Endovascular therapy versus best medical management in distal medium middle cerebral artery acute ischaemic stroke: a multinational multicentre propensity score-matched study.

BACKGROUND: The efficacy of endovascular treatment (EVT) in acute ischaemic stroke due to distal medium vessel occlusion (DMVO) remains uncertain. Our study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of EVT compared with the best medical management (BMM) in DMVO. METHODS: In this prospectively collected, retrospectively reviewed, multicentre cohort study, we analysed data from the Multicentre Analysis of primary Distal medium vessel occlusions: effect of Mechanical Thrombectomy registry. Patients with acute ischaemic stroke due to DMVO in the M2, M3 and M4 segments who underwent EVT or received BMM were included. Primary outcome measures comprised 10 co-primary endpoints, including functional independence (mRS 0-2), excellent outcome (mRS 0-1), mortality (mRS 6) and haemorrhagic complications. Propensity score matching was employed to balance the cohorts. RESULTS: Among 2125 patients included in the primary analysis, 1713 received EVT and 412 received BMM. After propensity score matching, each group comprised 391 patients. At 90 days, no significant difference was observed in achieving mRS 0-2 between EVT and BMM (adjusted OR 1.00, 95% CI 0.67 to 1.50, p>0.99). However, EVT was associated with higher rates of symptomatic intracerebral haemorrhage (8.4% vs 3.0%, adjusted OR 3.56, 95% CI 1.69 to 7.48, p<0.001) and any intracranial haemorrhage (37% vs 19%, adjusted OR 2.61, 95% CI 1.81 to 3.78, p<0.001). Mortality rates were similar between groups (13% in both, adjusted OR 1.48, 95% CI 0.87 to 2.51, p=0.15). CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that while EVT does not significantly improve functional outcomes compared with BMM in DMVO, it is associated with higher risks of haemorrhagic complications. These results support a cautious approach to the use of EVT in DMVO and highlight the need for further prospective randomised trials to refine treatment strategies.

Frailty indices predict mortality, complications and functional improvements in supratentorial meningioma patients over 80 years of age.

PURPOSE: To assess whether the Modified 5 (mFI-5) and 11 (mFI-11) Factor Frailty Indices associate with postoperative mortality, complications, and functional benefit in supratentorial meningioma patients aged over 80 years. METHODS: Baseline characteristics were collected from eight centers. Based on the patients' preoperative status and comorbidities, frailty was assessed by the mFI-5 and mFI-11. The collected scores were categorized as "robust (mFI=0)", "pre-frail (mFI=1)", "frail (mFI=2)", and "significantly frail (mFI≥3)". Outcome was assessed by the Karnofsky Performance Scale (KPS); functional benefit was defined as improved KPS score. Additionally, we evaluated the patients' functional independence (KPS≥70) after surgery. RESULTS: The study population consisted of 262 patients (median age 83 years) with a median preoperative KPS of 70 (range 20 to 100). The 90-day and 1-year mortality were 9.0% and 13.2%; we recorded surgery-associated complications in 111 (42.4%) patients. At last follow-up within the postoperative first year, 101 (38.5%) patients showed an improved KPS, and 183 (69.8%) either gained or maintained functional independence. "Severely frail" patients were at an increased risk of death at 90 days (OR 16.3 (CI95% 1.7-158.7)) and one year (OR 11.7 (CI95% 1.9-71.7)); nine (42.9%) of severely frail patients died within the first year after surgery. The "severely frail" cohort had increased odds of suffering from surgery-associated complications (OR 3.9 (CI 95%) 1.3-11.3)), but also had a high chance for postoperative functional improvements by KPS≥20 (OR 6.6 (CI95% 1.2-36.2)). CONCLUSION: The mFI-5 and mFI-11 associate with postoperative mortality, complications, and functional benefit. Even though "severely frail" patients had the highest risk morbidity and mortality, they had the highest chance for functional improvement.

A shift from open to endovascular repair in the treatment of ruptured middle cerebral artery aneurysms: a single institution experience.

