Changes in cognitive function after thoracoscopic and catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation.

BACKGROUND: Comparative data regarding the effect of percutaneous and thoracoscopic ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF) on cognitive function are very limited. The aim of the study was to determine and compare the effect of both types of ablations on patient cognitive functions in the mid-term. METHODS: Patients with AF indicated for ablation procedure were included. Forty-six patients underwent thoracoscopic, off-pump ablation using the COBRA Fusion radiofrequency system, followed by a catheter ablation three months afterward (Hybrid group). A comparative cohort of 53 AF patients underwent pulmonary vein isolation only (PVI group). Neuropsychological examinations were done before and nine months after the surgical or catheter ablation procedure. Neuropsychological testing comprised 13 subtests of seven domains, and the results were expressed as post-operative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) nine months after the procedure. RESULTS: Patients in both groups were similar with respect to the baseline clinical characteristics; only non-paroxysmal AF was more common in the hybrid group (98% vs. 34%). Major POCD was present in eight (17.4%) of hybrid patients versus three (5.7%) of PVI patients (p = 0.11), combined (major/minor) worsened cognitive decline was present in 10 (21.7%) hybrid patients versus three (5.6%) PVI patients (p = 0.034). On the other hand, combined (major/minor) improvement was present in 15 (32.6%) hybrid patients versus nine (16.9%) patients in the PVI group (p = 0.099). CONCLUSION: Hybrid ablation, a combination of thoracoscopic and percutaneous ablation, is associated with a higher risk of cognitive decline compared to sole percutaneous ablation.

Prevalence of myocardial injury in patients after acute ischaemic stroke according to standard criteria.

This study examined the prevalence of acute and chronic myocardial injury according to standard criteria in patients after acute ischaemic stroke (AIS) and its relation to stroke severity and short-term prognosis. Between August 2020 and August 2022, 217 consecutive patients with AIS were enrolled. Plasma levels of high-sensitive cardiac troponin I (hs-cTnI) were measured in blood samples obtained at the time of admission and 24 and 48 h later. The patients were divided into three groups according to the Fourth Universal Definition of Myocardial Infarction: no injury, chronic injury, and acute injury. Twelve-lead ECGs were obtained at the time of admission, 24 and 48 h later, and on the day of hospital discharge. A standard echocardiographic examination was performed within the first 7 days of hospitalization in patients with suspected abnormalities of left ventricular function and regional wall motion. Demographic characteristics, clinical data, functional outcomes, and all-cause mortality were compared between the three groups. The National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) at the time of admission and the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) 90 days following hospital discharge were used to assess stroke severity and outcome. Elevated hs-cTnI levels were measured in 59 patients (27.2%): 34 patients (15.7%) had acute myocardial injury and 25 patients (11.5%) had chronic myocardial injury within the acute phase after ischaemic stroke. An unfavourable outcome, evaluated based on the mRS at 90 days, was associated with both acute and chronic myocardial injury. Myocardial injury was also strongly associated with all-cause death, with the strongest association in patients with acute myocardial injury, at 30 days and at 90 days. Kaplan-Meier survival curves showed that all-cause mortality was significantly higher in patients with acute and chronic myocardial injury than in patients without myocardial injury (P < 0.001). Stroke severity, evaluated with the NIHSS, was also associated with acute and chronic myocardial injury. A comparison of the ECG findings between patients with and without myocardial injury showed a higher occurrence in the former of T-wave inversion, ST segment depression, and QTc prolongation. In echocardiographic analysis, a new abnormality in regional wall motion of the left ventricle was identified in six patients. Chronic and acute myocardial injury with hs-cTnI elevation after AIS are associated with stroke severity, unfavourable functional outcome, and short-term mortality.

Direct transfer of acute stroke patients to angiography suites equipped with flat-detector computed tomography: literature review and initial single-centre experience.

