Interobserver Agreement in Scoring Angiographic Results of Basilar Artery Occlusion Stroke Therapy.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The modified TICI Infarction grading system is a metric currently used to evaluate angiographic results of thrombectomy for large-vessel occlusion in ischemic stroke. Originally designed for evaluating MCA territories, it is currently used for other vessel occlusions, including the posterior circulation. We postulate that the modified TICI use for the posterior circulation is not accurate due to the different vascular territories supplied by vertebrobasilar vasculature, making grading more complex. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We collected angiographic results from 30 patients who presented with acute posterior circulation occlusions between 2015 and 2018 and underwent thrombectomy in our institution. Eight observers were asked to evaluate the TICI scores before and after thrombectomy. The multirater statistics were computed using Fleiss κ analysis. Further data were collected regarding the potential brain territories at risk and the existence of atherosclerotic disease in the basilar artery. RESULTS: The overall agreement κ reached 0.277 (SD, 0.013), which suggests a "fair" agreement among the raters. On average, 45% of observers achieved a high accuracy in predicting brain areas at risk of ischemia. As for the existence of basilar atherosclerotic disease, a high agreement (defined as at least 5 of 6 observers) was seen in 20 of the 30 patients. CONCLUSIONS: Despite TICI being ubiquitous in stroke diagnostics, the high variability of posterior circulation TICI scores calls into question its use in these strokes. Other methods should be developed to assess recanalization in the posterior circulation.

Cost-effectiveness of stent-retriever thrombectomy in large vessel occlusion strokes of the anterior circulation: Analysis from the French societal perspective.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the cost-effectiveness of stent retriever thrombectomy (SRT) added to standard of care (SOC) in large vessel occlusion (LVO) strokes, adopting the French societal perspective given the lack of published studies with such perspective. METHODS: We developed an hybrid model (decision tree until one year post-stroke followed by a Markov model from one year onward). The time horizon was 20 years. We calculated transition probabilities across the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) based on a published meta-analysis. The main outcome measure was quality adjusted life-years (QALYs) gained. Resources and input costs were derived from a literature search. We calculated the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) expressed as cost/QALY. We used 1-way deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analysis (PSA) to evaluate the model uncertainty. RESULTS: In the base-case, adding SRT to SOC resulted in increased effectiveness of 0.73 QALY while total costs were reduced by 3,874€ (ICER of -5,400€/QALY). In the scenario analysis adopting the French healthcare system perspective, the ICER was 4,901€/QALY. Parameters the most influential were the relative risks of SRT over SOC for 90-days mortality and for 90-days mRS 0-2, and the time horizon. PSA showed the 95% confidence interval of the ICER was -21,324 to 4,591€/QALY, with SRT having 85.5% chance to be dominant and 100% to be cost-effective at a threshold of 50,000€/QALY. CONCLUSION: SRT was dominant from a French societal perspective, from 9 years post-stroke onwards. Cost-effectiveness of SRT added to SOC becomes undisputable with evidences from payer and societal viewpoints.

Stent retriever thrombectomy for acute ischemic stroke: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials, including THRACE.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Endovascular thrombectomy has become the reference therapy for patients with large vessel occlusion (LVO). However, no meta-analysis including the THRACE Trial has yet been reported. Thus, the present review assessed the outcomes of stent retriever thrombectomy added to medical care compared with medical care alone in LVO patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A systematic review was conducted of all randomized controlled trials (RCTs) examining stent retrievers added to medical care vs medical care alone in the MEDLINE, Embase and Web of Science databases. Meta-analyses of 90-day functional outcomes and mortality, and the occurrence of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH), with thrombectomy plus medical care vs medical care alone were performed. RESULTS: Six multicenter RCTs involving 1673 patients were included. Successful recanalization (modified thrombolysis in cerebral ischemia grades 2b-3) was seen in 71% of patients (95% CI: 62-79%) after thrombectomy. These patients also had significantly higher rates of 90-day functional independence (mRS scores 0-2) compared with those receiving medical care only (OR: 2.14, 95% CI: 1.72-2.67; P<0.00001), as well as excellent outcomes (mRS scores 0-1, OR: 2.05, 95% CI: 1.58-2.67; P<0.00001). Also, the rate of functional independence was higher (OR: 2.39, 95% CI: 1.88-3.04; P<0.00001) in the subgroup analysis without the THRACE Trial. The effect of endovascular therapy on 90-day mortality was inconclusive (OR: 0.82, 95% CI: 0.62-1.07; P=0.15), and there was no increased occurrence of sICH (OR: 1.11, 95% CI: 0.66-1.88; P=0.70). CONCLUSION: Stent retriever thrombectomy added to medical care improved 90-day functional outcomes compared with medical care alone with no impact on mortality and risk of sICH in LVO patients.

