Prognostic significance of refractory thrombus in STEMI patients and the role of red cell distribution width: A case-control study.

The high thrombus burden of the infarct-related artery (IRA) is associated with the adverse prognosis in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients. Our objectives were to investigate the predictors and evaluate the prognosis of refractory thrombus in STEMI patients. A total of 1305 consecutive patients with STEMI who underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI) were screened. The refractory thrombus group (n = 15) was defined as IRA thrombolysis in myocardial infarction flow < grade 2 after multiple thrombus aspiration (TA). The control group (n = 45) was age- and sex-matched and was selected from the same batch of patients. Baseline hematologic indices were measured before the pPCI. The major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) were recorded during follow-up. The refractory thrombus group had significantly higher red cell distribution width (RDW) at baseline compared with the control group (13.1 [12.4-13.7] vs 12.6 [12.3-12.8], P = .008). In multivariate logistic regression analysis, RDW was an independent predictor of refractory thrombus (odds ratio: 8.799, 95% CI: 1.240-62.454, P = .030). The area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve of the RDW was 0.730 (95%CI: 0.548-0.912, P = .008). During a mean period of 26 months follow-up, patients in the refractory thrombus group tended to have higher percent MACEs compared with patients in the control group (53.3% vs 6.7%, P < .001). In the present study, we found that the refractory thrombus in STEMI patients was associated with the worse prognosis and the increased RDW might be a potential independent predictor.

Which one is the best in treating deep venous thrombosis -- percutaneous mechanical thrombectomy, catheter-directed thrombolysis or combination of them?

OBJECTIVE: To compare the treatment outcomes among percutaneous mechanical thrombectomy (PMT) with AngioJet, Catheter-directed thrombolysis (CDT), and a combination of both. METHODS: One hundred forty nine patients with acute or sub-acute iliac-femoral vein thrombosis accepting CDT and/or PMT were divided into three groups respectively: PMT group, CDT group, PMT + CDT group (PMT followed by CDT). The severity of thrombosis was evaluated by venographic scoring system. Technical success was defined as restored patent deep venous blood flow after CDT and/or PMT. Clinical follow-up were assessed by ultrasound or venography imaging. The primary endpoints were recurrence of DVT, and severity level of post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS) during the follow-up. RESULTS: Technical success and immediate clinical improvements were achieved on all patients. The proportion of sub-acute DVT and the venographic scoring in PMT + CDT group were significantly higher than that in CDT group and PMT group (proportion of sub-acute DVT: p = 0.032 and p = 0.005, respectively; venographic scoring: p < 0.001, respectively). The proportion of May-Thurner Syndrome was lower in PMT group than that in CDT and PMT + CDT group (p = 0.026 and p = 0.005, respectively). The proportion of DVT recurrence/stent thrombosis was significantly higher in CDT group than that in PMT + CDT group (p = 0.04). The severity of PTS was the highest in CDT group ( χ2 = 14.459, p = 0.006) compared to PMT group (p = 0.029) and PMT + CDT group (p = 0.006). CONCLUSION: Patients with sub-acute DVT, high SVS scoring and combined May-Thurner Syndrome were recommended to take PMT + CDT treatment and might have lower rate of DVT recurrence/stent thrombosis and severe PTS. Our study provided evidence detailing of PMT + CDT therapy.

Parallel activation of helicopter and ground transportation after dispatcher identification of suspected anterior large vessel occlusion stroke in rural areas: a proof-of-concept case with modeling from the LESTOR trial.

