Mechanical Thrombectomy Workshops Improve Procedural Knowledge and Skills Among Neurointerventional Teams in Low- to Middle-Income Countries.

BACKGROUND: While mechanical thrombectomy (MT) is proven to be lifesaving and disability sparing, there remains a disparity in its access in low- to middle-income countries. We hypothesized that team-based MT workshops would improve MT knowledge and skills. METHODS: We designed a 22-hour MT workshop, conducted as 2 identical events: in English (Jamaica, January 2022) and in Spanish (Dominican Republic, May 2022). The workshops included participating neurointerventional teams (practicing neurointerventionalists, neurointerventional nurses, and technicians) focused on acute stroke due to large vessel occlusion. The course faculty led didactic and hands-on components, covering topics from case selection and postoperative management to device technology and MT surgical techniques. Attendees were evaluated on stroke knowledge and MT skills before and after the course using a multiple choice exam and simulated procedures utilizing flow models under fluoroscopy, respectively. Press conferences for public education with invited government officials were included to raise stroke awareness. RESULTS: Twenty-two physicians and their teams from 8 countries across the Caribbean completed the didactic and hands-on training. Overall test scores (n=18) improved from 67% to 85% (P<0.002). Precourse and postcourse hands-on assessments demonstrated reduced time to completion from 36.5 to 21.1 minutes (P<0.001). All teams showed an improvement in measures of good MT techniques, with 39% improvement in complete reperfusion. Eight teams achieved a Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction score of 3 on pre-course versus 15 of 18 teams on post-course. There was a significant reduction in total potentially dangerous maneuvers (70% pre versus 20% post; P<0.002). Universally, the workshop was rated as satisfactory and likely to change practice in 93% Dominican Republic and 75% Jamaica. CONCLUSIONS: A team-based hands-on simulation approach to MT training is novel, feasible, and effective in improving procedural skills. Participants viewed these workshops as practice-changing and instrumental in creating a pathway for increasing access to MT in low- to middle-income countries.

Cervical Dissection in Patients With Tandem Lesions Is Associated With Distal Embolism and Lower Recanalization Success.

BACKGROUND: Tandem lesions consist of cervical internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis or occlusion, most commonly of atherosclerosis or dissection etiology, plus a large vessel occlusion. In this study, we compare outcomes in patients with atherosclerosis versus dissection of the cervical ICA. METHODS: This multicenter retrospective cohort study includes data from tandem lesion patients who underwent endovascular treatment from 2015 to 2020. Atherosclerosis was defined as ICA stenosis/occlusion associated with a calcified lesion and dissection by the presence of a tapered or flame-shaped lesion and intramural hematoma. Primary outcome: 90-day functional independence (modified Rankin Scale score, 0-2); secondary outcomes: 90-day favorable shift in the modified Rankin Scale score, modified Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction score 2b-3, modified Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction score 2c-3, symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage, parenchymal hematoma type 2, petechial hemorrhage, distal embolization, early neurological improvement, and mortality. Analysis was performed with matching by inverse probability of treatment weighting. RESULTS: We included 526 patients (68 [59-76] years; 31% females); 11.2% presented dissection and 88.8%, atherosclerosis. Patients with dissection were younger, had lower rates of hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, and smoking history. They also exhibited higher rates of ICA occlusion, multiple stents (>1), and lower rates of carotid self-expanding stents. After matching and adjusting for covariates, there were no differences in 90-day functional independence. The rate of successful recanalization was significantly lower in the dissection group (adjusted odds ratio, 0.38 [95% CI, 0.16-0.91]; P=0.031), which also had significantly higher rates of distal emboli (adjusted odds ratio, 2.53 [95% CI, 1.15-5.55]; P=0.021). There were no differences in other outcomes. Acute ICA stenting seemed to increase the effect of atherosclerosis in successful recanalization. CONCLUSIONS: This study reveals that among patients with acute stroke with tandem lesions, cervical ICA dissection is associated with higher rates of distal embolism and lower rates of successful recanalization than atherosclerotic lesions. Using techniques to minimize the risk of distal embolism may mitigate this contrast. Further prospective randomized trials are warranted to fully understand these associations.

