and microsurgical removal. RESULTS: Nine patients (60%) were female and 6 males of ages between 15 and 39 years (mean = 24 yrs). Eleven (75%) presented with hemorrhage, (intraventricular in most cases) and the remaining with epilepsy. The Spetzler-Martin grade was II in one Case, III in 5 cases, IV in 8 cases and V in one case. Preoperative embolization clearly improved surgical management. All the patients had complete resection of the lesion, 13 in a single stage and 2 in two stages. The final outcome was good but four patients developed defects of the visual field not seen preoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: The authors comment the peculiarities of paraesplenial AVMs which can be safely and completely removed with microsurgery and the aid of preoperative embolization.

[Idiopathic subarachnoid hemorrhage; comparison of different bleeding patterns and long-term outcome]. / Hemorragia subaracnoidea no filiada: comparación de diferentes patrones de sangrado y evolución a largo plazo.

INTRODUCTION: Idiopathic subarachnoid haemorrhage (ISAH) represents approximately 15-30% of all subarachnoid haemorrhages. On the basis of the diagnostic CT and depending on the location of the subarachnoid bleeding, patients with ISAH may be classified into three groups: a) Patients with normal CT and diagnosis made by lumbar puncture (ISAHNCT); b) patients with a pure perimesencephalic pattern (ISAHPM) and c) patients with a bleeding pattern resembling that of aneurismatic rupture (ISAHA). This classification could permit the establishment of differences in the management and prognosis. OBJECTIVES: To describe the clinical and radiological characteristics of these three classes of patients and analyse their medium and long term outcome and moreover, compare these with those observed in patients suffering aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage (ASAH). MATERIAL AND METHODS: A series of 122 patients consecutively admitted to Hospital 12 de Octubre Madrid between 1990 and 2000 with the diagnosis of ISAH were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were considered to have suffered ISAH when the first complete four vessel angiography did not show the presence of any aneurysm or vascular lesion responsible for the bleeding. Patients were classified depending on the pattern of bleeding into ISAHNCT, ISAHPM as described by Van Gijn et al., and ISAHA. The angiography study was repeated when: a) the first study was incomplete or had poor quality, b) vasospasm was present, c) in those patients who had an aneurysmal pattern of bleeding in the initial CT. Different clinical and radiological characteristics were recorded as well as complications that occurred during the hospital stay. Final outcome was evaluated by means of the Glasgow Outcome Score (GOS). With the purpose of comparing these clinical and radiological characteristics and the outcome of patients with ISAH with those suffering aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage (ASAH), 294 patients diagnosed with ASAH during the same study period were also reviewed. RESULTS: 27% of patients admitted to our hospital with the diagnosis of non-traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhaged were diagnosed as ISAH. Of these, 41% presented with a ISAHA pattern, 39% ISAHPM and 20% ISAHNCT. The average age was similar in the different subgroups of SAH, being around 55 years. There was a greater frequency of male patients in the ISAHNCT and ISAHPM groups. In comparison with ASAH, ISAH characterises by patients presenting with less frequency a bad clinical grade and also loss of consciousness at stroke. There are fewer complications in patients with ISAH than ASAH, with a frequency of rebleeding and ischemia much less (5 and 6% respectively). Within the ISAH group, patients with ISAHA pattern of bleeding present more complications. Outcome is excellent for patients with ISAHNCT and ISAHPM, and rather worse for patients with ISAHA (median followup 5.8 years). CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms that the frequency of ISAH in our environment reaches the higher limit of that shown previously in the literature, replicating the results previously published by our group. Patients with ISAH have a better prognosis and a smaller risk of complications than patients with ASAH, the prognosis of patients with ISAHCTN and ISAHPM being particularly good. Patients with ISAHA present initially with a severe clinical situation, probably related to the bigger amount of bleeding, as well as a higher frequency of systemic complications, cerebral ischemia and hydrocephalus. However, if the absence of vascular lesions is confirmed, the long term prognosis is similar to that of the other subgroups of ISAH.