BACKGROUND: When stroke patients with suspected anterior large vessel occlusion (aLVO) happen to live in rural areas, two main options exist for prehospital transport: (i) the drip-and-ship (DnS) strategy, which ensures rapid access to intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) at the nearest primary stroke center but requires time-consuming interhospital transfer for endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) because the latter is only available at comprehensive stroke centers (CSC); and (ii) the mothership (MS) strategy, which entails direct transport to a CSC and allows for faster access to EVT but carries the risk of IVT being delayed or even the time window being missed completely. The use of a helicopter might shorten the transport time to the CSC in rural areas. However, if the aLVO stroke is only recognized by the emergency service on site, the helicopter must be requested in addition, which extends the prehospital time and partially negates the time advantage. We hypothesized that parallel activation of ground and helicopter transportation in case of aLVO suspicion by the dispatcher (aLVO-guided dispatch strategy) could shorten the prehospital time in rural areas and enable faster treatment with IVT and EVT. METHODS: As a proof-of-concept, we report a case from the LESTOR trial where the dispatcher suspected an aLVO stroke during the emergency call and dispatched EMS and HEMS in parallel. Based on this case, we compare the provided aLVO-guided dispatch strategy to the DnS and MS strategies regarding the times to IVT and EVT using a highly realistic modeling approach. RESULTS: With the aLVO-guided dispatch strategy, the patient received IVT and EVT faster than with the DnS or MS strategies. IVT was administered 6 min faster than in the DnS strategy and 22 min faster than in the MS strategy, and EVT was started 47 min earlier than in the DnS strategy and 22 min earlier than in the MS strategy. CONCLUSION: In rural areas, parallel activation of ground and helicopter emergency services following dispatcher identification of stroke patients with suspected aLVO could provide rapid access to both IVT and EVT, thereby overcoming the limitations of the DnS and MS strategies.

Comparison of the Clinical Outcomes Between Reperfusion and Non-Reperfusion Therapy in Elderly Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke.

Purpose: To investigate the benefit (90-day mRS score) and rate of major complications (early symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage-SICH) after reperfusion therapy (RT) (including intravenous thrombolysis -IVT and mechanical thrombectomy -MT) in patients over 80 years with acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Patients and Methods: AIS patients aged over 80 admitted to Huizhou Central People's Hospital from September 2018 to 2023 were included in this study. Data on SICH, NIHSS, and mRS were analyzed. A good prognosis was defined as a mRS ≤ 2 or recovery to pre-stroke status at 90 days. Results: Of 209 patients, 80 received non-RT, 100 received IVT and 29 underwent MT. The non-RT group had the lowest baseline NIHSS while the MT group had the highest (non-RT 6.0 vs IVT 12.0 vs MT 18.0, P <0.001). Higher NIHSS was associated with increased SICH risk (OR 1.083, P=0.032), while RT was not (OR 5.194, P=0.129). The overall SICH rate in the RT group was higher but not significantly different after stratification by stroke severity. Poor prognosis was associated with higher admission NIHSS, stroke due to large artery atherosclerosis (LAA) combined with cardioembolism (CE), and stroke-associated pneumonia (SAP) (OR 0.902, P<0.001; OR 0.297, P=0.029; OR 0.103, P<0.001, respectively). The RT group showed a greater reduction in NIHSS (delta NIHSS) than the non-RT group (non-RT 2.0 vs IVT 4.0 vs MT 6.0, P<0.005). For severe AIS, the IVT group had a better prognosis at 90 days (non-RT 0% vs IVT 38.2%, P=0.039). No 90-day mortality difference was found between groups after stratification. Conclusion: Stroke severity, rather than RT, is an independent risk factor for SICH in AIS patients over 80. RT in severe stroke patients improves NIHSS at 90 days, suggesting RT is safe and effective in this demographic. Further studies with larger samples are required to confirm these findings.

Outcomes in acute carotid-related stroke eligible for mechanical reperfusion: SAFEGUARD-STROKE Registry.

BACKGROUND: Carotid-related strokes (CRS) are largely unresponsive to intravenous thrombolysis and are often large and disabling. Little is known about contemporary CRS referral pathways and proportion of eligible patients who receive emergency mechanical reperfusion (EMR). METHODS: Referral pathways, serial imaging, treatment data, and neurologic outcomes were evaluated in consecutive CRS patients presenting over 18 months in catchment area of a major carotid disease referral center with proximal-protected CAS expertise, on-site neurology, and stroke thrombectomy capability (Acute Stroke of CArotid Artery Bifurcation Origin Treated With Use oF the MicronEt-covered CGUARD Stent - SAFEGUARD-STROKE Registry; companion to SAFEGUARD-STROKE Study NCT05195658). RESULTS: Of 101 EMR-eligible patients (31% i.v.-thrombolyzed, 39.5% women, age 39-89 years, 94.1% ASPECTS 9-10, 90.1% pre-stroke mRS 0-1), 57 (56.4%) were EMR-referred. Referrals were either endovascular (Comprehensive Stroke Centre, CSC, 21.0%; Stroke Thrombectomy-Capable CAS Centre, STCC, 70.2%) or to vascular surgery (VS, 1.8%), with >1 referral attempt in 7.0% patients (CSC/VS or VS/CSC or CSC/VS/STCC). Baseline clinical and imaging characteristics were not different between EMR-treated and EMR-untreated patients. EMR was delivered to 42.6% eligible patients (emergency carotid surgery 0%; STCC rejections 0%). On multivariable analysis, non-tandem CRS was a predictor of not getting referred for EMR (OR 0.36; 95%CI 0.14-0.93, P=0.03). Ninety-day neurologic status was profoundly better in EMR-treated patients; mRS 0-2 (83.7% vs. 34.5%); mRS 3-5 (11.6% vs. 53.4%), mRS 6 (4.6% vs. 12.1%); P<0.001 for all. CONCLUSIONS: EMR-treatment substantially improves CRS neurologic outcomes but only a minority of EMR-eligible patients receive EMR. To increase the likelihood of brain-saving treatment, EMR-eligible stroke referral and management pathways, including those for CSC/VS-rejected patients, should involve stroke thrombectomy-capable centres with endovascular carotid treatment expertise.