PURPOSE: Middle cerebral aneurysms were underrepresented in the two largest trials (BRAT and ISAT) for the treatment of ruptured intracranial aneurysms. Recent institutional series addressing the choice between endovascular or open repair for this subset of aneurysms are few and have not yielded a definitive conclusion. We compare clinical outcomes of patients presenting with acute subarachnoid hemorrhage from ruptured middle cerebral artery aneurysms undergoing either open or endovascular repair. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of 138 consecutive patients with ruptured middle cerebral artery aneurysms admitted into our institution from January 2008 to March 2019 to compare endovascular and open surgical outcomes. RESULTS: Of the ruptured middle cerebral artery aneurysms, 57 underwent endovascular repair while 81 were treated with open surgery. Over the study period, there was a notable shift in practice toward more frequent endovascular treatment of ruptured MCA aneurysms (31% in 2008 vs. 91% in 2018). At discharge (49.1% vs 29.6%; p = .002) and at 6 months (84.3% vs 58.6%; p = 0.003), patients who underwent endovascular repair had a higher proportion of patients with good clinical outcomes (mRS 0-2) compared to those undergoing open surgery. Long-term follow-up data (endovascular 54.9 ± 37.9 months vs clipping 18.6 ± 13.4 months) showed no difference in rebleeding (1.8% vs 3.7%, p = 0.642) and retreatment (5.3% vs 3.7%, p = 0.691) in both groups. CONCLUSION: Our series suggests equipoise in the treatment of ruptured middle cerebral artery aneurysms and demonstrates endovascular repair as a potentially feasible treatment strategy. Future randomized trials could clarify the roles of these treatment modalities.

Repeat Flow Diversion for Cerebral Aneurysms Failing Prior Flow Diversion: Safety and Feasibility From Multicenter Experience.

BACKGROUND: Aneurysmal persistence after flow diversion (FD) occurs in 5% to 25% of aneurysms, which may necessitate retreatment. There are limited data on safety/efficacy of repeat FD-a frequently utilized strategy in such cases. METHODS: A series of consecutive patients undergoing FD retreatment from 15 centers were reviewed (2011-2019), with inclusion criteria of repeat FD for the same aneurysm at least 6 months after initial treatment, with minimum of 6 months post-retreatment imaging. The primary outcome was aneurysmal occlusion, and secondary outcome was safety. A multivariable logistic regression model was constructed to identify predictors of incomplete occlusion (90%-99% and <90% occlusion) versus complete occlusion (100%) after retreatment. RESULTS: Ninety-five patients (median age, 57 years; 81% women) harboring 95 aneurysms underwent 198 treatment procedures. Majority of aneurysms were unruptured (87.4%), saccular (74.7%), and located in the internal carotid artery (79%; median size, 9 mm). Median elapsed time between the first and second treatment was 12.2 months. Last available follow-up was at median 12.8 months after retreatment, and median 30.6 months after the initial treatment, showing complete occlusion in 46.2% and near-complete occlusion (90%-99%) in 20.4% of aneurysms. There was no difference in ischemic complications following initial treatment and retreatment (4.2% versus 4.2%; P>0.99). On multivariable regression, fusiform morphology had higher nonocclusion odds after retreatment (odds ratio [OR], 7.2 [95% CI, 1.97-20.8]). Family history of aneurysms was associated with lower odds of nonocclusion (OR, 0.18 [95% CI, 0.04-0.78]). Likewise, positive smoking history was associated with lower odds of nonocclusion (OR, 0.29 [95% CI, 0.1-0.86]). History of hypertension trended toward incomplete occlusion (OR, 3.10 [95% CI, 0.98-6.3]), similar to incorporated branch into aneurysms (OR, 2.78 [95% CI, 0.98-6.8]). CONCLUSIONS: Repeat FD for persistent aneurysms carries a reasonable success/safety profile. Satisfactory occlusion (100% and 90%-99% occlusion) was encountered in two-thirds of patients, with similar complications between the initial and subsequent retreatments. Fusiform morphology was the strongest predictor of retreatment failure.