Background: Time is brain! This paradigm is forcing the development of strategies with potential to shorten the time from symptom onset to recanalization. One of these strategies is to transport select patients with acute ischaemic stroke directly to an angio-suite equipped with flat-detector computed tomography (FD-CT) to exclude intracranial haemorrhage, followed directly by invasive angiography and mechanical thrombectomy if large-vessel occlusion (LVO) is confirmed. Aim: To present existing published data about the direct transfer (DT) of stroke patients to angio-suites and to describe our initial experience with this stroke pathway. Methods: We performed a systematic PubMed search of trials that described DT of stroke patients to angio-suites and summarized the results of these trials. In January 2020, we implemented a new algorithm for acute ischaemic stroke care in our stroke centre. Select patients suitable for DT (National Institute of Health Stroke Scale score ≥10, time from symptom onset to door <4.5 h) were referred by neurologists directly to an angio-suite equipped with FD-CT. Patients treated using this algorithm were analysed and compared with patients treated using the standard protocol including CT and CT angiography in our centre. Results: We identified seven trials comparing the DT protocol with the standard protocol in stroke patients. Among the 628 patients treated using the DT protocol, 104 (16.5%) did not have LVO and did not undergo endovascular treatment (EVT). All the trials demonstrated a significant reduction in door-to-groin time with DT, compared with the standard protocol. This reduction ranged from 22 min (DT protocol: 33 min; standard protocol: 55 min) to 59 min (DT protocol: 22 min; standard protocol: 81 min). In three of five trials comparing the 90-day modified Rankin scale scores between the DT and standard imaging groups, this reduction in ischaemic time translated into better clinical outcomes, whereas the two other trials reported no such difference in scores. Between January 2020 and October 2021, 116 patients underwent EVT for acute ischaemic stroke in our centre. Among these patients, 65 (56%) met the criteria for DT (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score >10, symptom onset-to-door time <4.5 h), but only 7 (10.8%) were transported directly to the angio-suite. The reasons that many patients who met the criteria were not transported directly to the angio-suite were lack of personnel trained in FD-CT acquisition outside of working hours, ongoing procedures in the angio-suite, contraindication to the DT protocol due to atypical clinical presentation, and neurologist's decision for obtain complete neurological imaging. All seven patients who were transported directly to the angio-suite had LVOs. The median time from door-to-groin-puncture was significantly lower with the DT protocol compared with the standard protocol {29 min [interquartile range (IQR): 25-31 min] vs. 71 min [IQR: 55-94 min]; P < 0.001}. None of the patients had symptomatic intracranial haemorrhage in the DT protocol group, compared with 7 (6.4%) patients in the standard protocol group. Direct transfer of acute ischaemic stroke patients to the angio-suite equipped with FD-CT seems to reduce the time from patient arrival in the hospital to groin puncture. This reduction in the ischaemic time translates into better clinical outcomes. However, more data are needed to confirm these results.

Clinical and radiological factors predicting stroke outcome after successful mechanical intervention in anterior circulation.

The recanalization effect of large-vessel occlusion (LVO) in anterior circulation is well documented but only some patients benefit from endovascular treatment. We analysed clinical and radiological factors determining clinical outcome after successful mechanical intervention. We included 146 patients from the Prague 16 study enrolled from September 2012 to December 2020, who had initial CT/CTA examination and achieved good recanalization status after mechanical intervention (TICI 2b-3). One hundred and six (73%) patients achieved a good clinical outcome (modified Rankin Scale 0-2 in 3 months). It was associated with age, leptomeningeal collaterals (LC), onset to intervention time, ASPECTS, initial NIHSS, and leukoaraiosis (LA) in univariate analysis. The regression model identified good collateral status [odds ratio (OR) 5.00, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.91-13.08], late thrombectomy (OR 0.24, 95% CI 0.09-0.65), LA (OR 0.44, 95% CI 0.19-1.00), ASPECTS (OR 1.45, 95% CI 1.08-1.95), and NIHSS score (OR 0.86, 95% CI 0.78-0.95) as independent outcome determinants. In the late thrombectomy subgroup, 14 out of 33 patients (42%) achieved a favourable clinical outcome, none of whom with poor collateral status. The presence of LC and absence of LA predicts a good outcome in acute stroke patients after successful recanalization of LVO in anterior circulation. Late thrombectomy was associated with higher rate of unfavourable clinical outcome. Nevertheless, collateral status in this subgroup was validated as a reliable selection criterion.

