Tenecteplase versus alteplase before stroke thrombectomy: outcomes after system-wide transitions in Pennsylvania.

INTRODUCTION: United States stroke systems are increasingly transitioning from alteplase (TPA) to tenecteplase (TNK). Real-world data on the safety and effectiveness of replacing TPA with TNK before large vessel occlusion (LVO) stroke endovascular treatment (EVT) are lacking. METHODS: Four Pennsylvania stroke systems transitioned from TPA to TNK during the study period 01/2020-06/2023. LVO stroke patients who received intravenous thrombolysis with TPA or TNK before EVT were reviewed. Multivariate logistic analysis was conducted adjusting for age, sex, National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), occlusion site, last-known-well-to-intravenous thrombolysis time, interhospital-transfer and stroke system. RESULTS: Of 635 patients, 309 (48.7%) received TNK and 326 (51.3%) TPA prior to EVT. The site of occlusion was the M1 middle cerebral artery (MCA) (47.7%), M2 MCA (25.4%), internal carotid artery (14.0%), tandem carotid with M1 or M2 MCA (9.8%) and basilar artery (3.1%). A favorable functional outcome (90-day mRS ≤ 2) was observed in 47.6% of TNK and 49.7% of TPA patients (p = 0.132). TNK versus TPA groups had similar rates of early recanalization (11.9% vs. 8.4%, p = 0.259), successful endovascular reperfusion (93.5% vs. 89.3%, p = 0.627), symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (3.2% vs. 3.4%, p = 0.218) and 90-day all-cause mortality (23.1% vs. 21.5%, p = 0.491). CONCLUSIONS: This U.S. multicenter real-world clinical experience demonstrated that switching from TPA to TNK before EVT for LVO stroke resulted in similar endovascular reperfusion, safety, and functional outcomes.

Femoral versus radial access for middle meningeal artery embolization for chronic subdural hematomas: multicenter propensity score matched study.

BACKGROUND: With transradial access (TRA) being more progressively used in neuroendovascular procedures, we compared TRA with transfemoral access (TFA) in middle meningeal artery embolization (MMAE) for chronic subdural hematoma (cSDH). METHODS: Consecutive patients undergoing MMAE for cSDH at 14 North American centers (2018-23) were included. TRA and TFA groups were compared using propensity score matching (PSM) controlling for: age, sex, concurrent surgery, previous surgery, hematoma thickness and side, midline shift, and pretreatment antithrombotics. The primary outcome was access site and overall complications, and procedure duration; secondary endpoints were surgical rescue, radiographic improvement, and technical success and length of stay. RESULTS: 872 patients (median age 73 years, 72.9% men) underwent 1070 MMAE procedures (54% TFA vs 46% TRA). Access site hematoma occurred in three TFA cases (0.5%; none required operative intervention) versus 0% in TRA (P=0.23), and radial-to-femoral conversion occurred in 1% of TRA cases. TRA was more used in right sided cSDH (58.4% vs 44.8%; P<0.001). Particle embolics were significantly higher in TFA while Onyx was higher in TRA (P<0.001). Following PSM, 150 matched pairs were generated. Particles were more utilized in the TFA group (53% vs 29.7%) and Onyx was more utilized in the TRA group (56.1% vs 31.5%) (P=0.001). Procedural duration was longer in the TRA group (median 68.5 min (IQR 43.1-95) vs 59 (42-84); P=0.038), and radiographic success was higher in the TFA group (87.3% vs 77.4%; P=0.036). No differences were noted in surgical rescue (8.4% vs 10.1%, P=0.35) or technical failures (2.4% vs 2%; P=0.67) between TFA and TRA. Sensitivity analysis in the standalone MMAE retained all associations but differences in procedural duration. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, TRA offered comparable outcomes to TFA in MMAE for cSDH in terms of access related and overall complications, technical feasibility, and functional outcomes. Procedural duration was slightly longer in the TRA group, and radiographic success was higher in the TFA group, with no differences in surgical rescue rates.

Development of an Injectable, ECM-Derivative Embolic for the Treatment of Cerebral Saccular Aneurysms.

