Neurocritical Care of Emergent Large-Vessel Occlusion: The Era of a New Standard of Care.

Acute ischemic stroke continues to be one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Recent advances in mechanical thrombectomy techniques combined with prereperfusion computed tomographic angiography for patient selection have revolutionized stroke care in the past year. Peri- and postinterventional neurocritical care of the patient who has had an emergent large-vessel occlusion is likely an equally important contributor to the outcome but has been relatively neglected. Critical periprocedural management issues include streamlining care to speed intervention, blood pressure optimization, reversal of anticoagulation, management of agitation, and selection of anesthetic technique (ie, general vs monitored anesthesia care). Postprocedural critical care issues that might modulate neurological outcome include blood pressure and glucose optimization, avoidance of fever or hyperoxia, fluid and nutritional management, and early integration of rehabilitation into the intensive care unit setting. In this review, we sought to lay down an evidence-based strategy for patients with acute ischemic stroke undergoing emergent endovascular reperfusion.

The Natural History of Coiled Cerebral Aneurysms Stratified by Modified Raymond-Roy Occlusion Classification.

OBJECTIVE: The natural history and long-term durability of Guglielmi detachable coil (GDC) embolization is still unknown. We hypothesize a stepwise decrease in durability of embolized cerebral aneurysms as stratified by the Modified Raymond-Roy Classification (MRRC). METHODS: First-time GDC-embolized cerebral aneurysms were retrospectively reviewed from 2004 to 2015. Loss of durability (LOD) was defined by change in aneurysm size or patency seen on serial radiographic follow-up. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was performed to evaluate embolization durability. Multivariate Cox regression modeling was used to assess baseline aneurysm and patient characteristics for their effect on LOD. RESULTS: A total of 427 patients with 443 aneurysms met the inclusion criteria. Overall, 89 (21%) aneurysms met LOD criteria. Grade 1 aneurysms had statistically significantly greater durability than did all other MRRC grades. Grade 3b aneurysms had significantly worse durability than did all other aneurysm grades. There was no difference in durability between grade 2 and 3a aneurysms. Of aneurysms with LOD, 26 (29%) experienced worsening of MRRC grade. Thirty-five (24%) initial MRRC grade 2, 72 (45%) initial MRRC grade 3a, and 6 (22%) initial MRRC grade 3b aneurysms progressed to MRRC grade 1 without retreatment. In our multivariate analysis, only initial MRRC grade was statistically significantly associated with treatment durability (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: MRRC grade is independently associated with first-time GDC-embolized cerebral aneurysm durability. Achieving MRRC grade 1 occlusion outcome is significantly associated with greater long-term GDC durability. Although few aneurysms experience further growth and/or recanalization, most incompletely obliterated aneurysms tend to remain stable over time or even progress to occlusion. Grading scales such as the MRRC are useful for characterizing aneurysm occlusion but may lack sensitivity and specificity for characterizing changes in aneurysm morphology over time.

Functional Outcomes and Delayed Cerebral Ischemia Following Nonperimesencephalic Angiogram-Negative Subarachnoid Hemorrhage Similar to Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage.

BACKGROUND: The angiogram-negative subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) literature includes patients with perimesencephalic hemorrhage, which is recognized to have a much better outcome than aneurysmal SAH. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical outcomes of Nonperimesencephalic Angiogram-Negative SAH (NPAN-SAH). METHODS: A prospective, spontaneous SAH database of 1311 patients that accrued between April 2006 and December 2014 was screened. All patients with NPAN-SAH and 2 consecutive negative cerebral angiograms were included. RESULTS: We identified 191 (11%) from a total of 1311 patients with spontaneous SAH. Amongst angiogram-negative patients, 83 (4.9%) were adjudicated to have NPAN-SAH. Patient characteristics were similar across the groups, except NPAN-SAH patients were more likely to be men and had higher rates of diabetes. In a multivariable logistic regression model, NPAN-SAH patients were less likely to develop vasospasm, after adjusting for Fisher grade, sex, and diabetes (odds ratio [OR]: 0.197, 95% confidence interval [CI; 0.07-0.55], P = .002). In another adjusted model accounting for Hunt and Hess clinical grade, NPAN-SAH patients were also less likely to develop vasospasm (OR: 0.2, 95% CI [0.07-0.57], P = .002). We found no statistical significance between 2 groups for rebleed, developing hydrocephalus, seizures, or delayed cerebral ischemia. NPAN-SAH patients were equally associated with poor functional outcome (modified Rankin scale ≥3; OR: 1.16, 95% CI [0.615-2.20], P = .6420), and death (OR: 1.22, 95% CI [0.362-4.132], P = .7455) compared to aneurysmal SAH. CONCLUSION: Although the risk of vasospasm may be lower, patients with NPAN-SAH are equally associated with delayed cerebral ischemia, poor outcome, and death as compared to patients with aneurysmal SAH. Furthers studies may be necessary to further clarify these findings.