Safety Outcomes of Mechanical Thrombectomy Versus Combined Thrombectomy and Intravenous Thrombolysis in Tandem Lesions.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to describe the safety and efficacy of mechanical thrombectomy (MT) with or without intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) for patients with tandem lesions and whether using intraprocedural antiplatelet therapy influences MT's safety with IVT treatment. METHODS: This is a subanalysis of a pooled, multicenter cohort of patients with acute anterior circulation tandem lesions treated with MT from 16 stroke centers between January 2015 and December 2020. Primary outcomes included symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH) and parenchymal hematoma type 2. Additional outcomes included hemorrhagic transformation, successful reperfusion (modified Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction score 2b-3), complete reperfusion (modified Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction score 3), favorable functional outcome (90-day modified Rankin Scale score 0-2), excellent functional outcome (90-day modified Rankin Scale score 0-1), in-hospital mortality, and 90-day mortality. RESULTS: Of 691 patients, 512 were included (218 underwent IVT+MT and 294 MT alone). There was no difference in the risk of sICH (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.22 [95% CI, 0.60-2.51]; P=0.583), parenchymal hematoma type 2 (aOR, 0.99 [95% CI, 0.47-2.08]; P=0.985), and hemorrhagic transformation (aOR, 0.95 [95% CI, 0.62-1.46]; P=0.817) between the IVT+MT and MT alone groups after adjusting for confounders. Administration of IVT was associated with an increased risk of sICH in patients who received intravenous antiplatelet therapy (aOR, 3.04 [95% CI, 0.99-9.37]; P=0.05). The IVT+MT group had higher odds of a 90-day modified Rankin Scale score 0 to 2 (aOR, 1.72 [95% CI, 1.01-2.91]; P=0.04). The odds of successful reperfusion, complete reperfusion, 90-day modified Rankin Scale score 0 to 1, in-hospital mortality, or 90-day mortality did not differ between the IVT+MT versus MT alone groups. CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed that the combination of IVT with MT for tandem lesions did not increase the overall risk of sICH, parenchymal hematoma type 2, or overall hemorrhagic transformation independently of the cervical revascularization technique used. However, intraprocedural intravenous antiplatelet therapy during acute stent implantation might be associated with an increased risk of sICH in patients who received IVT before MT. Importantly, IVT+MT treatment was associated with a higher rate of favorable functional outcomes at 90 days.

Low dose intravenous cangrelor versus glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors in endovascular treatment of tandem lesions.

OBJECTIVES: Intravenous (IV) periprocedural antiplatelet therapy (APT) for patients undergoing acute carotid stenting during mechanical thrombectomy (MT) is not fully investigated. We aimed to compare the safety profile of IV low dose cangrelor versus IV glycoprotein IIb/IIIa (GP-IIb/IIIa) inhibitors in patients with acute tandem lesions (TLs). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively identified all cases of periprocedural administration of IV cangrelor or GP-IIb/IIIa inhibitors during acute TLs intervention from a multicenter collaboration. Patients were divided in two groups according to the IV APT regimen at the time of MT procedure: 1) cangrelor and 2) GP-IIb/IIIa inhibitors (tirofiban and eptifibatide). Safety outcomes included rates of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH), parenchymal hematoma type 1 and 2 (PH1-PH2), and hemorrhagic infarction type 1 and 2 (HI1-HI2). RESULTS: Sixty-three patients received IV APT during MT, 30 were in the cangrelor group, and 33 were in the GP-IIb/IIIa inhibitors group. There were no significant differences in the rates of sICH (3.3% vs. 12.1%, aOR=0.21, 95%CI 0.02-2.18, p=0.229), HI1-HI2 (21.4% vs 42.4%, aOR=0.21, 95%CI 0.02-2.18, p=0.229), and PH1-PH2 (17.9% vs. 12.1%, aOR=1.63, 95%CI 0.29-9.83, p=0.577) between both treatment groups. However, there was a trend toward reduced hemorrhage rates with cangrelor. Cangrelor was associated with increased odds of complete reperfusion (aOR=5.86; 95%CI 1.57-26.62;p=0.013). CONCLUSIONS: In this retrospective non-randomized cohort study, our findings suggest that low dose cangrelor has similar safety and increased rate of complete reperfusion compared to IV GP-IIb/IIIa inhibitors. Further prospective studies are warranted to confirm this association.

Long-Term Functional Outcome of Telestroke Patients Treated Under Drip-and-Stay Paradigm Compared with Patients Treated in a Comprehensive Stroke Center: A Single Center Experience.