Days Alive and Out of Hospital as an Outcome Measure in Patients Receiving Hyperacute Stroke Intervention.

BACKGROUND: Patient outcome after stroke is frequently assessed with clinical scales such as the modified Rankin Scale score (mRS). Days alive and out of hospital at 90 days (DAOH-90), which measures survival, time spent in hospital or rehabilitation settings, readmission and institutionalization, is an objective outcome measure that can be obtained from large administrative data sets without the need for patient contact. We aimed to assess the comparability of DAOH with mRS and its relationship with other prognostic variables after acute stroke reperfusion therapy. METHODS AND RESULTS: Consecutive patients with ischemic stroke treated with intravenous thrombolysis or endovascular thrombectomy were analyzed. DAOH-90 was calculated from a national minimum data set, a mandatory nationwide administrative database. mRS score at day 90 (mRS-90) was assessed with in-person or telephone interviews. The study included 1278 patients with ischemic stroke (714 male, median age 70 [59-79], median National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score 14 [9-20]). Median DAOH-90 was 71 [29-84] and median mRS-90 score was 3 [2-5]. DAOH-90 was correlated with admission National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score (Spearman rho -0.44, P<0.001) and Alberta Stroke Program Early CT [Computed Tomography] Score (Spearman rho 0.24, P<0.001). There was a strong association between mRS-90 and DAOH-90 (Spearman rho correlation -0.79, P<0.001). Area under receiver operating curve for predicting mRS score >0 was 0.86 (95% CI, 0.84-0.88), mRS score >1 was 0.88 (95% CI, 0.86-0.90) and mRS score >2 was 0.90 (95% CI, 0.89-0.92). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with stroke treated with reperfusion therapies, DAOH-90 shows reasonable comparability to the more established outcome measure of mRS-90. DAOH-90 can be readily obtained from administrative databases and therefore has the potential to be used in large-scale clinical trials and comparative effectiveness studies.

CLEAR Thrombectomy Score: An Index to Estimate the Probability of Good Functional Outcome With or Without Endovascular Treatment in the Late Window for Anterior Circulation Occlusion.

BACKGROUND: With the expanding eligibility for endovascular therapy (EVT) of patients presenting in the late window (6-24 hours after last known well), we aimed to derive a score to predict favorable outcomes associated with EVT versus best medical management. METHODS AND RESULTS: A multinational observational cohort of patients from the CLEAR (Computed Tomography for Late Endovascular Reperfusion) study with proximal intracranial occlusion (2014-2022) was queried (n=58 sites). Logistic regression analyses were used to derive a 9-point score for predicting good functional outcome (modified Rankin Scale score 0-2 or return to premorbid modified Rankin Scale score) at 90 days, with sensitivity analyses for prespecified subgroups conducted using bootstrapped random forest regressions. Secondary outcomes included 90-day functional independence (modified Rankin Scale score 0-2), poor outcome (modified Rankin Scale score 5-6), and 90-day survival. The score was externally validated with a single-center cohort (2014-2023). Of the 3231 included patients (n=2499 EVT), a 9-point score included age, early computed tomography ischemic changes, and stroke severity, with higher points indicating a higher probability of a good functional outcome. The areas under the curve for the primary outcome among EVT and best medical management subgroups were 0.72 (95% CI, 0.70-0.74) and 0.87 (95% CI, 0.84-0.90), respectively, with similar performance in the external validation cohort (area under the curve, 0.71 [95% CI, 0.66-0.76]). There was a significant interaction between the score and EVT for good functional outcome, functional independence, and poor outcome (all Pinteraction<0.001), with greater benefit favoring patients with lower and midrange scores. CONCLUSIONS: This score is a pragmatic tool that can estimate the probability of a good outcome with EVT in the late window. REGISTRATION: URL: https://www.Clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT04096248.