Multicenter Study for the Treatment of Sidewall versus Bifurcation Intracranial Aneurysms with Use of Woven EndoBridge (WEB).

Background The Woven EndoBridge (WEB) device was explicitly designed for wide-neck intracranial bifurcation aneurysms. Small-scale reports have evaluated the off-label use of WEB devices for the treatment of sidewall aneurysms, with promising outcomes. Purpose To compare the angiographic and clinical outcomes of the WEB device for the treatment of sidewall aneurysms compared with the treatment of bifurcation aneurysms. Materials and Methods A retrospective review of the WorldWideWEB Consortium, a synthesis of retrospective databases spanning from January 2011 to June 2021 at 22 academic institutions in North America, South America, and Europe, was performed to identify patients with intracranial aneurysms treated with the WEB device. Characteristics and outcomes were compared between bifurcation and sidewall aneurysms. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to match by age, pretreatment ordinal modified Rankin Scale score, ruptured aneurysms, location of aneurysm, multiple aneurysms, prior treatment, neck, height, dome width, daughter sac, and incorporated branch. Results A total of 683 intracranial aneurysms were treated using the WEB device in 671 patients (median age, 61 years [IQR, 53-68 years]; male-to-female ratio, 1:2.5). Of those, 572 were bifurcation aneurysms and 111 were sidewall aneurysms. PSM was performed, resulting in 91 bifurcation and sidewall aneurysms pairs. No significant difference was observed in occlusion status at last follow-up, deployment success, or complication rates between the two groups. Conclusion No significantly different outcomes were observed following the off-label use of the Woven EndoBridge, or WEB, device for treatment of sidewall aneurysms compared with bifurcation aneurysms. The correct characterization of the sidewall aneurysm location, neck angle, and size is crucial for successful treatment and lower retreatment rate. © RSNA, 2022 See also the editorial by Hetts in this issue.

Inflammatory Biomarkers and Intracranial Hemorrhage after Endovascular Thrombectomy.

BACKGROUND: Intracranial hemorrhage after endovascular thrombectomy is associated with poorer prognosis compared with those who do not develop the complication. Our study aims to determine predictors of post-EVT hemorrhage - more specifically, inflammatory biomarkers present in baseline serology. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of consecutive patients treated with EVT for acute large vessel ischemic stroke. The primary outcome of the study is the presence of ICH on the post-EVT scan. We used four definitions: the SITS-MOST criteria, the NINDS criteria, asymptomatic hemorrhage, and overall hemorrhage. We identified nonredundant predictors of outcome using backward elimination based on Akaike Information Criteria. We then assessed prediction accuracy using area under the receiver operating curve. Then we implemented variable importance ranking from logistic regression models using the drop in Naegelkerke R2 with the exclusion of each predictor. RESULTS: Our study demonstrates a 6.3% SITS (16/252) and 10.0% NINDS (25/252) sICH rate, as well as a 19.4% asymptomatic (49/252) and 29.4% (74/252) overall hemorrhage rate. Serologic markers that demonstrated association with post-EVT hemorrhage were: low lymphocyte count (SITS), high neutrophil count (NINDS, overall hemorrhage), low platelet to lymphocyte ratio (NINDS), and low total WBC (NINDS, asymptomatic hemorrhage). CONCLUSION: Higher neutrophil counts, low WBC counts, low lymphocyte counts, and low platelet to lymphoycyte ratio were baseline serology biomarkers that were associated with post-EVT hemorrhage. Our findings, particularly the association of diabetes mellitus and high neutrophil, support experimental data on the role of thromboinflammation in hemorrhagic transformation of large vessel occlusions.