Objective:The purpose of this study is to compare long-term functional outcome for patients who receive intravenous alteplase (tPA) at a primary stroke center (spoke) through telestroke consultations and remain at the spoke (drip-and-stay) with that for patients who receive tPA at the comprehensive stroke center (hub).Methods:Data on baseline characteristics, stroke severity on presentation, door to needle (DTN) time, the rate of symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (sICH) and long-term outcomes for all patients evaluated at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) hub and MUSC telestroke network spoke sites between January 2016 and March 2017 were collected. Eligible patients received tPA at either the spoke or hub location during the study period. Patients who received mechanical thrombectomy were excluded from the study. Functional outcome was assessed with 90-day modified Rankin Scale (mRS). Descriptive statistics were used to compare patient demographics and clinical outcomes across the two groups.Results:Total of 426 were identified (60 hub patients and 366 drip-and-stay patients). There were no significant differences in patient age, sex, admission National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), sICH, or DTN times between the two groups. mRS of 0-2 at 90 days was achieved in 37 (61.7%) of the hub and in 255 (69.7%) in the drip-and-stay patients (p = 0.216). On regression analysis, there was no difference in the adjusted relative risk of having a lower mRS between drip-and-stay and hub patients (incidence rate ratio 1.14, p = 0.278, 95% confidence interval [0.9-1.43]).Conclusion:Our study shows no difference in the long-term functional outcome for patients who received tPA through telestroke consultation and remained at spoke hospitals (drip-and-stay) compared with patients who received tPA at the hub.

Disparities in Inter-hospital Helicopter Transportation for Hispanics by Geographic Region: A Threat to Fairness in the Era of Thrombectomy.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Mechanical thrombectomy (MT) is a time-dependent therapy that is only available at a limited number of hospitals. As such, patients that live at a considerable distance of those specialized centers often require rapid interhospital emergent evacuation with Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) to be considered for MT. It is not known whether the use of HEMS is equitable across different groups of patients. METHODS: Acute ischemic stroke patients emergently transferred to another facility were identified in a retrospective review of a large Medicare claims database. Mode of transportation (HEMS, advanced, or basic ground ambulances) was determined by CPT codes. Distance from patient's residence to the closest center with MT capabilities was calculated. Generalized linear mixed logit models were used to determine the odds of HEMS relative to ground services for Hispanic and non-Hispanic black (NHB) patients relative to non-Hispanic white (NHW) patients while controlling for confounders. RESULTS: A total of 8027 patients that underwent emergent interhospital transportation were analyzed. HEMS utilization was 18.1% for NHB, 20.6% for Hispanics, and 21.6% for NHW (P = .054). In adjusted analyses for confounders, including distance to a MT-capable hospital, Hispanic patients were less likely than NHWs to be transported by HEMS. While that association had marginal significance for the whole United States (OR = .76; 95% CI, .57-1.01; P = .055), it was statistically significant for patients living in the southern region of the United States (OR = .6; 95% CI, .40-.92; P = .019). DISCUSSION: Our findings suggest there is a disparity in the use of HEMS in Hispanic stroke patients compared to NHW. Such a disparity may delay arrival to a MT-capable hospital, delay treatment times, or lead to ineligibility for MT altogether. Given the known benefit of MT and known existing disparities in stroke treatment and outcomes, it is important to further investigate and address disparities in mode of interhospital transportation.

Intracranial Large and Medium Artery Atherosclerotic Disease and Stroke.

BACKGROUND: Intracranial atherosclerotic disease (ICAD) is one of the most common causes of stroke worldwide and is associated with a high risk of stroke recurrence. We sought to perform a literature review of the epidemiology, pathophysiology, and treatment options. METHODS: A literature review on recent studies evaluating the epidemiology, risk factors, clinical presentation, and treatment was reviewed. ICAD is particularly common in Africa and Asia. RESULTS: Although the medical management of ICAD has improved over the past decade, a subgroup of patients with ICAD remains at significantly high risk of stroke recurrence, and newer studies that aim at improving our understanding of ICAD and evaluating new treatment methods are currently under way. CONCLUSION: ICAD remains a common cause of stroke worldwide; further studies evaluating treatment options to prevent stroke recurrence are urgently needed.

Variability in the Use of Platelet Transfusion in Patients with Intracerebral Hemorrhage: Observations from the Ethnic/Racial Variations of Intracerebral Hemorrhage Study.