Cerebral aneurysms are a source of neurological morbidity and mortality, most often as a result of rupture. The most common approach for treating aneurysms involves endovascular embolization using nonbiodegradable medical devices, such as platinum coils. However, the need for retreatment due to the recanalization of coil-treated aneurysms highlights the importance of exploring alternative solutions. In this study, we propose an injectable extracellular matrix-derived embolic formed in situ by Michael addition of gelatin-thiol (Gel-SH) and hyaluronic acid vinyl sulfone (HA-VS) that may be delivered with a therapeutic agent (here, RADA-SP) to fill and remodel aneurysmal tissue without leaving behind permanent foreign bodies. The injectable embolic material demonstrated rapid gelation under physiological conditions, forming a highly porous structure and allowing for cellular infiltration. The injectable embolic exhibited thrombogenic behavior in vitro that was comparable to that of alginate injectables. Furthermore, in vivo studies in a murine carotid aneurysm model demonstrated the successful embolization of a saccular aneurysm and extensive cellular infiltration both with and without RADA-SP at 3 weeks, with some evidence of increased vascular or fibrosis markers with RADA-SP incorporation. The results indicate that the developed embolic has inherent potential for acutely filling cerebrovascular aneurysms and encouraging the cellular infiltration that would be necessary for stable, chronic remodeling.

Intracranial aneurysms and abducent nerve palsy.

Background: Cranial nerve (CN) palsy may manifest as an initial presentation of intracranial aneurysms or due to the treatment. The literature reveals a paucity of studies addressing the involvement of the 6th CN in the presentation of cerebral aneurysms. Methods: Clinical patient data, aneurysmal characteristics, and CN 6th palsy outcome were retrospectively reviewed and analyzed. Results: Out of 1311 cases analyzed, a total of 12 cases were identified as having CN 6th palsy at the presentation. Eight out of the 12 were found in the unruptured aneurysm in the cavernous segment of the internal carotid artery (ICA). The other four cases of CN 6th palsy were found in association with ruptured aneurysms located exclusively at the posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA). For the full functional recovery of the CN 6th palsy, there was 50% documented full recovery in the eight cases of the unruptured cavernous ICA aneurysm. On the other hand, all four patients with ruptured PICA aneurysms have a full recovery of CN 6th palsy. The duration for recovery for CN palsy ranges from 1 to 5 months. Conclusion: The association between intracranial aneurysms and CN 6th palsy at presentation may suggest distinct patterns related to aneurysmal location and size. The abducent nerve palsy can be linked to unruptured cavernous ICA and ruptured PICA aneurysms. The recovery of CN 6th palsy may be influenced by aneurysm size, rupture status, location, and treatment modality.

Impact of Embolisate Penetration, Type, and Technique on Results After Standalone Middle Meningeal Artery Embolization for Chronic Subdural Hematoma.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Middle meningeal artery embolization (MMAE) has emerged as a promising modality for chronic/subacute subdural hematoma treatment; however, consensus regarding embolization technique and embolisate has not been achieved. We thus sought to compare the efficacy of distinct MMAE techniques and embolisate. METHODS: An institutional registry was reviewed to identify patients undergoing standalone MMAE for symptomatic chronic/subacute subdural hematoma. Surgical rescue rate and time preceding 50% hematoma resolution were evaluated across 3 technical groups: aggressive penetration (AP), nonaggressive penetration with proximal coil embolization (NP-PC), and nonaggressive penetration alone (NP). Effect sizes were adjusted for demographic, neurological and radiological features through multivariable logistic and Cox regression. RESULTS: Among 117 procedures, 33.3% achieved AP, 36.8% had NP-PC, and 29.9% had NP. The rate of surgical rescue was 2.6% after AP, 9.3% for NP-PC, and 11.4% for NP. In patients not undergoing rescue surgery, 82.4% achieved hematoma resolution ≥50% at a median imaging follow-up of 56 days; AP or NP-PC were each statistically significantly associated with enhanced hematoma resolution as compared with NP (P = .02). Similarly, sensitivity analysis within medium-size hematoma and antiplatelet/anticoagulation-at-admission subgroups revealed a superiority of resolution after AP or NP-PC. A unique, comparative secondary analysis of liquid embolisate (Onyx vs n-butyl cyanoacrylate) revealed no impact on rate of surgical rescue or hematoma resolution. CONCLUSION: AP was associated with the lowest rate of surgical rescue, while both AP and NP-PC were associated with improved rates of hematoma resolution.

Pharmaceutical Modulation of Intracranial Aneurysm Development and Rupture.