Spontaneous spinal epidural haematoma: management and main risk factors in era of anticoagulant / antiplatelet treatment.

AIM OF THE STUDY: Spontaneous spinal epidural haematomas (SSEH) are rare nosological units wherein acute collections of blood develop in the spinal canal. SSEH are usually manifested by sudden severe back pain accompanied by the development of neurological symptoms. In this study, we retrospectively describe management and the main risk factors of SSEH in a series of 14 cases. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Between 2010 and 2019, we examined 14 patients (age range 17-89 years, 10 women) diagnosed with SSEH. Eight cases were patients using anticoagulant therapies (six warfarin, one dabigatran, one apixaban) and two others were using ASA of 100 mg/day. The exact localisation and extent of changes was determined from acute magnetic resonance imaging. Three people using warfarin had INR values higher than 3.0 at the time of their diagnosis. RESULTS: Ten patients (71%) were taking oral anticoagulants or antiplatelet agents. In seven patients, SSEH were localised in the lower cervical/thoracic spine. Ten patients (71%) had arterial hypertension. Six patients underwent acute surgery due to rapidly developing spinal cord compression. Eight patients (57%) with slight or mild neurological symptoms were successfully managed without surgery. CONCLUSIONS: SSEH should be suspected in any patient receiving anticoagulant/antiplatelet agents who complains of sudden, severe back pain accompanied by neurological symptoms. SSEH is mostly localised in the lower cervical/thoracic spine. Arterial hypertension appears to be a risk factor of SSEH. Early decompression is an important therapeutic approach; in cases with minor neurological deficits, conservative treatment may be chosen.

Diagnosis of cerebral venous thrombosis: a single centre experience.

OBJECTIVES: Cerebral venous thrombosis is a serious cerebrovascular disease. Due to the variability of clinical symptoms and the scarcity of occurrence, this diagnosis is often delayed. The aim of the study was to describe the risk factors, the initial findings and the imaging methods that lead to the diagnosis. METHODS: We included 34 patients treated for cerebral venous thrombosis in the years 2004-2016. We retrospectively analyzed demographic data, initial clinical symptoms, baseline D-dimer levels, risk factors, time to diagnosis, and MR findings. RESULTS: The most common initial clinical symptom was headache (28 patients, 82.4%). Focal neurological symptoms or signs of encephalopathy developed in 22 patients (64.7%). In 26 patients, we identified at least one risk factor in their history. In women of childbearing potential, 68% of patients (15/22) were taking hormonal contraceptives; in six people the diagnosis was immediately preceded by inflammation. In all patients, the diagnosis was confirmed by MR venography. Positive hereditary thrombophilic conditions were identified in 68% and acquired in 8% of 25 examined patients. In 22 cases, baseline D-dimer levels were examined and found to be increased in 86% of them. The mean time from the first onset of symptoms to diagnosis was 6.9 days. CONCLUSION: Cerebral venous thrombosis has a variable clinical course and the diagnosis is determined a relatively long time after the onset of symptoms. Atypical headache in the patient's history and a set of risk factors are the key findings for indication of imaging methods and confirmation of the diagnosis.

Severe chronic lithium intoxication in patient treated for bipolar disorder.

OBJECTIVE: Lithium has been long used in psychiatry as an adjuvant treatment for bipolar disorder. Chronic lithium intoxication is very rare. DESIGN: We present the case of a 72-year-old female, treated with lithium for more than 10 years for bipolar disorder, who was admitted for gait impairment with weakness of limbs, myoclonus, speech impairment and memory disturbances. RESULTS: Diagnosis of lithium intoxication was based on clinical picture and determination of serum lithium levels. EEG showed severe encephalopathy with triphasic wave complexes. Sensory and motor axonal neuropathy was observed by EMG. Discontinuation of the drug leads to clinical improvement, although not to a fully neurological recovery. CONCLUSION: Lithium is still very effective drug, but requires regular monitoring of serum levels to prevent overdose and symptoms of intoxication. Neurophysiological methods, including EEG and EMG, are strongly recommended to determine the level of peripheral and/or central nervous system impairment.

Spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma after abrupt sneezing with prompt recovery of severe paraparesis.

Spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma (SSEH) is a rare neurologic condition with threatening consequences when spinal cord compression is present. The diagnosis must be performed quickly using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which shows collection of blood in the epidural space. With spinal cord compression, there is an indication for urgent surgical decompression. Here, we present a 64-year-old woman who developed sudden thoracic and lower back pain accompanied by severe paraparesis and urinary retention after sneezing abruptly. An MRI revealed a posterior thoracic epidural hematoma extending from the T6 to T11 vertebral level with spinal cord compression. Decompression was recommended, but the patient refused surgery, while neurologically improving with time. Complete neurologic recovery was observed within 24 hours after SSEH onset. A conservative therapeutic approach with careful observation may therefore be considered as a treatment of choice in some cases where surgery is refused, (due to high risk or other reasons) and neurologic recovery is early and sustained.

CT Brain Perfusion in the Prediction of Final Infarct Volume: A Prospective Study of Different Software Settings for Acute Ischemic Core Calculation.

CT perfusion (CTP) is used for the evaluation of brain tissue viability in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS). We studied the accuracy of three different syngo.via software (SW) settings for acute ischemic core estimation in predicting the final infarct volume (FIV). The ischemic core was defined as follows: Setting A: an area with cerebral blood flow (CBF) < 30% compared to the contralateral healthy hemisphere. Setting B: CBF < 20% compared to contralateral hemisphere. Setting C: area of cerebral blood volume (CBV) < 1.2 mL/100 mL. We studied 47 AIS patients (aged 68 ± 11.2 years) with large vessel occlusion in the anterior circulation, treated in the early time window (up to 6 h), who underwent technically successful endovascular thrombectomy (EVT). FIV was measured on MRI performed 24 ± 2 h after EVT. In general, all three settings correlated with each other; however, the absolute agreement between acute ischemic core volume on CTP and FIV on MRI was poor; intraclass correlation for all three settings was between 0.64 and 0.69, root mean square error of the individual observations was between 58.9 and 66.0. Our results suggest that using CTP syngo.via SW for prediction of FIV in AIS patients in the early time window is not appropriate.

Influence of Hyperglycaemia and CRP on the Need for Mechanical Ventilation in Guillain-Barré Syndrome.

Objectives: Elevated blood glucose and CRP (C-reactive protein) are usually related to a worsened clinical outcome in neurological diseases. This association in Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) has been studied rarely. We tried to analyse if hyperglycaemia and CRP at admission may influence the outcome of GBS, including mechanically ventilated (MV) patients. Methods: We retrospectively studied 66 patients (40 males, 19-93 years, average 56 years) without diabetes mellitus and free of corticoid treatment, who fulfilled the clinical criteria for diagnosis of GBS. Hyperglycaemia (the level of fasting plasma glucose, FPG) was defined as blood glucose level >5.59 mmol/L according to our laboratory. CRP >5 mg/L was considered as an abnormally elevated value. Results: At admission, 32 GBS patients (48%) had hyperglycaemia according to FPG level. A severe form of GBS (>4 according to Hughes GBS scale) was observed in 17 patients (26%); and 8 of them (47%) had hyperglycaemia. Fourteen patients (21%) were MV, and in 10 of them (71%) hyperglycaemia was present. CRP was significantly increased in MV patients. The linear model revealed a significant relationship between CRP and glycemia (p = 0.007) in subjects without MV (p = 0.049). In subjects with MV the relationship was not significant (p = 0.2162, NS). Conclusion: In the acute phase of GBS at admission, hyperglycaemia and higher CRP occur relatively frequently, and may be a risk factor for the severity of GBS. Stress hyperglycaemia due to impaired glucose homeostasis could be one explanation for this condition.

Tumor Necrosis Factor-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand (TRAIL) in Patients after Acute Stroke: Relation to Stroke Severity, Myocardial Injury, and Impact on Prognosis.