BACKGROUND: We examined platelet transfusion (PTx) in the Ethnic/Racial Variations of Intracerebral Hemorrhage (ERICH) study, hypothesizing that rates of PTx would vary among hospitals and depend on whether patients were on an antiplatelet therapy or underwent intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) surgical treatment. METHODS: The ERICH study is a prospective observational study evaluating risk factors for ICH among whites, blacks, and Hispanics. We identified factors associated with PTx, examined practice patterns of PTx across the United States, and explored the association of PTx with mortality and poor outcome (modified Rankin Scale score 4-6). RESULTS: Nineteen centers enrolled 2572 ICH cases; 11.7% received PTx. Factors significantly associated with PTx were antiplatelet use before onset (odds ratio [OR], 5.02; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.81-6.61, P < .0001), thrombocytopenia (OR, 13.53; 95% CI, 8.43-21.72, P < .0001), and ventriculostomy placement (OR, 1.85; 95% CI, 1.36-2.52, P < .0001). Blacks were less likely (OR, .57; 95% CI, .41-0.80) to receive PTx. Among patients who received PTx, 42.4% were not on an antiplatelet therapy before onset. Twenty-three percent of patients on antiplatelet therapy received PTx, but percentages varied from 0% to 71% across centers. There was no difference in mortality or poor outcome at 3 months between patients receiving PTx and those who did not. CONCLUSIONS: The frequency of PTx for ICH varies across academic centers. Thrombocytopenia, antiplatelet use, vascular risk factors, and ventriculostomy placement were associated with PTx. PTx was not associated with improved outcomes. We anticipate reduced PTx use over time given recent clinical trial data suggesting its use could be harmful; however, the issue of whether surgical management warrants PTx remains.

Patients' perceptions on outcomes after mechanical thrombectomy in acute ischemic stroke.

BACKGROUND: The modified Rankin Scale (mRS) is a clinician-reported scale that measures the degree of disability in patients who suffered a stroke. Patients' perception of a meaningful recovery from severe stroke, expected value of a stroke intervention, and the effect of disparities are largely unknown. METHODS: We conducted a survey of patients, their family members, and accompanying visitors to understand their personal preferences and expectations for acute strokes potentially eligible for acute endovascular intervention using a hypothetical scenario of a severe stroke in a standardized questionnaire. RESULTS: Of 164 survey respondents, 65 (39.6%) were the patient involved, 93 (56.7%) were a family member, and six (3.7%) were accompanied visitors (friends, other). Minimally acceptable disability after a stroke intervention was considered as mRS 2 by 42 respondents (25.6%), as mRS 3 by 79 (48.2%), and as mRS 4 by 43 (26.2%) respondents. Race was associated with different views on this question (p < 0.001; Hispanic and Black patients being more likely to accept disability than Caucasian and Asian patients), while sex (p = 0.333) and age (p = 0.560) were not. Sixty-three respondents (38.4%) viewed minimally acceptable probability of improvement with an intervention as over 50%, 57 (34.8%) as 10-50%, and 44 (26.8%) as less than 10%. CONCLUSIONS: A wide range of acceptable outcomes were reported regardless of gender or age. However, race was associated with different acceptable outcome. This is an important finding to demonstrate because of the persistent racial and ethnic disparities in the utilization of endovascular therapy for acute stroke in the United States.

Anesthetic management for large vessel occlusion acute ischemic stroke with tandem lesions.

