International Survey of Mechanical Thrombectomy Stroke Systems of Care During COVID-19 Pandemic.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has strained the healthcare systems across the world but its impact on acute stroke care is just being elucidated. We hypothesized a major global impact of COVID-19 not only on stroke volumes but also on various aspects of thrombectomy systems. AIMS: We conducted a convenience electronic survey with a 21-item questionnaire aimed to identify the changes in stroke admission volumes and thrombectomy treatment practices seen during a specified time period of the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: The survey was designed using Qualtrics software and sent to stroke and neuro-interventional physicians around the world who are part of the Global Executive Committee (GEC) of Mission Thrombectomy 2020, a global coalition under the aegis of Society of Vascular and Interventional Neurology, between April 5th and May 15th, 2020. RESULTS: There were 113 responses to the survey across 25 countries with a response rate of 31% among the GEC members. Globally there was a median 33% decrease in stroke admissions and a 25% decrease in mechanical thrombectomy (MT) procedures during the COVID-19 pandemic period until May 15th, 2020 compared to pre-pandemic months. The intubation policy for MT procedures during the pandemic was highly variable across participating centers: 44% preferred intubating all patients, including 25% of centers that changed their policy to preferred-intubation (PI) from preferred non-intubation (PNI). On the other hand, 56% centers preferred not intubating patients undergoing MT, which included 27% centers that changed their policy from PI to PNI. There was no significant difference in rate of COVID-19 infection between PI versus PNI centers (p=0.60) or if intubation policy was changed in either direction (p=1.00). Low-volume (<10 stroke/month) compared with high-volume stroke centers (>20 strokes/month) were less likely to have neurointerventional suite specific written personal protective equipment protocols (74% vs 88%) and if present, these centers were more likely to report them to be inadequate (58% vs 92%). CONCLUSION: Our data provides a comprehensive snapshot of the impact on acute stroke care observed worldwide during the pandemic. Overall, respondents reported decreased stroke admissions as well as decreased cases of MT with no clear preponderance in intubation policy during MT. DATA ACCESS STATEMENT: The corresponding author will consider requests for sharing survey data. The study was exempt from institutional review board approval as it did not involve patient level data.

Treatment and Short-Term Follow-up of Symptomatic Atherosclerotic Intracranial Artery Stenosis by Stent-Assisted Angioplasty.

SUMMARY: Atherosclerotic intracranial artery stenosis can cause hypoperfusion of brain tissues and embolus formation, causing stroke. Conservative medical treatment seemed to have little effect on the natural history and prevent the stroke attack caused by artery stenosis. The purpose of stent-assisted angioplasty is to reconstruct the damaged vessels: the indications, feasibility, effectiveness, complications and follow-up for this new treatment method are discussed. A series of 32 cases with symptomatic intracranial artery stenosis were accepted from 1998 to 2002. The mean age was 42 yrs (31 ~ 76 yr), male/female ratio=23/9. All patients were refractory to optimal medical therapy. Lesions included 12 middle cerebral arteries (37.5%), six basilar arteries (18.75%), three distal ICAs (9.38%) and 12 intracranial Vas (37.5%). All patients were treated by methods of transluminal stent-assisted angioplasty under general anesthesia. Patients were premedicated with Aspirin (300mg/per day) and Ticlopidine (250mg/per day), this was continued for six weeks after the procedure. Medical history, anamnesis, and treatment protocol were reviewed and evaluated retrospectively, shortterm follow-up (2mths ~ 1 yr) was also obtained. Primary clinical presentations were TIAs (21/32, 65.63%), minor stroke ( 8/32, 25%) and severe stroke (3/32, 9.38%). 31 cases (96.86%) were successfully implanted with coronary stents within the stenosed vessels; technical success rate was 96.86%. Instant angiographic results showed the stenosed extent had decreased from 72.36% +/- 5.69 to 10.16% +/- 6.94. One vessel ruptured during the procedure, the patient recovered after surgical repair of the ruptured vessel. Clinical follow-up demonstrated symptoms resolved in most patients (30/32, 93.75%) within the follow- up period, two cases with MCA stenosis had TIAs within two months after the procedure. 12 cases accepted angiographic follow-up.Velocities of stented vessels of five cases (5/21, 23.81%) increased compared to instant results, suggesting restenosis, three of them were confirmed by angiography which included two cases with MCA stenosis (figure 3) and one with distal VA, one of the five cases had recurred TIAs. With the newer generation of coronary stent, this technique seemed safe, feasible and effective to prevent stroke attack, but the indication is very important for the technical success. Restenosis remains a common problem as with coronary stenting. Long-term follow-up will be needed.