Survival times of patients with glioblastoma in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Little is known about the survivorship of glioblastoma (GBM) patients in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). We hypothesize that this would be lower than published figures for high-income countries due to cancer health disparities. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to estimate the median overall survival (OS) of GBM in LMICs and determine factors affecting OS. A systematic review of 12 electronic databases was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines to identify studies of newly diagnosed adult GBM patients done in countries classified as LMIC by the World Bank (WB) from inception to December 2020. Random effects meta-analysis of collected median overall survival data was done. Subgroup analysis and meta-regression were done to determine if WB income classification (WBIC), start year of recruitment (pre- or post-popularization of the standard Stupp protocol), and treatment modality affected OS. The 24 articles (n = 2,552) that met the inclusion criteria were from 8 low-middle income and upper-middle income countries, with 0 articles from low-income countries. Random effects analysis of 24 studies showed a pooled median OS of 14.17 months (95% CI 12.90-15.43, I2 = 79). Subgroup analysis showed a significant difference (p < 0.05) in the pooled median OS of studies predating Stupp protocol (12.54 mo, 95% CI 11.13-13.96, I2 = 80%; n = 1027) and studies postdating Stupp protocol (15.64 mo, 95% CI 13.58-17.69, I2 = 77; n = 1412). Subgroup analysis of WBIC and treatment modalities did not show significant differences. Published data on the survivorship of GBM patients in LMICs is sparse, highlighting the need for good quality pragmatic studies from LMICs. The limited evidence suggests improving survivorship after introduction of the Stupp protocol.

Thrombolysis Outcomes in Patients with Diabetes and Previous Stroke: A Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Intravenous tissue-type plasminogen activator (IVtPA) is a proven treatment for acute ischemic stroke; however, diabetes mellitus (DM) and previous cerebral infarction (PCI) were considered relative contraindications for thrombolysis within the 3-4.5 h period. OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to determine the safety and efficacy of IVtPA among diabetic patients with PCI presenting with acute ischemic stroke. METHODS: Studies which evaluated the outcome of IVtPA in terms of symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (sICH), functional outcome in modified Rankin scale, and death among diabetic patients with PCI presenting with acute ischemic stroke within the 3-4.5 h period were systematically searched until July 2019. Screening and eligibility criteria were applied. Risk of bias was evaluated using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence interval (CI) were used to compare measures of treatment effect. Mantel-Haenszel method and random-effects model were also employed. RESULTS: Four registry-based studies with a total of 44,572 patients were included for quantitative synthesis. Giving IVtPA among DM+/PCI+ patients did not result in significantly increased rate of sICH (OR, 1.09; 95% CI, 0.88, 1.36) compared to No DM+/PCI+ patients. However, there was significantly higher mortality (OR, 1.81; 95% CI, 1.60, 2.06) in the DM+/PCI+ group. Conversely, among those who survived, the DM+/PCI+ patients were more functionally independent at 3 months (OR, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.61, 0.94). CONCLUSION: Limited evidence suggests that thrombolysis in DM+/PCI+ patients does not result in significantly higher incidence of sICH and may improve functional independence. However, the significantly higher mortality in this group warrants an assessment of the individualized risk-benefit ratio in the use of IVtPA.

The POP (Pull on Pipe) Maneuver: A Technical Note for Rescuing a Prolapsed Pipeline Device.

BACKGROUND: Flow diverters have revolutionized the treatment of large aneurysms. However, prolapse of the device into the aneurysm is a known complication that may have fatal consequences. CASE: We present a case of a 21-year-old male with a giant aneurysm located in the cavernous segment of the right internal carotid artery. After Pipeline Embolization Device (PED) deployment, while retrieving the PED wire, the proximal end of the stent shortened, resulting in prolapse of the device into the aneurysm. We utilized the Pull on Pipe (POP) maneuver, characterized by the deployment of a second PED inside the lumen of the prolapsed device and gentle traction to restore the initial flow diverter into its proper position. The maneuver also allows for the immediate deployment of the second PED to improve proximal purchase and overall construct stability. CONCLUSION: The POP maneuver is a novel strategy for salvaging herniated flow diverters and establishing a more stable PED construct.

Non-Traumatic Intracerebral Hematoma in the Young: Findings from a Tertiary Hospital in the Philippines.