BACKGROUND: Endovascular therapy (EVT) stands as an established and effective intervention for acute ischemic stroke in patients harboring tandem lesions (TLs). However, the optimal anesthetic strategy for EVT in TL patients remains unclear. This study aims to evaluate the impact of distinct anesthetic techniques on outcomes in acute ischemic stroke patients presenting with TLs. METHODS: Patient-level data, encompassing cases from 16 diverse centers, were aggregated for individuals with anterior circulation TLs treated between January 2015 and December 2020. A stratification based on anesthetic technique was conducted to distinguish between general anesthesia (GA) and procedural sedation (PS). Multivariable logistic regression models were built to discern the association between anesthetic approach and outcomes, including the favorable functional outcome defined as 90-day modified Rankin Score (mRS) of 0-2, ordinal shift in mRS, symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH), any hemorrhage, successful recanalization (modified Thrombolysis In Cerebral Infarction (mTICI) score ≥2b), excellent recanalization (mTICI 3), first pass effect (FPE), early neurological improvement (ENI), door-to-groin and recanalization times, intrahospital mortality, and 90-day mortality. RESULTS: Among 691 patients from 16 centers, 595 patients (GA 38.7%, PS 61.3%) were included in the final analysis. There were no significant differences noted in the door-to-groin time (80 (46-117.5) mins vs 54 (21-100), P=0.607) and groin to recanalization time (59 (39.5-85.5) mins vs 54 (38-81), P=0.836) among the groups. The odds of a favorable functional outcome (36.6% vs 52.6%; adjusted OR (aOR) 0.56, 95% CI 0.38 to 0.84, P=0.005) and a favorable shift in the 90-day mRS (aOR 0.71, 95% CI 0.51 to 0.99, P=0.041) were lower in the GA group. No differences were noted for sICH (3.9% vs 4.7%, P=0.38), successful recanalization (89.1% vs 86.5%, P=0.13), excellent recanalization (48.5% vs 50.3%, P=0.462), FPE (53.6% vs 63.4%, P=0.05), ENI (38.9% vs 38.8%, P=0.138), and 90-day mortality (20.3% vs 16.3%, P=0.525). An interaction was noted for favorable functional outcome between the type of anesthesia and the baseline Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score (ASPECTS) (P=0.033), degree of internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis (P<0.001), and ICA stenting (P<0.001), and intraparenchymal hematoma between the type of anesthesia and intravenous thrombolysis (P=0.019). In a subgroup analysis, PS showed better functional outcomes in patients with age ≤70 years, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score <15, and acute ICA stenting. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that the preference for PS not only aligns with comparable procedural safety but is also associated with superior functional outcomes. These results prompt a re-evaluation of current anesthesia practices in EVT, urging clinicians to consider patient-specific characteristics when determining the optimal anesthetic strategy for this patient population.

Safety and effectiveness assessment of the surpass evolve (SEASE): a post-market international multicenter study.

BACKGROUND: Flow diverters are the first-line treatment for specific intracranial aneurysms (iA). Surpass Evolve (SE) is a new-generation 64-wire flow diverter with a high braid angle. Current literature on the SE is limited. We aimed to report the first international real-world experience evaluating the safety and effectiveness of the SE. METHODS: The Safety and Effectiveness Assessment of the Surpass Evolve (SEASE) was a multicenter retrospective international post-marketing cohort study including consecutive patients treated with SE for iAs between 2020 and 2022. Demographic, clinical, and angiographic data were collected. Primary effectiveness was independent core lab adjudicated complete occlusion rates (Raymond-Roy Class 1) at last follow-up. Primary safety were major ischemic/hemorrhagic events and mortality. RESULTS: In total, 305 patients with 332 aneurysms underwent SE implantation. The patients had a median age of 59 [50-67] years, and 256 (83.9%) were female. The baseline modified Rankin scale score was 0-2 in 291 patients (96.7%). Most aneurysms were unruptured (285, 93.4%) and saccular (309, 93.1%). Previous treatment was present in 76 (22.9%) patients. The median aneurysm size was 5.1 [3.4-9.0] mm, and the median neck width was 3.6 [2.7-5.1] mm. Most aneurysms were in the internal carotid artery C6 ophthalmic segment (126, 38.0%), followed by the communicating segment (58, 17.5%). At median 10.2 [6.4-12.9] months follow-up, 233 (73.0%) aneurysms achieved complete occlusion. After adjusting for confounders, complete occlusion remained consistent. Major stroke and procedure-related mortality were reported in 6 (2%) and 2 (0.7%) cases, respectively. CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate that SE has a consistently high effectiveness and favorable safety for the treatment of iAs.

Endovascular treatment of acute ischemic stroke patients with tandem lesions: antegrade versus retrograde approach.

OBJECTIVE: The optimal technique for treating tandem lesions (TLs) with endovascular therapy is debatable. The authors evaluated the functional, safety, and procedural outcomes of different approaches in a multicenter study. METHODS: Anterior circulation TL patients treated from January 2015 to December 2020 were divided on the basis of antegrade versus retrograde approach and included. The evaluated outcomes were favorable modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score (mRS score 0-2) at 3 months, ordinal shift in mRS score, successful recanalization, excellent recanalization, first-pass effect (FPE), time from groin puncture to successful recanalization, symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH), and 90-day mortality. RESULTS: Among 691 patients treated at 16 centers, 286 patients (174 antegrade and 112 retrograde approach patients) with acute stenting were included in the final analysis. There were no significant differences in mRS score 0-2 at 90 days (52.2% vs 50.0%, adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.83, 95% CI 0.42-1.56, p = 0.54), favorable shift in 90-day mRS score (aOR 1.03, 95% CI 0.66-1.29, p = 0.11), sICH (4.0% vs 4.5%, aOR 0.64, 95% CI 0.24-1.51, p = 0.45), successful recanalization (89.4% vs 93%, aOR 0.49, 95% CI 0.19-1.28, p = 0.19), excellent recanalization (51.4% vs 58.9%, aOR 0.59, 95% CI 0.40-1.07, p = 0.09), FPE (58.3% vs 69.7%, aOR 0.62, 95% CI 0.44-1.15, p = 0.21), and mortality at 90 days (16.6% vs 14.0%, aOR 0.94, 95% CI 0.35-2.44, p = 0.81) between the groups. The median (interquartile range) groin puncture to recanalization time was significantly longer in the antegrade group (59 [43-90] minutes vs 49 [35-73] minutes, p = 0.036). CONCLUSIONS: The retrograde approach was associated with faster recanalization times with a similar functional and safety profile when compared with the antegrade approach in patients with acute ischemic stroke with TL.