BACKGROUND: Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) is known to be associated with poor prognosis after cardiovascular events. We aimed to assess the dynamic changes in TRAIL levels and the relation of TRAIL level to stroke severity, its impact on the short-term outcomes, and its association with markers of cardiac injury in patients after acute stroke. METHODS: Between August 2020 and August 2021, 120 consecutive patients, 104 after acute ischemic stroke (AIS), 76 receiving reperfusion therapy, and 16 patients after intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) were enrolled in our study. Blood samples were obtained from patients at the time of admission, 24 h later, and 48 h later to determine the plasma level of tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL), N-terminal prohormone of brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), and high-sensitive Troponin I (hs-TnI). Twelve-lead ECGs were obtained at the time of admission, 24 h later, 48 h later, and at the release of the patients. Evaluations were performed using the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) at the time of admission and using the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) 90 days following the patient's discharge from the hospital. RESULTS: We observed a connection between lower TRAIL levels and stroke severity evaluated using the NIHSS (p = 0.044) on the first day. Lower TRAIL showed an association with severe disability and death as evaluated using the mRS at 90 days, both after 24 (p = 0.0022) and 48 h (p = 0.044) of hospitalization. Moreover, we observed an association between lower TRAIL and NT-proBNP elevation at the time of admission (p = 0.039), after 24 (p = 0.043), and after 48 h (p = 0.023) of hospitalization. In the ECG analysis, lower TRAIL levels were associated with the occurrence of premature ventricular extrasystoles (p = 0.043), and there was an association with prolonged QTc interval (p = 0.052). CONCLUSIONS: The results show that lower TRAIL is associated with stroke severity, unfavorable functional outcome, and short-term mortality in patients after acute ischemic stroke. Moreover, we described the association with markers of cardiac injury and ECG changes.

Stable Clinical Outcomes When a Stroke Thrombectomy Program Is Started in an Experienced Cardiology Cath Lab.

OBJECTIVES: This study analyzed the learning curve effect when a new stroke thrombectomy program was initiated in a cardiac cath lab in close cooperation with neurologists and radiologists. BACKGROUND: Mechanical thrombectomy has proven to be the best treatment option for ischemic stroke patients, but this method is not widely available. METHODS: An endovascular treatment program for acute ischemic strokes was established in the cardiac cath lab of a tertiary university hospital in 2012. The decision to perform catheter-based thrombectomy was made by a neurologist and was based on acute stroke clinical symptoms and computed tomography angiographic findings. Patients with a large vessel occlusion of either anterior or posterior circulation were enrolled. The primary endpoint was the functional neurological outcome (Modified Rankin Scale [mRS] score) of the patient at 3 months. A total of 333 patients were enrolled between October 2012 and December 2019. RESULTS: The clinical (mRS) outcomes did not vary significantly across years 2012 to 2019 (mRS 0 to 2 was achieved in 47.9% of patients). Symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage occurred in 19 patients (5.7%). Embolization in a new vascular territory occurred in 6 patients (1.8%). CONCLUSIONS: When a catheter-based thrombectomy program was initiated in an experienced cardiac cath lab in close cooperation between cardiologists, neurologists, and radiologists, outcomes were comparable to those of neuroradiology centers. The desired clinical results were achieved from the onset of the program, without any signs of a learning curve effect. These findings support the potential role of interventional cardiac cath labs in the treatment of acute stroke in regions where this therapy is not readily available due to the lack of neurointerventionalists.

Long-term outcomes of thrombectomy for acute ischaemic stroke by occluded artery and stroke aetiology: a PRAGUE-16 substudy.