Management of intracranial aneurysms (IAs) is determined by patient age, risk of rupture, and comorbid conditions. While endovascular and microsurgical interventions offer solutions to mitigate the risk of rupture, pharmacological management strategies may complement these approaches or serve as alternatives in appropriate cases. The pathophysiology of IAs allows for the targeting of inflammation to prevent the development and rupture of IAs. The aim of this review is to provide an updated summary of different pharmaceutical management strategies for IAs. Acetylsalicylic acid and renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) inhibitor antihypertensives have some evidence supporting their protective effect. Studies of selective cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors, statins, ADP inhibitors, and other metabolism-affecting drugs have demonstrated inconclusive findings regarding their association with aneurysm growth or rupture. In this manuscript, we highlight the evidence supporting each drug's effectiveness.

Distal Medium Vessel Occlusion Strokes: Understanding the Present and Paving the Way for a Better Future.

Distal medium vessel occlusions (DMVOs) are thought to cause as many as 25% to 40% of all acute ischemic strokes and may result in substantial disability amongst survivors. Although intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) is more effective for distal than proximal vessel occlusions, the overall efficacy of IVT remains limited in DMVO with less than 50% of patients achieving reperfusion and about 1/3 to 1/4 of the patients failing to achieve functional independence. Data regarding mechanical thrombectomy (MT) among these patients remains limited. The smaller, thinner, and more tortuous vessels involved in DMVO are presumably associated with higher procedural risks whereas a lower benefit might be expected given the smaller amount of tissue territory at risk. Recent advances in technology have shown promising results in endovascular treatment of DMVOs with room for future improvement. In this review, we discuss some of the key technical and clinical considerations in DMVO treatment including the anatomical and clinical terminology, diagnostic modalities, the role of IVT and MT, existing technology, and technical challenges as well as the contemporary evidence and future treatment directions.

Medications and "Risk" of Aneurysm Rupture Based on Presentation: Setting the Record Straight.

OBJECTIVE: Studies assessing aneurysm rupture "risk" based on comparative retrospective analyses of medications taken on presentation may be subject to presentation bias. Are patients with ruptured aneurysms simply less likely to be taking medications than those with unruptured aneurysms? METHODS: A retrospective chart review was conducted among patients with treated aneurysms from June 2016 to July 2023. A step-wise comparison of demographics, clinical characteristics (rupture status), and medications taken upon presentation was performed between ruptured and unruptured cases. RESULTS: One thousand three hundred eleven patients with intracranial aneurysms were included. The majority of patients presenting with ruptured aneurysms took no medications (68%), in contrast to 22% with unruptured aneurysms (P < 0.001). The majority of patients with unruptured aneurysms took 2-5 medications (51%), in contrast to 15% of patients with ruptured aneurysms taking 2-5 medications (P < 0.001). Twelve percent of patients with unruptured aneurysms took more than 5 medications, while only 1% with ruptured aneurysms did (P < 0.001). Thirty-five different medications were associated with unruptured presentation, including all evaluated antiplatelet agents, anti-hypertensives, antacids, pulmonary inhalers, and psychiatric medications (P < 0.05); no medications were associated with rupture on presentation. CONCLUSIONS: One cannot derive conclusions about medications and "risk" of rupture based on analyses at the time of presentation. This study identifies 35 different medications that were statistically significant and associated with an unruptured presentation; it is doubtful that each is "protective" against aneurysm rupture.

Anesthesia modality in endovascular treatment for distal medium vessel occlusion stroke: intention-to-treat propensity score-matched analysis.