Mediation Analysis of Acute Carotid Stenting in Tandem Lesions: Effect on Functional Outcome in a Multicenter Registry.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Current evidence suggests that acute carotid artery stenting (CAS) for cervical lesions is associated with better functional outcomes in patients with acute stroke with tandem lesions (TLs) treated with endovascular therapy (EVT). However, the underlying causal pathophysiologic mechanism of this relationship compared with a non-CAS strategy remains unclear. We aimed to determine whether, and to what degree, reperfusion mediates the relationship between acute CAS and functional outcome in patients with TLs. METHODS: This subanalysis stems from a multicenter retrospective cohort study across 16 stroke centers from January 2015 to December 2020. Patients with anterior circulation TLs who underwent EVT were included. Successful reperfusion was defined as a modified Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction scale ≥2B by the local team at each participating center. Mediation analysis was conducted to examine the potential causal pathway in which the relationship between acute CAS and functional outcome (90-day modified Rankin Scale) is mediated by successful reperfusion. RESULTS: A total of 570 patients were included, with a median age (interquartile range) of 68 (59-76), among whom 180 (31.6%) were female. Among these patients, 354 (62.1%) underwent acute CAS and 244 (47.4%) had a favorable functional outcome. The remaining 216 (37.9%) patients were in the non-CAS group. The CAS group had significantly higher rates of successful reperfusion (91.2% vs 85.1%; p = 0.025) and favorable functional outcomes (52% vs 29%; p = 0.003) compared with the non-CAS group. Successful reperfusion was a strong predictor of functional outcome (adjusted common odds ratio [acOR] 4.88; 95% CI 2.91-8.17; p < 0.001). Successful reperfusion partially mediated the relationship between acute CAS and functional outcome, as acute CAS remained significantly associated with functional outcome after adjustment for successful reperfusion (acOR 1.89; 95% CI 1.27-2.83; p = 0.002). Successful reperfusion explained 25% (95% CI 3%-67%) of the relationship between acute CAS and functional outcome. DISCUSSION: In patients with TL undergoing EVT, successful reperfusion predicted favorable functional outcomes when CAS was performed compared with non-CAS. A considerable proportion (25%) of the treatment effect of acute CAS on functional outcome was found to be mediated by improvement of successful reperfusion rates.

Heat stress presenting with encephalopathy and MRI findings of diffuse cerebral injury and hemorrhage.

BACKGROUND: Heat stress results in multiorgan failure and CNS injury. There a few case reports in the literature on the neurological consequences of heat stress. CASE PRESENTATION: We describe a patient with heat stress presenting with encephalopathy and bilateral cerebral, cerebellar, and thalamic lesions and intraventricular hemorrhage on MRI. CONCLUSION: Heat stress should be in the differential diagnosis of patients presenting with encephalopathy and elevated serum inflammatory markers especially if the history suggests a preceding episode of hyperthermia.

A meta-analysis and systematic review of endovascular thrombectomy versus medical management for acute basilar artery occlusion.