BACKGROUND: Thrombectomy is an effective treatment for acute ischaemic stroke (AIS). AIMS: The aim of this study was to compare clinical outcomes with intracranial artery occlusion site among AIS patients treated in the setting of a cardiology cath lab. METHODS: This was a single-centre, prospective registry of 214 consecutive patients with AIS enrolled between 2012 and 2018. All thrombectomy procedures were performed in a cardiology cath lab with stent retrievers or aspiration systems. The functional outcome was assessed by the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) after three months. RESULTS: Ninety-three patients (44%) had middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion, 28 patients (13%) had proximal internal carotid artery (ICA) occlusion, 27 patients (13%) had tandem (ICA+MCA) occlusion, 39 patients (18%) had terminal ICA (T-type) occlusion, and 26 patients (12%) had vertebrobasilar (VB) stroke. Favourable clinical outcome (mRS ≤2) was reached in 58% of MCA occlusions and in 56% of isolated ICA occlusions, but in only 31% of T-type occlusions and in 27% of VB stroke. Poor clinical outcome in T-type occlusions and VB strokes was influenced by the lower recanalisation success (mTICI 2b-3 flow) rates: 56% (T-type) and 50% (VB) compared to 82% in MCA occlusions, 89% in isolated ICA occlusions and 96% in tandem occlusions. CONCLUSIONS: Catheter-based thrombectomy achieved significantly better clinical results in patients with isolated MCA occlusion, isolated ICA occlusions or tight stenosis and tandem occlusions compared to patients with T-type occlusion and posterior strokes. Visual summary. Endovascular intervention of isolated MCA or ICA occlusions provides greatest clinical benefit, while interventions in posterior circulation have lower chance for clinical success.

The Efficacy and Safety of Hybrid Ablations for Atrial Fibrillation.

OBJECTIVES: This study sought to comprehensively determine the procedural safety and midterm efficacy of hybrid ablations. BACKGROUND: Hybrid ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF) (thoracoscopic ablation followed by catheter ablation) has been used for patients with nonparoxysmal AF; however, accurate data regarding efficacy and safety are still limited. METHODS: Patients with nonparoxysmal AF underwent thoracoscopic, off-pump ablation using the COBRA Fusion radiofrequency system (Estech) followed by a catheter ablation 3 months afterward. The safety of the procedure was assessed using sequential brain magnetic resonance and neuropsychological examinations at baseline (1 day before), postoperatively (2-4 days for brain magnetic resonance imaging or 1 month for neuropsychological examination), and at 9 months after the surgical procedure. Implantable loop recorders were used to detect arrhythmia recurrence. Arrhythmia-free survival (the primary efficacy endpoint) was defined as no episodes of AF or atrial tachycardia while off antiarrhythmic drugs, redo ablations or cardioversions. RESULTS: Fifty-nine patients (age: 62.5 ± 10.5 years) were enrolled, 37 (62.7%) were men, and the mean follow-up was 30.3 ± 10.8 months. Thoracoscopic ablation was successfully performed in 55 (93.2%) patients. On baseline magnetic resonance imaging, chronic ischemic brain lesions were present in 60.0% of patients. New ischemic lesions on postoperative magnetic resonance imaging were present in 44.4%. Major postoperative cognitive dysfunction was present in 27.0% and 17.6% at 1 and 9 months postoperatively, respectively. The probability of arrhythmia-free survival was 54.0% (95% CI: 41.3-66.8) at 1 year and 43.8% (95% CI: 30.7-57.0) at 2 years. CONCLUSIONS: The thoracoscopic ablation is associated with a high risk of silent cerebral ischemia. The midterm efficacy of hybrid ablations is moderate.

Left ventricle cardiac myxoma as a cause of ischaemic stroke in young patient treated by mechanical thrombectomy.

Cardiac myxoma is a rare cause of cardioembolic stroke, especially in young patients. Acute treatment includes intravenous thrombolysis or acute thrombectomy via mechanical recanalisation. We present a case of a young 21-year-old woman with no symptoms of dyspnoea who suddenly developed expressive aphasia and right-sided hemiparesis due to a thrombus in the left middle cerebral artery followed by the left anterior cerebral artery. She underwent acute mechanical thrombectomy with improvement of the neurological status. Bedside ultrasonography detected a suspected myxoma, which was further confirmed by a CT scan as a myxoma in the left cardiac ventricle. The patient underwent successful surgery. We stress on the importance of echocardiographic examination in young patients after ischaemic stroke and multidisciplinary team cooperation in the treatment management of such patients.

Is limited-coverage CT perfusion helpful in treatment decision-making in patients with acute ischemic stroke?