Predictors of outcome in large vessel occlusion stroke patients with intravenous tirofiban treatment: a post hoc analysis of the RESCUE BT clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the factors influencing good outcomes in patients receiving only intravenous tirofiban with endovascular thrombectomy for large vessel occlusion stroke. METHODS: Post hoc exploratory analysis using the RESCUE BT trial identified consecutive patients who received intravenous tirofiban with endovascular thrombectomy for large vessel occlusion stroke in 55 comprehensive stroke centers from October 2018 to January 2022 in China. RESULTS: A total of 521 patients received intravenous tirofiban, 253 of whom achieved a good 90-day outcome (modified Rankin Scale [mRS] 0-2). Younger age (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 0.965, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.947-0.982; p < 0.001), lower serum glucose (aOR: 0.865, 95%CI: 0.807-0.928; p < 0.001), lower baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score (aOR: 0.907, 95%CI: 0.869-0.947; p < 0.001), fewer total passes (aOR: 0.791, 95%CI: 0.665-0.939; p = 0.008), shorter punctures to recanalization time (aOR: 0.995, 95%CI:0.991-0.999; p = 0.017), and modified Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction (mTICI) score 2b to 3 (aOR: 8.330, 95%CI: 2.705-25.653; p < 0.001) were independent predictors of good outcomes after intravenous tirofiban with endovascular thrombectomy for large vessel occlusion stroke. CONCLUSION: Younger age, lower serum glucose level, lower baseline NIHSS score, fewer total passes, shorter punctures to recanalization time, and mTICI scores of 2b to 3 were independent predictors of good outcomes after intravenous tirofiban with endovascular thrombectomy for large vessel occlusion stroke. CHINESE CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRY IDENTIFIER: ChiCTR-IOR-17014167.

Building evidence on safety of endovascular thrombectomy for patients under anticoagulation with vitamin K antagonists.

A recent study by Brian Mac Grory and colleagues investigated the safety of endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) among patients under vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) use within 7 days prior to hospital admission. Through this retrospective, observational cohort study, they found prior VKA use did not increase the risk of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH) overall. However, recent VKA use with a presenting international normalized ratio (INR) > 1.7 was associated with a significantly increased risk of sICH. Future large-scale randomized controlled trials should be conducted to further clarify the effects and feasibility of EVT therapy in ischemic stroke patients under anticoagulation.

Evaluation of demographic/clinical features and hemorrhagic complications in patients with ischemic stroke who underwent reperfusion therapy.

The relationship between demographic/clinical characteristics, clinical outcomes and the development of hemorrhagic complications in patients with ischemic stroke who underwent reperfusion therapy has not been studied sufficiently. We have aimed to compare genders and age groups in terms of clinical features and outcome; and types of reperfusion treatments and clinical features regarding the development of hemorrhagic complications in patients with ischemic stroke who underwent recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rtPA) and/or thrombectomy. Patients with acute ischemic stroke undergoing rtPA and/or thrombectomy were divided into six age groups. Parameters including hemorrhagic complications, anticoagulant and antiaggregant use, hyperlipidemia, smoking status, biochemical parameters, and comorbidities were documented. National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores, modified Rankin Score (mRS) and Glasgow Coma Scale scores were recorded. Etiological classification of stroke was done. These parameters were compared in terms of age groups, genders, and hemorrhagic complications. Significant differences were found between age groups concerning hypertension, coronary artery disease, smoking status, and antiaggregant use. Rate of hemorrhagic complications in rtPA group was significantly lower when compared with other treatment groups. Hemorrhagic complications developed mostly in the rtPA+thrombectomy group. Among the patients who developed hemorrhagic complications, NIHSS scores on admission were found to be significantly lower in men than women. Admission, discharge, and 3rd month mRS values in men were significantly lower than those of women. Knowing demographic and clinical features of patients that may have an impact on the clinical course of ischemic stroke managed with reperfusion therapy will be useful in predicting the hemorrhagic complications and clinical outcomes.