OBJECTIVE: Acute basilar artery occlusion (BAO) is a devastating neurologic event. As endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) became more prevalent for anterior circulation strokes, investigations were conducted in the posterior circulation. Its success in improving outcomes compared to standard medical therapy (SMT) after BAO has been debated. METHODS: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of all randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and observational cohort studies evaluating EVT compared to SMT in acute BAO. We queried PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane for studies. Primary outcome was good functional outcome at 90 days (modified Rankin scale (mRS) ≤ 3). We analyzed studies for risk of bias (ROB) and calculated pooled risk ratios (RRs), odds ratios (ORs), and mean differences (MDs) with 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) using the random effects model for our primary outcome and secondary positive outcomes and harms. RESULTS: We identified four RCTs (991 patients randomized) and three cohort studies (1030 patients treated in-trial) that fit inclusion criteria. Three RCTs had low ROB, one had serious ROB. One cohort study had high ROB, one had moderate ROB, and one had low ROB. EVT was statistically significantly more associated with good functional outcome than SMT in RCTs (RR=1.54, 95%CI=1.16-2.04, p = 0.003) and trended towards significance in cohort studies (RR=2.64, 95%CI=0.87-8.00, p = 0.09). Mean mRS at 90 days was lower in EVT patients in RCTs (MD=-0.65, 95%CI=-1.07--0.22, p = 0.003) though not cohort studies (MD =-0.84, 95%CI=-2.48-0.79, p = 0.31). Symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (sICH) was statistically significantly associated with EVT in RCTs (OR=6.36, 95%CI=2.24-18.07, p < 0.001) and statistically non-significantly in cohort studies (OR=4.51, 95CI=1.00-20.33, p = 0.05). Mortality at 90 days was statistically lower with EVT than with SMT in both RCTs (OR=0.76, 95%CI=0.65-0.88, p < 0.001) cohort studies (OR=0.36, 95%CI=0.26-0.50, p < 0.001) CONCLUSION: EVT is associated with greater rates of good functional outcomes and lower rates of death and disability despite higher rates of periprocedural sICH.

Preliminary experience with diffuse correlation spectroscopy in acute ischemic stroke neurointerventional procedures.

BACKGROUND: Diffuse correlation spectroscopy (DCS) is a non-invasive optical technique that enables continuous blood flow measurements in various organs, including the brain. DCS quantitatively measures blood flow from temporal fluctuations in the intensity of diffusely reflected light caused by the dynamic scattering of light from moving red blood cells within the tissue. METHODS: We performed bilateral cerebral blood flow (CBF) measurements using a custom DCS device in patients undergoing neuroendovascular interventions for acute ischemic stroke. Experimental, clinical, and imaging data were collected in a prospective manner. RESULTS: The device was successfully applied in nine subjects. There were no safety concerns or interference with the standard angiography suite or intensive care unit workflow. Six cases were selected for final analysis and interpretation. DCS measurements with photon count rates greater than 30 KHz had sufficient signal-to-noise to resolve blood flow pulsatility. We found an association between angiographic changes in cerebral reperfusion (partial or complete reperfusion established in stroke thrombectomy cases; temporary flow arrest during carotid artery stenting) and those observed intraprocedurally with CBF measurements via DCS. Limitations of the current technology included sensitivity to the interrogated tissue volume under the probe and the effect of local changes in tissue optical properties on the accuracy of CBF estimates. CONCLUSION: Our initial experience with DCS in neurointerventional procedures showed the feasibility of this non-invasive approach in providing continuous measurement of regional CBF brain tissue properties.

Mechanical thrombectomy beyond 24 hours from last known well in tandem lesions: A multicenter cohort study.

BACKGROUND: While recent studies suggest a benefit of mechanical thrombectomy (MT) for the treatment of patients with isolated large vessel occlusions presenting after 24 hours from the last known well (LKW), the effect of MT for acute cervical tandem lesions (TLs) beyond 24 hours remains unknown. We aimed to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of MT beyond 24 hours of LKW in patients with TLs. METHODS: We conducted a subanalysis study of patients with anterior circulation TL enrolled in a large, multicenter registry between January 2015 and December 2020. Patients were divided into 2 groups: MT beyond 24 hours versus MT 0-24-hour window. Outcomes of interest were functional independence (90-day modified Rankin scale 0-2), complete reperfusion (modified thrombolysis in cerebral infarction 3), delta NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS), symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH), parenchymal hematoma 2 (PH2), in-hospital mortality, and 90-day mortality. Inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) was used to balance the groups. RESULTS: Overall, 589 participants were included, with 33 treated beyond 24 hours and 556 treated in the 0-24-hour window. After IPTW, we found no significant difference in the rates of achieving functional independence (odds ratio (OR) = 0.51; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.22-1.16; p = 0.108), complete reperfusion (OR = 1.35; 95% CI 0.60-3.05; p = 0.464), sICH (OR = 1.96; 95% CI 0.37-10.5; p = 0.429), delta NIHSS (ß = -3.61; 95% CI -8.11 to 0.87; p = 0.114), PH2 (OR = 1.46; 95% CI 0.29-7.27; p = 0.642), in-hospital mortality (OR = 1.74; 95% CI 0.52-5.86; p = 0.370), or 90-day mortality (OR = 1.37; 95% CI 0.49-3.83; p = 0.544) across both time windows. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that MT appears to benefit patients with TLs beyond 24 hours from LKW. Future prospective studies are warranted.