BACKGROUND: The optimal anesthesia modality during endovascular treatment (EVT) for distal medium vessel occlusion (DMVO) stroke is uncertain. We aimed to evaluate the association of the anesthesia modality with procedural and clinical outcomes following EVT for DMVO stroke. METHODS: This is a multicenter retrospective analysis of a prospectively collected database. Patients were included if they had DMVO involving the middle cerebral artery-M3/4, anterior cerebral artery-A2/3, or posterior cerebral artery-P1/P2-3, and underwent EVT. The cohort was divided into two groups, general anesthesia (GA) and non-general anesthesia (non-GA), and compared based on the intention-to-treat principle as primary analysis. We used propensity scores to balance the two groups. The primary outcome was the shift in the degree of disability as measured by the 90-day modified Rankin Scale (mRS). Secondary outcomes included successful reperfusion, as well as excellent (mRS 0-1) and good (mRS 0-2) clinical outcomes at 90 days. Safety measures included procedural complications, symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (sICH), and 90-day mortality. RESULTS: Among 366 DMVO thrombectomies, 61 matched pairs were eligible for analysis. Median age and National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score as well as other baseline demographic and clinical characteristics were balanced between both groups. The GA group had no difference in the overall degree of disability (common OR 1.19, 95% CI 0.52 to 2.86, P=0.67) compared with the non-GA arm. Likewise, the GA group had comparable rates of successful reperfusion (OR 2.38, 95% CI 0.80 to 7.07, P=0.12), good/excellent clinical outcomes (OR 1.14, 95% CI 0.44 to 2.96, P=0.79/(OR 0.65, 95% CI 0.24 to 1.81, P=0.41), procedural complications (OR 1.00, 95% CI 0.19 to 5.16, P>0.99), sICH (OR 3.24, 95% CI 0.83 to 12.68, P=0.09), and 90-day mortality (OR 1.43, 95% CI 0.48 to 4.27, P=0.52) compared with the non-GA group. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with DMVO, our study showed that GA and non-GA groups had similar procedural and clinical outcomes, as well as safety measures. Further larger controlled studies are warranted.

Management of failed flow diversion for intracranial aneurysm beyond the first 6 months of follow-up: an international Delphi consensus.

OBJECTIVE: The placement of flow-diverting devices has become a common method of treating unruptured intracranial aneurysms of the internal carotid artery. The progressive improvement of aneurysm occlusion after treatment-with low complication and rupture rates-has led to a dilemma regarding the management of aneurysms in which occlusion has not occurred within 6-24 months. The authors aimed to identify clinical consensus regarding management of intracranial aneurysms displaying persistent filling 6-24 months after flow diversion and to ascertain questions that may drive future investigation. METHODS: An international panel of 67 experts was invited to participate in a multistep Delphi consensus process on the treatment of intracranial aneurysms after failed flow diversion. RESULTS: Of the 67 experts invited, 23 (34%) participated. Qualitative analysis of an initial survey with open-ended questions resulted in 51 statements regarding management of aneurysms showing persistent filling after flow diversion. The statements were grouped into 8 categories, and in the second round, respondents rated the degree of their agreement with each statement on a 5-point Likert scale. Flow diverters with surface modifiers did not influence administration of dual-antiplatelet therapy according to 83%. Consensus was also reached regarding the definition of treatment failure at specific time points, including at 6 months if there is aneurysm growth or persistent rapid flow through the entirety of the aneurysm (96%), at 12 months if there is aneurysm growth or symptom onset (78%), and at 24 months if there is persistent filling regardless of size and filling characteristics (74%). Although experts agreed that the degree of intimal hyperplasia or in-device stenosis could not be ascertained by noninvasive imaging alone (83%), only 65% chose digital subtraction angiography as the preferred modality. At 6 and 12 months, retreatment is preferred if there is persistent filling with aneurysm growth (96%, 96%), device malposition (48%, 87%), or a history of subarachnoid hemorrhage (65%, 70%), respectively, and at 24 months if there is persistent filling without reduction in aneurysm size (74%). Experts favored treatment with an additional flow diverter (87%) over aneurysm clipping, applying the same principles for follow-up (83%) and treatment failure (91%) as for the first flow diverter. CONCLUSIONS: The authors present the consensus practices of experts in the management of intracranial aneurysms without occlusion 6-24 months after treatment with a flow-diverting device.

Developmental Venous Anomalies.

Developmental venous anomalies (DVAs) are the most common vascular malformation detected on intracranial cross-sectional imaging. They are generally benign lesions thought to drain normal parenchyma. Spontaneous hemorrhages attributed to DVAs are rare and should be ascribed to associated cerebral cavernous malformations, flow-related shunts, or venous outflow obstruction. Contrast-enhanced MRI, susceptibility-weighted imaging, and high-field MRI are ideal tools for visualizing vessel connectivity and associated lesions. DVAs are not generally considered targets for treatment. Preservation of DVAs is an established practice in the microsurgical or radiosurgical treatment of associated lesions.