BACKGROUND: There is geographic variability in the clinical profile and outcomes of non-traumatic intracerebral hematoma (ICH) in the young, and data for the Philippines is lacking. We aimed to describe this in a cohort from the Philippines, and identify predictors of mortality. METHODS: We performed a retrospective study of all patients aged 19-49 years with radiographic evidence of non-traumatic ICH admitted in our institution over five years. Data on demographics, risk factors, imaging, etiologies, surgical management, in-hospital mortality, and discharge functional outcomes were collected. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was done to determine factors predictive of mortality. RESULTS: A total of 185 patients were included, which had a mean age of 40.98 years and a male predilection (71.9%). The most common hematoma location was subcortical, but it was lobar for the subgroup of patients aged 19-29 years. Overall, the most common etiology was hypertension (73.0%), especially in patients aged 40-49. Conversely, the incidence of vascular lesions and thrombocytopenia was higher in patients aged 19-29. Surgery was done in 7.0% of patients. The rates of mortality and favorable functional outcome at discharge were 8.7% and 35.1%, respectively. Younger age (p = 0.004), higher NIHSS score on admission (p=0.01), higher capillary blood glucose on admission (p=0.02), and intraventricular extension of hematoma (p = 0.01) predicted mortality. CONCLUSIONS: In the Philippines, the most common etiology of ICH in young patients was hypertension, while aneurysms and AVM's were the most common etiology in the subgroup aged 19 - 29 years. Independent predictors of mortality were identified.

The Changing Landscape of Treatment for Intracranial Aneurysm.

There has been a significant transformation in the treatment of intracranial aneurysms (IAs) over the past century, with the most pivotal changes occurring in the past three decades. To characterize this evolution, we assessed the number of articles published on various procedures for the treatment of IA as a measure of their interest and usage over time. We separated our analysis into two main areas: surgical and endovascular approaches. We further subdivided these two main categories into clipping and bypass for surgery, and coiling, flow diversion, and liquid material embolization for endovascular approaches. We found 5956 publications on open surgical approaches in the 70-year period from 1947 to 2017, with papers on clipping (n = 4204), being the most common. We found 8602 endovascular publications beginning in 1964, with most of the activity taking place in the late 1990s and beyond. Coiling had the most publications of the endovascular approaches (n = 5436). In 1999, the number of annual publications on endovascular treatments surpassed those of open surgery, signaling a crossover point in the IA literature. The same trend continues to this date.

Spontaneous regression of a parafalcine meningioma in a multiple sclerosis patient being treated with interferon beta-1a.

Regression of meningioma after haemorrhage and the cessation of hormone treatment is well reported. However, spontaneous regression is very rarely observed. Here, we report the spontaneous regression of a parafalcine meningioma in a 56-year-old woman with multiple sclerosis, who was referred to our department after an incidental finding on magnetic resonance imaging. She was being treated with interferon beta-1a to manage the symptoms. To our knowledge, this is the first report of spontaneous regression of meningioma in a patient receiving interferon beta-1a therapy and just the second report of spontaneous regression in general.

Validation of Carotid Artery Revascularization Coding in Ontario Health Administrative Databases.

PURPOSE: The positive predictive value (PPV) of carotid endarterectomy (CEA) and carotid artery stenting (CAS) procedure and post-operative complication coding were assessed in Ontario health administrative databases. METHODS: Between 1 April 2002 and 31 March 2014, a random sample of 428 patients were identified using Canadian Classification of Health Intervention (CCI) procedure codes and Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) billing codes from administrative data. A blinded chart review was conducted at two high-volume vascular centers to assess the level of agreement between the administrative records and the corresponding patients' hospital charts. PPV was calculated with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) to estimate the validity of CEA and CAS coding, utilizing hospital charts as the gold standard. Sensitivity of CEA and CAS coding were also assessed by linking two independent databases of 540 CEA-treated patients (Ontario Stroke Registry) and 140 CAS-treated patients (single-center CAS database) to administrative records. RESULTS: PPV for CEA ranged from 99% to 100% and sensitivity ranged from 81.5% to 89.6% using CCI and OHIP codes. A CCI code with a PPV of 87% (95% CI, 78.8-92.9) and sensitivity of 92.9% (95% CI, 87.4-96.1) in identifying CAS was also identified. PPV for post-admission complication diagnosis coding was 71.4% (95% CI, 53.7-85.4) for stroke/transient ischemic attack, and 82.4% (95% CI, 56.6-96.2) for myocardial infarction. CONCLUSIONS: Our analysis demonstrated that the codes used in administrative databases accurately identify CEA and CAS-treated patients. Researchers can confidently use administrative data to conduct population-based studies of CEA and CAS.