Safety Outcomes of Antiplatelet Therapy During Endovascular Treatment of Tandem Lesions in Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients.

Risk of hemorrhage remains with antiplatelet medications required with carotid stenting during endovascular therapy (EVT) for tandem lesion (TLs). We evaluated the safety of antiplatelet regimens in EVT of TLs. This multicenter study included anterior circulation TL patients from 2015 to 2020, stratified by periprocedural EVT antiplatelet strategy: (1) no antiplatelets, (2) single oral, (3) dual oral, and (4) intravenous IV (in combination with single or dual oral). Primary outcome was symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH). Secondary outcomes were any hemorrhage, favorable functional status (mRS 0-2) at 90 days, successful reperfusion (mTICI score ≥ 2b), in-stent thrombosis, and mortality at 90 days. Of the total 691 patients, 595 were included in the final analysis. One hundred and nineteen (20%) received no antiplatelets, 134 (22.5%) received single oral, 152 (25.5%) dual oral, and 196 (31.9%) IV combination. No significant association was found for sICH (ref: no antiplatelet: 5.7%; single:4.2%; aOR 0.64, CI 0.20-2.06, p = 0.45, dual:1.9%; aOR 0.35, CI 0.09-1.43, p = 0.15, IV combination: 6.1%; aOR 1.05, CI 0.39-2.85, p = 0.92). No association was found for parenchymal or petechial hemorrhage. Odds of successful reperfusion were significantly higher with dual oral (aOR 5.85, CI 2.12-16.14, p = 0.001) and IV combination (aOR 2.35, CI 1.07-5.18, p = 0.035) compared with no antiplatelets. Odds of excellent reperfusion (mTICI 2c/3) were significantly higher for cangrelor (aOR 4.41; CI 1.2-16.28; p = 0.026). No differences were noted for mRS 0-2 at 90 days, in-stent thrombosis, and mortality rates. Administration of dual oral and IV (in combination with single or dual oral) antiplatelets during EVT was associated with significantly increased odds of successful reperfusion without an increased rate of symptomatic hemorrhage or mortality in patients with anterior circulation TLs.

Clinical and Safety Outcomes of Endovascular Therapy 6 to 24 Hours After Large Vessel Occlusion Ischemic Stroke With Tandem Lesions.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Effect of endovascular therapy (EVT) in acute large vessel occlusion (LVO) patients with tandem lesions (TLs) within 6-24 hours after last known well (LKW) remains unclear. We evaluated the clinical and safety outcomes among TL-LVO patients treated within 6-24 hours. METHODS: This multicenter cohort was divided into two groups, based on LKW to puncture time: early window (<6 hours), and late window (6-24 hours). Primary clinical and safety outcomes were 90-day functional independence measured by the modified Rankin Scale (mRS: 0-2) and symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH). Secondary outcomes were successful reperfusion (modified Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction score ≥2b), first-pass effect, early neurological improvement, ordinal mRS, and in-hospital and 90-day mortality. RESULTS: Of 579 patients (median age 68, 32.1% females), 268 (46.3%) were treated in the late window and 311 (53.7%) in the early window. Late window group had lower median National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score at admission, Alberta Stroke Program Early Computed Tomography Score, rates of intravenous thrombolysis, and higher rates for perfusion imaging. After adjusting for confounders, the odds of 90-day mRS 0-2 (47.7% vs. 45.0%, adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.71, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.49-1.02), favorable shift in mRS (aOR 0.88, 95% CI 0.44-1.76), and sICH (3.7% vs. 5.2%, aOR 0.56, 95% CI 0.20-1.56) were similar in both groups. There was no difference in secondary outcomes. Increased time from LKW to puncture did not predicted the probability of 90-day mRS 0-2 (aOR 0.99, 95% CI 0.96-1.01, for each hour delay) among patients presenting <24 hours. CONCLUSION: EVT for acute TL-LVO treated within 6-24 hours after LKW was associated with similar rates of clinical and safety outcomes, compared to patients treated within 6 hours.