Traumatic Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis: Management and Outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) with skull fractures parallel to or crossing venous sinuses is a recognized risk factor for traumatic cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (tCVST). Despite the recognition of this traumatic pathology in the literature, no consensus regarding management has been achieved. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of tCVST on TBI outcomes and related complications. METHODS: Patients within a prospective registry at a level I trauma center from 2014 to 2023 were reviewed to identify tCVST cases. The impact of tCVST presence on Glasgow Outcome Scale scores at 6 months, 30-day mortality, and hospital length of stay were evaluated in multivariable-adjusted analyses. RESULTS: Among 607 patients with TBI, 61 patients were identified with skull fractures extending to the vicinity of venous sinuses with dedicated venography. Twenty-eight of these 61 patients (44.3%) had tCVST. The majority (96.4%) of tCVST were located in a unilateral transverse or sigmoid sinus. Complete recanalization was observed in 28% of patients on follow-up imaging (7/25 with follow-up imaging). None of the 28 patients suffered attributable venous infarcts or thrombus propagation. In the adjusted analysis, there was no difference in the 30-day mortality or Glasgow Outcome Scale at 6 months between patients with and without tCVST. CONCLUSIONS: Unilateral tCVST follows a benign clinical course without associated increased mortality or morbidity. The management of tCVST should be distinct as compared to spontaneous CVST, likely without the need for anticoagulation.

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.

Intraoperative neuromonitoring as real-time diagnostic for cerebral ischemia in endovascular treatment of ruptured brain aneurysms.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring (IONM) during endovascular treatment (EVT) of ruptured intracranial aneurysms (rIA). METHODS: IONM and clinical data from 323 patients who underwent EVT for rIA from 2014-2019 were retrospectively reviewed. Significant IONM changes and outcomes were evaluated based on visual review of data and clinical documentation. RESULTS: Of the 323 patients undergoing EVT, significant IONM changes were noted in 30 patients (9.29%) and 46 (14.24%) experienced postprocedural neurological deficits (PPND). 22 out of 30 (73.33%) patients who had significant IONM changes experienced PPND. Univariable analysis showed changes in somatosensory evoked potential (SSEP) and electroencephalogram (EEG) were associated with PPND (p-values: <0.001 and <0.001, retrospectively). Multivariable analysis showed that IONM changes were significantly associated with PPND (Odd ratio (OR) 20.18 (95%CI:7.40-55.03, p-value: <0.001)). Simultaneous changes in both IONM modalities had specificity of 98.9% (95% CI: 97.1%-99.7%). While sensitivity when either modality had a change was 47.8% (95% CI: 33.9%-62.0%) to predict PPND. CONCLUSIONS: Significant IONM changes during EVT for rIA are associated with an increased risk of PPND. SIGNIFICANCE: IONM can be used confidently as a real time neurophysiological diagnostic guide for impending neurological deficits during EVT treatment of rIA.

Dural arteriovenous fistulas are not observed to convert to a higher grade after partial embolization.

OBJECTIVE: Borden-Shucart type I dural arteriovenous fistulas (dAVFs) lack cortical venous drainage and occasionally necessitate intervention depending on patient symptoms. Conversion is the rare transformation of a low-grade dAVF to a higher grade. Factors associated with increased risk of dAVF conversion to a higher grade are poorly understood. The authors hypothesized that partial treatment of type I dAVFs is an independent risk factor for conversion. METHODS: The multicenter Consortium for Dural Arteriovenous Fistula Outcomes Research database was used to perform a retrospective analysis of all patients with type I dAVFs. RESULTS: Three hundred fifty-eight (33.2%) of 1077 patients had type I dAVFs. Of those 358 patients, 206 received endovascular treatment and 131 were not treated. Two (2.2%) of 91 patients receiving partial endovascular treatment for a low-grade dAVF experienced conversion to a higher grade, 2 (1.5%) of 131 who were not treated experienced conversion, and none (0%) of 115 patients who received complete endovascular treatment experienced dAVF conversion. The majority of converted dAVFs localized to the transverse-sigmoid sinus and all received embolization as part of their treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Partial treatment of type I dAVFs does not appear to be significantly associated with conversion to a higher grade.

Advances in biomarkers for vasospasm - Towards a future blood-based diagnostic test.