Functional Outcome After Poor-Grade Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: A Single-Center Study and Systematic Literature Review.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Poor-grade subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) (World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies grade 4 and 5) is associated with high mortality rates and unfavorable functional outcomes. We report a single-center cohort of poor-grade SAH patients, combined with a systematic review of studies reporting functional outcome in the poor-grade SAH population. METHODS: Data on a cohort of poor-grade SAH patients treated between 2009 and 2013 were retrospectively collected and combined with a systematic review (from inception to November 2015; PubMed, Embase). Two reviewers assessed the studies independently based on predefined inclusion criteria: consecutive poor-grade SAH, functional outcome measured at least 3 months after hemorrhage, and the report of patients who died before aneurysm treatment. RESULTS: The search yielded 329 publications, and 23 met our inclusion criteria with 2713 subjects enrolled from 1977 to 2014 in 10 countries (including 179 poor-grade patients from our cohort). Mortality rate was 60 % (1683 patients), of which 806 (29 %) died before and 877 (31 %) died after aneurysm treatment, respectively. Treatment was undertaken in 1775 patients (1775/2826-63 %): 1347 by surgical clipping (1347/1775-76 %) and 428 (428/1775-24 %) by endovascular methods. Outcome was favorable in 794 patients (28 %) and unfavorable in 1867 (66 %). When the studies were grouped into decades, favorable outcome increased from 13 % in the late 1970s to early 1980s to 35 % in the late 1980s to early 1990s, and remained unchanged thereafter. CONCLUSION: Although mortality remains high in poor-grade SAH patients, a favorable functional outcome can be achieved in approximately one-third of patients. The development of new diagnostic methods and implementation of therapeutic approaches were probably responsible for the decrease in mortality and improvement in the functional outcome from 1970 to the 1990s. The plateau in functional outcome seen thereafter might be explained by the treatment of sicker and older patients and by the lack of new therapeutic interventions specific for SAH.

The Slowly Enlarging Ventriculus Terminalis.

BACKGROUND: A cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) cavity within the conus medullaris has been described by the term ventriculus terminalis (VT) or the fifth ventricle. The finding of a VT on MRI imaging of the lumbar spine is often incidental but may be found in patients with low back pain or neuromuscular deficits. These lesions, when identified, are thought to regress or remain stable in terms of size, although some have been described to enlarge in the presence of post-traumatic meningeal hemorrhages or deformities of the vertebral canal. CASE REPORT: We describe a case of a slowly growing VT in a patient with progressing lower limb weakness without any history or imaging findings of trauma or spinal canal abnormalities. CONCLUSIONS: We present an intriguing case of a slowly growing VT in a woman with progressive neurological symptoms. Surgical fenestration provided complete symptomatic relief and follow-up imaging two years after surgery demonstrated no evidence of recurrence. This, to our knowledge, is the first described case of a slowly enlarging VT independent of any other imaging findings.

Endovascular Thrombectomy for Acute Ischemic Stroke: A Meta-analysis.