BACKGROUND: The initial core infarct volume predicts treatment outcome in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) due to large vessel occlusion (LVO). According to the literature, CT perfusion (CTP) is able to evaluate cerebral parenchymal viability and assess the initial core in AIS. We prospectively studied whether limited-coverage CTP with automated core calculation correlates with the final infarct volume on follow-up non-enhanced CT (NECT) in patients successfully treated by mechanical thrombectomy. METHODS: We enrolled 31 stroke patients (20 women aged 74.4±12.9 years and 11 men aged 66±15.4 years; median initial NIHSS score 15.5) with occlusion of the medial cerebral artery and/or the internal carotid artery that were treated by successful mechanical thrombectomy. CTP performed in a 38.6 mm slab at the level of basal ganglia was included in the CT stroke protocol, but was not used to determine indication for mechanical thrombectomy. The infarction core volume based on CTP was automatically calculated using dedicated software with a threshold defined as cerebral blood flow <30% of the value in the contralateral healthy hemisphere. The final infarction volume was measured on 24-hour follow-up NECT in the same slab with respect to CTP. Pearson and Spearman correlation coefficients and robust linear regression were used for comparison of both volumes, P values <0.05 were considered as statistically significant. RESULTS: The median time from stroke onset to CT was 77 minutes (range, 31-284 minutes), and the median time from CT to vessel recanalization was 95 minutes (range, 55-215 minutes). The mean CTP-calculated core infarct volume was 24.3±19.2 mL (median 19 mL, range 1-79 mL), while the mean final infarct volume was 21.5±39.5 mL (median 8 mL; range 0-210 mL). Only a weak relationship was found between the CTP-calculated core and final infarct volume [Pr(29) =0.32, P=0.078; rho =0.40, P=0.028]. Regression analysis showed CTP significantly overestimated lower volumes. CONCLUSIONS: In our prospective study, the infarction core calculated using limited-coverage CTP only weakly correlated with the final infarction volume measured on 24-hour follow-up NECT; moreover, CTP significantly overestimated lower volumes. Our results do not support the use of limited-coverage CTP for guiding treatment recommendations in patients with AIS.

Cerebral blood supply with aging: normal, stenotic and recanalized.

UNLABELLED: The prosperity of brain parenchyma during aging depends on the preservation of cerebral blood flow (CBF) parameters. We have analysed ultrasonographic measurements of peak systolic (PSV) and end diastolic velocities (EDV) along with pulsatility (PI) and resistance indexes (RI) in common (CCA), internal (ICA) and external carotid artery (ECA) (N=199) and in vertebral arteries (VA) (N=200) in patients without any signs of stenosis. In two other cohorts patients with internal carotid artery stenosis (N=231) and patients prior to and after therapeutic recanalization (N=81) were evaluated in the same parameters. RESULTS: in the range of 21-92 years PSV in CCA decreases by 7 mm/s/year, while in ICA only by 2.31 mm/s/year. The decrease of EDV in carotid arteries occurs between 1.72 and 2.28 mm/s/year. PSV in VA drops down by 0.91 mm/s/year, EDV by 0.86 mm/s/year. PI and RI increase with age in all vessels, but not significantly. Stenotic ICAs are associated with increased PSV in the range of 0.7-2.9 m/s, but also with an increasing PSV variability along the growing stenosis in individual patients. In all degrees of stenoses some patients preserve normal velocities. In average the increment for each 10% of the stenosis below 50% makes 8 cm/s, while above 50% it makes already 50 cm/s. In persons with bilateral stenoses the increment with growing stenosis is steeper. The restoration of normal ICA lumen by means of carotid endarterectomy or by angioplasty with stenting results in an average drop by 1.23 m/s in PSV and by 0.4 m/s in EDV. We have investigated the ophthalmic artery and other substitution supplies and deduce, that the remarkable differences in blood flow velocity reactions to a compromised carotid lumen depend on the formation of collaterals in mutual interplay with peripheral resistance.

Acute stroke therapy: A review.

This review summarizes the modern early diagnosis and acute phase treatment of acute stroke. The guidelines for treatment of acute ischemic stroke underwent major changes in 2015 and endovascular therapy (catheter-based mechanical thrombectomy with a stent retriever) became the class IA indication for patients presenting within less than 6h from symptom onset who have proven occlusion of large intracerebral artery in anterior circulation. Acute stroke care organization should enable to perform effective revascularization therapy as soon as possible after the initial brain imaging whenever this examination provides indication for the procedure.