Objective: Cerebral vasospasm and the resultant delayed cerebral infarction is a significant source of mortality following aneurysmal SAH. Vasospasm is currently detected using invasive or expensive imaging at regular intervals in patients following SAH, thus posing a risk of complications following the procedure and financial burden on these patients. Currently, there is no blood-based test to detect vasospasm. Methods: PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase databases were systematically searched to retrieve studies related to cerebral vasospasm, aneurysm rupture, and biomarkers. The study search dated from 1997 to 2022. Data from eligible studies was extracted and then summarized. Results: Out of the 632 citations screened, only 217 abstracts were selected for further review. Out of those, only 59 full text articles met eligibility and another 13 were excluded. Conclusions: We summarize the current literature on the mechanism of cerebral vasospasm and delayed cerebral ischemia, specifically studies relating to inflammation, and provide a rationale and commentary on a hypothetical future bloodbased test to detect vasospasm. Efforts should be focused on clinical-translational approaches to create such a test to improve treatment timing and prediction of vasospasm to reduce the incidence of delayed cerebral infarction.

The Influence of Coagulopathy on Radiographic and Clinical Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Middle Meningeal Artery Embolization as Standalone Treatment for Non-acute Subdural Hematomas.

Middle meningeal artery embolization (MMAE) is emerging as a safe and effective standalone intervention for non-acute subdural hematomas (NASHs); however, the risk of hematoma recurrence after MMAE in coagulopathic patients is unclear. To characterize the impact of coagulopathy on treatment outcomes, we analyzed a multi-institutional database of patients who underwent standalone MMAE as treatment for NASH. We classified 537 patients who underwent MMAE as a standalone intervention between 2019 and 2023 by coagulopathy status. Coagulopathy was defined as use of anticoagulation/antiplatelet agents or pre-operative thrombocytopenia (platelets <100,000/µL). Demographics, pre-procedural characteristics, in-hospital course, and patient outcomes were collected. Thrombocytopenia, aspirin use, antiplatelet agent use, and anticoagulant use were assessed using univariate and multivariate analyses to identify any characteristics associated with the need for rescue surgical intervention, mortality, adverse events, and modified Rankin Scale score at 90-day follow-up. Propensity score-matched cohorts by coagulopathy status with matching covariates adjusting for risk factors implicated in surgical recurrence were evaluated by univariate and multivariate analyses. Minimal differences in pre-operative characteristics between patients with and those without coagulopathy were observed. On unmatched and matched analyses, patients with coagulopathy had higher rates of requiring subsequent surgery than those without (unmatched: 9.9% vs. 4.3%; matched: 12.6% vs. 4.6%; both p < 0.05). On matched multivariable analysis, patients with coagulopathy had an increased odds ratio (OR) of requiring surgical rescue (OR 3.95; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.68-9.30; p < 0.01). Antiplatelet agent use (ticagrelor, prasugrel, or clopidogrel) was also predictive of surgical rescue (OR 4.38; 95% CI 1.51-12.72; p = 0.01), and patients with thrombocytopenia had significantly increased odds of in-hospital mortality (OR 5.16; 95% CI 2.38-11.20; p < 0.01). There were no differences in follow-up radiographic and other clinical outcomes in patients with and those without coagulopathy. Patients with coagulopathy undergoing standalone MMAE for treatment of NASH may have greater risk of requiring surgical rescue (particularly in patients using antiplatelet agents), and in-hospital mortality (in thrombocytopenic patients).

Assessment of the safety and efficacy of the Zoom 45 and 55 reperfusion catheters for medium and distal mechanical thrombectomies: A multi-institutional study.

INTRODUCTION: The Zoom aspiration catheters harbor novel dimensions and construction to enhance trackability and deliverability. In addition, a beveled tip may improve thrombus interaction and aspiration force for a set inner diameter. This study evaluates their utility in medium and distal vessel occlusions. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of Zoom 45 and 55 aspiration catheters in medium and distal vessel thrombectomy. METHODS: Patients treated for distal vessel occlusions via mechanical thrombectomy utilizing either the Zoom 45/55 catheter or a historical control catheter between 2021-2022 at two institutions were included in this study. Medium and distal occlusions were defined as any anterior or posterior cerebral artery branch as well as the M2-4 segment of the middle cerebral artery (MCA). Preprocedural, procedural, and postprocedural variables were obtained. RESULTS: Thirty-eight patients underwent thrombectomy with Zoom 45 or 55 catheters; four had multiple occluded vessels. Occlusion location included the M2 in 32 cases, M3-4 in 7 cases, A2 in 2 cases and P2 in 1 case. The mean number of passes per occlusion was 1.6 and overall successful reperfusion (TICI 2b or greater) was achieved in 84 % of cases. There were no symptomatic procedure-related complications such as perforation or post-procedural symptomatic ICH. Modified Rankin scores rates of 0-2, 3-5, and 6 at three months post-procedure were 35.7 %, 21.4 %, and 42.9 %, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The Zoom beveled tip aspiration catheters are safe and effective for more challenging medium and distal vessel occlusions.