Dural arteriovenous fistula presenting as brainstem ischaemia.

Dural arteriovenous fistulas presenting with ascending myelopathy are characterised by the presence of an abnormal retrograde drainage through spinal veins. The authors present a case of cranial dural arteriovenous fistula causing brainstem dysfunction secondary to venous hypertension, treated by surgical interruption of the pial venous drainage which resulted in complete clinical and radiological resolution of the brainstem lesion.

A comparison of different grading scales for predicting outcome after subarachnoid haemorrhage.

BACKGROUND: Most scales used to assess prognosis after subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) are based on the level of consciousness of the patient. Based on information from a logistic regression model, Ogilvy et al. developed a new grading scheme (Massachussetts General Hospital (MGH) Scale) which applied a simple scoring method to each prognostic factor considered relevant such as level of consciousness, age, quantity of blood in the first CT scan and size of the aneurysm. The purpose of this study is to introduce a modified version of the MGH scale, built up using factors applicable to every patient suffering SAH, and compare this new scale to the World Federation of Neurological Surgeons scale (WFNS), the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) scale for SAH and the MGH scale. METHOD: A series of 442 patients consecutively admitted to Hospital 12 de Octubre between January 1990 and September 2001 with the diagnosis of spontaneous SAH were retrospectively reviewed. Outcome was assessed by means of the Glasgow Outcome Scale measured six months after hospital discharge. Differences between grades of the WFNS, the GCS scale for SAH, the MGH scale and the new scale were computed by chi2 statistics. ROC curves were plotted for the different scales and their areas compared. FINDINGS: Both WFNS and GCS scales fail to present significant differences between most of their grades, while the proposed scale shows a constant inter-grade significant difference in predicting outcome. The proposed scale presents a significantly higher prognostic efficacy in the whole series of patients suffering spontaneous SAH, patients with idiopathic subarachnoid haemorrhage (ISAH) and patients with confirmed aneurysmal SAH. The MGH scale is not applicable to some groups of patients suffering SAH. INTERPRETATION: Grading scales including additional factors to the level of consciousness show higher prognostic efficacy. The proposed modification of the MGH scale makes it applicable to every patient suffering SAH without losing its prediction capability.

Prognostic factors on hospital admission after spontaneous subarachnoid haemorrhage.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Factors related to prognosis after subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) have been mainly extracted from surgical series, and only few authors have considered these factors in total management or population series. Though the level of consciousness is a major determinant of outcome after subarachnoid haemorrhage, there is not a consensus about which classification should be used to define it. The objective of this study was twofold. Firstly to find which factors recorded on hospital admission relate to outcome determining their relative importance in a non-selected series of patients suffering from aneurysmal SAH admitted to our centre, and secondly to assess the validity of the WFNS clinical scale for predicting the final result. METHODS: A series of 294 patients consecutively admitted to Hospital 12 de Octubre Madrid between January 1990 and June 2000 with the diagnosis of aneurysmal SAH were retrospectively reviewed. All factors possibly related to prognosis were recorded on hospital admission. Outcome was measured by means of the Glasgow Outcome Scale measured one month after hospital discharge. Relationship between factors and outcome was evaluated by univariate and logistic regression multivariate analysis. RESULTS: Although several factors, appeared related to prognosis in the univariate analysis, only the age. the level of consciousness defined by the WFNS scale and the presence of global brain hypodensity on the initial CT scan had a significant prognostic influence in the logistic regression model. Global brain hypodensity was strongly related to mortality. Since a number of factors associated with poor outcome in the univariate analysis are related to age, their influence could be explained by the difficulty of recovery of the ageing brain. The WFNS grading scale failed to predict significant differences in outcome between some of its grades. CONCLUSIONS: Age and clinical grade on admission are the most important factors influencing the final outcome of patients suffering aneurysmal SAH. A reappraisal of the WFNS grading scale should be considered as no significant differences in outcome were found between some of its grades.