Feasibility and safety of direct catheter-based thrombectomy in the treatment of acute ischaemic stroke. Cooperation among cardiologists, neurologists and radiologists. Prospective registry PRAGUE-16.

AIMS: The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of direct catheter-based thrombectomy (d-CBT, without thrombolysis) and the feasibility and safety of d-CBT performed in an interventional cardiology centre. METHODS AND RESULTS: This single-centre, prospective observational registry based on the pre-specified protocol included three months of follow-up. The decision to perform acute stroke intervention was made by a neurologist based on the clinical and imaging findings. Inclusion criteria were moderate-to-severe acute ischaemic stroke (NIHSS ≥6), <6 hours from symptom onset, no large ischaemia on the admission CT scan and CT evidence for an occluded large artery. The primary outcome was functional neurologic recovery (mRS 0-2) at three months. Key secondary outcomes were the angiographic recanalisation rate and symptomatic intracranial bleeding. A total of 115 consecutive patients (mean age 66 years) were enrolled during a period of four years: 84 patients underwent d-CBT and 31 patients bridging thrombolysis with immediate catheter intervention (TL-CBT). The annual number of procedures increased from 13 (initial 12 months) to 41 (last 12 months). Angiographic success (TICI flow 2b-3) was 69% after d-CBT and 81% after TL-CBT. It was higher in isolated occlusions of the middle cerebral artery (MCA, 74% and 100%) or of the proximal internal carotid artery (ICA, 80% and 100%), while it was lower in combined ICA+MCA occlusions (63% and 70%) and in basilar or vertebral occlusions (57% and 50%). Neurologic recovery (mRS ≤2 after 90 days) was achieved in 40% of patients. It was higher (43%) in anterior circulation strokes than in posterior circulation strokes (25%). Direct CBT led to neurologic recovery in 36%, while in TL-CBT this was 52%. Best clinical outcomes (51% and 71% neurologic recovery rates) were achieved among patients with isolated MCA occlusion. Any symptomatic intracranial bleeding was present in 3.6% (d-CBT) and 6.5% (TL-CBT). Vessel perforation or major dissection occurred in 5.2% overall, and distal embolisation to other territory in 3.5% of patients. CONCLUSIONS: Direct catheter-based thrombectomy may be considered in patients with contraindications for thrombolysis or in patients with very short CT-groin puncture times. A randomised trial is needed to evaluate better the role of direct catheter-based thrombectomy. Acute stroke interventions performed in close cooperation among cardiologists, neurologists and radiologists are feasible and safe.

Direct catheter-based thrombectomy in acute ischaemic stroke performed collaboratively by cardiologists, neurologists and radiologists: the single-centre pilot experience (PRAGUE-16 study).

AIMS: To assess the feasibility of direct catheter-based thrombectomy (d-CBT) performed jointly by cardiologists, neurologists and radiologists. METHODS AND RESULTS: Computed tomography (CT) was completed within <6 hours from onset of acute ischaemic stroke and excluded bleeding or developed ischaemia in 23 patients who fulfilled pre-specified entry criteria. The mean NIHSS was 17 (8-24). Mechanical recanalisation was successful in 19/23 patients (83%). The mean symptom onset ­ CT time was 81 min, CT ­ sheath insertion 47 min, sheath ­ reperfusion 46 min. Three patients died within 30 days, two others within 90 days (overall three-month mortality 22%). The mean mRs at 90 days for the entire group was 3.19, among survivors 2.31 and among survivors treated within <120 minutes 1.17. Favourable functional outcome (mRs ≤2) was achieved in 48% of patients. Five patients (22%) had full (mRs=0) or nearly full (mRs=1) neurologic recovery. Seven patients were able to be discharged from neurology ICU directly home after a short (<7 days) hospital stay. Two patients had symptomatic intracranial haemorrhage. CONCLUSIONS: Acute stroke treatment by d-CBT jointly by neurologists, cardiologists and radiologists provided promising results especially in patients reaching the cathlab within <2 hours from stroke onset.