General Versus Nongeneral Anesthesia for Middle Meningeal Artery Embolization for Chronic Subdural Hematomas: Multicenter Propensity Score Matched Study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The choice of anesthesia type (general anesthesia [GA] vs nongeneral anesthesia [non-GA]) in middle meningeal artery embolization (MMAE) procedures for chronic subdural hematomas (cSDH) differs between institutions and left to care team discretion given lack of standard guidelines. We compare the outcomes of GA vs non-GA in MMAE. METHODS: Consecutive patients receiving MMAE for cSDH at 14 North American centers (2018-2023) were included. Clinical, cSDH characteristics, and technical/clinical outcomes were compared between the GA/non-GA groups. Using propensity score matching (PSM), patients were matched controlling for age, baseline modified Rankin Scale, concurrent/prior surgery, hematoma thickness/midline shift, and baseline antiplatelet/anticoagulation. The primary end points included surgical rescue and radiographic success rates (≥50% reduction in maximum hematoma thickness with minimum 2 weeks of imaging). Secondary end points included technical feasibility, procedural complications, and functional outcomes. RESULTS: Seven hundred seventy-eight patients (median age 73 years, 73.2% male patients) underwent 956 MMAE procedures, 667 (70.4%) were non-GA and 280 were GA (29.6%). After running 1:3 PSM algorithm, this resulted in 153 and 296 in the GA and non-GA groups, respectively. There were no baseline/procedural differences between the groups except radial access more significantly used in the non-GA group (P = .001). There was no difference between the groups in procedural technical feasibility, complications rate, length of stay, surgical rescue rates, or favorable functional outcome at the last follow-up. Subsequent 1:1 sensitivity PSM retained the same results. Bilateral MMAE procedures were more performed under non-GA group (75.8% vs 67.2%; P = .01); no differences were noted in clinical/radiographic outcomes between bilateral vs unilateral MMAE, except for longer procedure duration in the bilateral group (median 73 minutes [IQR 48.3-100] vs 54 minutes [39-75]; P < .0001). Another PSM analysis comparing GA vs non-GA in patients undergoing stand-alone MMAE retained similar associations. CONCLUSION: We found no significant differences in radiological improvement/clinical outcomes between GA and non-GA for MMAE.

Woven EndoBridge versus stent-assisted coil embolization for the treatment of ruptured wide-necked aneurysms: A multicentric experience.

BACKGROUND: The potentially higher risk of hemorrhagic complications is of concern in stent-assisted coiling (SAC) of ruptured wide-necked intracranial aneurysms (IAs). The Woven EndoBridge (WEB) is considered an appealing alternative since antiplatelet therapy is not required. Herein, we aimed to compare the safety and effectiveness of WEB vs. SAC for the treatment of ruptured wide-necked IAs. METHODS: This was an international cross-sectional study of consecutive patients treated for ruptured wide-neck IAs with WEB or SAC at four high-volume neurovascular centers between 2019 and 2022. Primary and secondary efficacy outcomes were radiographic aneurysm occlusion at follow-up and functional status at last follow-up. Safety outcomes included periprocedural hemorrhagic/ischemia-related complications. RESULTS: One hundred five patients treated with WEB and 112 patients treated with SAC were included. The median procedure duration of endovascular treatment was shorter for WEB than for SAC (69 vs. 76 min; p = 0.04). There were no significant differences in complete aneurysm occlusion rates (SAC: 64.5% vs. WEB: 60.9%; adjusted OR [aOR] = 0.70; 95%CI 0.34-1.43; p = 0.328). SAC had a significantly higher risk of complications (23.2% vs. 9.5%, p = 0.009), ischemic events (17% vs. 6.7%, p = 0.024), and EVD hemorrhage (16% vs. 0%, p = 0.008). The probability of procedure-related complications across procedure time was significantly lower with WEB compared with SAC (aOR = 0.40; 95%CI 0.20-1.13; p = 0.03). CONCLUSION: WEB and SAC demonstrated similar obliteration rates at follow-up when used for embolization of ruptured wide-necked IAs. However, SAC showed higher rates of procedure-related complications primarily driven by ischemic events and higher rates of EVD hemorrhage. The overall treatment duration was shorter for WEB than for SAC.