IMPORTANCE: Endovascular intervention for acute ischemic stroke improves revascularization. But trials examining endovascular therapy yielded variable functional outcomes, and the effect of endovascular intervention among subgroups needs better definition. OBJECTIVE: To examine the association between endovascular mechanical thrombectomy and clinical outcomes among patients with acute ischemic stroke. DATA SOURCES: We systematically searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, Google Scholar, and the Cochrane Library without language restriction through August 2015. STUDY SELECTION: Eligible studies were randomized clinical trials of endovascular therapy with mechanical thrombectomy vs standard medical care, which includes the use of intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (tPA). DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS: Independent reviewers evaluated the quality of studies and abstracted the data. We calculated odds ratios (ORs) and 95% CIs for all outcomes using random-effects meta-analyses and performed subgroup and sensitivity analyses to examine whether certain imaging, patient, treatment, or study characteristics were associated with improved functional outcome. The strength of the evidence was examined for all outcomes using the GRADE method. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Ordinal improvement across modified Rankin scale (mRS) scores at 90 days, functional independence (mRS score, 0-2), angiographic revascularization at 24 hours, symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage within 90 days, and all-cause mortality at 90 days. RESULTS: Data were included from 8 trials involving 2423 patients (mean [SD] age, 67.4 [14.4] years; 1131 [46.7%] women), including 1313 who underwent endovascular thrombectomy and 1110 who received standard medical care with tPA. In a meta-analysis of these trials, endovascular therapy was associated with a significant proportional treatment benefit across mRS scores (OR, 1.56; 95% CI, 1.14-2.13; P = .005). Functional independence at 90 days (mRS score, 0-2) occurred among 557 of 1293 patients (44.6%; 95% CI, 36.6%-52.8%) in the endovascular therapy group vs 351 of 1094 patients (31.8%; 95% CI, 24.6%-40.0%) in the standard medical care group (risk difference, 12%; 95% CI, 3.8%-20.3%; OR, 1.71; 95% CI, 1.18-2.49; P = .005). Compared with standard medical care, endovascular thrombectomy was associated with significantly higher rates of angiographic revascularization at 24 hours (75.8% vs 34.1%; OR, 6.49; 95% CI, 4.79-8.79; P < .001) but no significant difference in rates of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage within 90 days (70 events [5.7%] vs 53 events [5.1%]; OR, 1.12; 95% CI, 0.77-1.63; P = .56) or all-cause mortality at 90 days (218 deaths [15.8%] vs 201 deaths [17.8%]; OR, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.68-1.12; P = .27). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Among patients with acute ischemic stroke, endovascular therapy with mechanical thrombectomy vs standard medical care with tPA was associated with improved functional outcomes and higher rates of angiographic revascularization, but no significant difference in symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage or all-cause mortality at 90 days.

Multidisciplinary consensus on assessment of unruptured intracranial aneurysms: proposal of an international research group.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: To address the increasing need to counsel patients about treatment indications for unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIA), we endeavored to develop a consensus on assessment of UIAs among a group of specialists from diverse fields involved in research and treatment of UIAs. METHODS: After composition of the research group, a Delphi consensus was initiated to identify and rate all features, which may be relevant to assess UIAs and their treatment by using ranking scales and analysis of inter-rater agreement (IRA) for each factor. IRA was categorized as very high, high, moderate, or low. RESULTS: Ultimately, 39 specialists from 4 specialties agreed (high or very high IRAs) on the following key factors for or against UIA treatment decisions: (1) patient age, life expectancy, and comorbid diseases; (2) previous subarachnoid hemorrhage from a different aneurysm, family history for UIA or subarachnoid hemorrhage, nicotine use; (3) UIA size, location, and lobulation; (4) UIA growth or de novo formation on serial imaging; (5) clinical symptoms (cranial nerve deficit, mass effect, and thromboembolic events from UIAs); and (6) risk factors for UIA treatment (patient age and life expectancy, UIA size, and estimated risk of treatment). However, IRAs for features rated with low relevance were also generally low, which underlined the existing controversy about the natural history of UIAs. CONCLUSIONS: Our results highlight that neurovascular specialists currently consider many features as important when evaluating UIAs but also highlight that the appreciation of natural history of UIAs remains uncertain, even within a group of highly informed individuals.