Role of the Critical Care Resuscitation Unit in a Comprehensive Stroke Center: Operations for Mechanical Thrombectomy During the Pandemic.

Introduction: Standard of care for patients with acute ischemic stroke from large vessel occlusion (AIS-LVO) includes prompt evaluation for urgent mechanical thrombectomy (MT) at a comprehensive stroke center (CSC). During the start of the coronavirus 2019 pandemic (COVID-19), there were reports about disruption to emergency department (ED) operations and delays in management of patients with AIS-LVO. In this study we investigate the outcome and operations for patients who were transferred from different EDs to an academic CSC's critical care resuscitation unit (CCRU), which specializes in expeditious transfer of time-sensitive disease. Methods: This was a pre-post retrospective study using prospectively collected clinical data from our CSC's stroke registry. Adult patients who were transferred from any ED to the CCRU and underwent MT were eligible. We compared time intervals in the pre-pandemic (PP) period between January 2018- February 2020, such as ED in-out and CCRU arrival-angiography, to those during the pandemic (DP) between March 2020-May 31, 2021. We used classification and regression tree (CART) analysis to identify which time intervals, besides clinical factors, were associated with good neurological outcome (90-day modified Rankin scale 0-2). Results: We analyzed 203 patients: 135 (66.5%) in the PP group and 68 (33.5%) in the DP group. Time from ED triage to computed tomography (difference 7 minutes, 95% confidence interval [CI] -12 to -1, P < 0.01) for the DP group was statistically longer, but ED in-out was similar for both groups. Time from CCRU arrival to angiography (difference 9 minutes, 95% CI 4-13, P < 0.01) for the DP group was shorter. Forty-nine percent of the DP group achieved mRS ≤ 2 vs 32% for the PP group (difference -17%, 95% CI -0.32 to -0.03, P < 0.01). The CART identified initial National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale, age, ED in-and-out time, and CCRU arrival-to-angiography time as important predictors of good outcome. Conclusion: Overall, the care process in EDs and at this single CSC for patients requiring MT were not heavily affected by the pandemic, as certain time metrics during the pandemic were statistically shorter than pre-pandemic intervals. Time intervals such as ED in-and-out and CCRU arrival-to-angiography were important factors in achieving good neurologic outcomes. Further study is necessary to confirm our observation and improve operational efficiency in the future.

After early mTICI 2b, stop or continue? Insights from the PERSIST Registry.

OBJECTIVES: A higher reperfusion grade after endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) is associated with a good prognosis. However, the effect of the number of retrievals has not yet been investigated in vertebrobasilar occlusion (VBAO). Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate whether to continue retrieval after early modified thrombolysis in cerebral infarction (mTICI) 2b to achieve a better reperfusion grade. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the data of patients who underwent EVT caused by VBAO in a multicenter registry dataset. Patients who underwent successful reperfusion were included (mTICI 2b/3). Regression models were used to analyze the correlation of different reperfusion grades stratified by the number of retrieval attempts with clinical prognosis and hemorrhage transition. RESULTS: We included 432 patients: 34.5% (n = 149) had a final mTICI score of 2b and 65.5% (n = 283) had a final mTICI score of 3. Patients who obtained a mTICI of 3 after the first pass had significantly increased odds of having a good prognosis. As the number of passes increases, the chances of obtaining a good prognosis decreases. After three or more passes, the odds of achieving functional independence and favorable outcomes were comparable to those of the first mTICI 2b, regardless of the 90-day (OR 1.132 95% CI 0.367-3.487 p = 0.829; OR 1.070 95% CI 0.375-3.047 p = 0.900) or 1-year follow-up (OR 1.217 95% CI 0.407-3.637 p = 0.725; OR 1.068 95% CI 0.359-3.173 p = 0.906). INTERPRETATION: Within two retrieval attempts, mTICI 3 was better than the first retrieval to mTICI 2b. After early mTICI 2b, each retrieval should be undertaken with caution to pursue a higher reperfusion grade.

U-shaped association between low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels and risk of futile reperfusion mediated by stroke-associated pneumonia in acute ischemic stroke after endovascular thrombectomy.