Impact of intravenous thrombolysis and emergent carotid stenting on reperfusion and clinical outcomes in patients with acute stroke with tandem lesion treated with thrombectomy: a collaborative pooled analysis.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Tandem anterior circulation lesions in the setting of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) are a complex endovascular situation that has not been specifically addressed in trials. We determined the predictors of successful reperfusion and good clinical outcome at 90 days after mechanical thrombectomy (MT) in patients with AIS with tandem lesions in a pooled collaborative study. METHODS: This was a retrospective analysis of consecutive patients presenting to 18 comprehensive stroke centers with AIS due to tandem lesion of the anterior circulation who underwent MT. RESULTS: A total of 395 patients were included. Successful reperfusion (modified thrombolysis in cerebral infarction score 2b-3) was achieved in 76.7%. At 90 days, 52.2% achieved a good outcome (modified Rankin Scale score 0-2), 13.8% suffered a parenchymal hematoma and 13.2% were dead. Lower National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score [odds ratio (OR), 1.26; 95% confidence intervals (CI), 1.07-1.48, P = 0.004], Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score ≥7 (OR, 2.00; 95% CI, 1.07-3.43, P = 0.011), intravenous thrombolysis (OR, 1.47; 95% CI, 1.01-2.12, P = 0.042) and stenting of the extracranial carotid lesion (OR, 1.63; 95% CI, 1.04-2;53, P = 0.030) were independently associated with successful reperfusion. Lower age (OR, 1.58; 95% CI, 1.26-1.97, P < 0.001), absence of hypercholesterolemia (OR, 1.77; 95% CI, 1.10-2.84, P = 0.018), lower National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale scores (OR, 2.04; 95% CI, 1.53-2.72, P < 0.001), Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score ≥7 (OR, 2.75; 95% CI, 1.24-6.10, P = 0.013) and proximal middle cerebral artery occlusion (OR, 1.59; 95% CI, 1.03-2.44, P = 0.035) independently predicted a good 90-day outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Intravenous thrombolysis and emergent stenting of the extracranial carotid lesion were predictors of a successful reperfusion after MT of patients with AIS with tandem lesion of the anterior circulation.

A direct aspiration first pass technique for acute stroke therapy: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: A direct aspiration first pass technique (ADAPT), involving the first-line use of a large-bore distal aspiration catheter, is a new strategy in the mechanical thrombectomy of acute ischemic stroke caused by large-vessel occlusion. However, its impact on reperfusion rates, clinical outcomes and complication rates has not been fully examined. METHODS: We conducted a systematic review of the literature searching multiple databases for reports on thrombectomy of acute stroke with ADAPT and performed meta-analyses of clinical and radiographic outcomes. RESULTS: We selected 16 articles that included a total of 1378 patients treated with ADAPT. The mean admission National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score was 17 and pre-treatment intravenous thrombolysis was used in 51% of cases. The successful recanalization (thrombolysis in cerebral ischemia 2b-3) rate was 66% [95% confidence interval (CI), 59-72%] with ADAPT and a rescue stent retriever was used in 31% of cases (95% CI, 24-37%) yielding an overall thrombolysis in cerebral ischemia 2b-3 rate of 89% (95% CI, 85-92%). We found a pooled estimate of 50% (95% CI, 45-54%) for functional independence (modified Rankin Scale score 0-2) at 90 days, 15% (95% CI, 10-21%) for mortality within 90 days and 5% (95% CI, 3-7%) for symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage. CONCLUSIONS: ADAPT therapy is associated with similar reperfusion rates, clinical outcomes and complication rates compared with thrombectomy with stent retrievers. However, the major limitations of current evidence (i.e. retrospective studies and selection bias) indicate a need for adequately powered, multicenter randomized controlled trials to determine the best strategy.