OBJECTIVE: Futile reperfusion (FR) is becoming a major challenge in the treatment of patients with acute ischaemic stroke (AIS) undergoing endovascular thrombectomy. This study aims to determine the dose-response relationship between low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels and the risk of FR in patients with AIS undergoing endovascular thrombectomy and to investigate potential mediators. METHODS: A total of 614 patients with AIS undergoing endovascular thrombectomy were enrolled and divided into five groups according to quintiles of LDL-C levels: Q1(≤2.27 mmol/l), Q2 (2.27-2.5 mmol/l), Q3 (2.5-2.59 mmol/l), Q4 (2.59-2.97 mmol/l) and Q5 (≥2.97 mmol/l). Associations between LDL-C levels and the risk of FR and stroke-associated pneumonia (SAP) were estimated using multivariate logistic regression models. Restricted cubic spline curves were used to describe the dose-response relationship between LDL-C levels and the risk of FR and SAP. Mediation effect analysis was performed in R software with 100 bootstrap samples. RESULTS: After adjustment for confounders, both low and high LDL-C levels were significantly associated with a higher risk of FR compared with the reference group (Q3). We observed a U-shaped association between LDL-C levels and the risk of FR (P for nonlinear =0.012). Mediation analysis showed that the association between LDL-C levels and the risk of FR was 29.7 % (95 % CI: 2.96 %-75.0 %, P=0.02) mediated by SAP. CONCLUSIONS: We found a U-shaped association between LDL-C levels and the risk of FR that was mediated by SAP. Clinicians should note that in AIS patients undergoing endovascular thrombectomy, lower LDL-C levels are not always better.

Combining Novel Thrombectomy Devices for Intracardiac Mass Extraction: The Kong and Godzilla of Mass Extraction.

Transcatheter extraction of an intracardiac mass is a newer approach that may lead to nonsurgical treatment of complex cardiac masses. We present a case in which thrombectomy devices were combined to extract a right atrial mass, which highlights new frontiers in the treatment of complex transcatheter mass extraction. The combined use of two transcatheter thrombectomy devices (Kong and Godzilla) may provide a powerful addition to the existing armamentarium.

Pressure ulcer development in patients treated for acute ischaemic stroke.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of pressure ulcers (PUs) in patients treated for acute ischaemic stroke (AIS) and to evaluate comorbid/confounding factors. METHOD: The study included patients treated for AIS who were divided into three treatment groups: those receiving intravenous tissue plasminogen activator therapy (tPA); patients receiving mechanical thrombectomy (MT); and those receiving both tPA and MT. PUs were classified according to the international classification system and factors that may influence their development were investigated. RESULTS: A total of 242 patients were included in this study. The incidence of PUs in patients treated for AIS was 7.4%. Most PUs were located on the sacrum (3.7%), followed by the gluteus (3.3%) and trochanter (2.9%). With regards to PU classification: 29% were stage I; 34% were stage II; and the remainder were stage III. Age was not a significant factor in the development of PUs (p=0.172). Patients in the tPA group had a lower PU incidence (2.3%) than patients in the tPA+MT group (15.7%) and MT group (12.1%) (p=0.001). Patients with PUs had a longer period of hospitalisation (18.5±11.92 days) than patients without a PU (8.0±8.52 days) (p=0.000). National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores at admission were higher in patients with PUs than in patients without a PU (14.33±4.38 versus 11.08±5.68, respectively; p=0.010). The difference in presence of comorbidities between patients with and without PUs (p=0.922) and between treatment groups (p=0.677) were not statistically significant. The incidence of PUs was higher in patients requiring intensive care, but this difference was not statistically significant (p=0.089). CONCLUSION: In this study, patients treated for AIS with high NIHSS scores at admission and/or receiving MT were at higher risk for PUs, and so particular attention should be given to these patients in order to prevent PU development.

The Harms of Unnecessary CT Pulmonary Angiography: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Pulmonary embolism (PE) poses a significant health risk in the United States, with high mortality rates. Clinicians maintain a low threshold for suspecting PE, potentially leading to deviation from guideline-recommended algorithms and unnecessary computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA). This case discusses a 46-year-old woman who presented with symptoms suggestive of PE following a prolonged road trip. Despite a low Wells score and negative D-dimer results, she underwent CTPA, resulting in an unnecessary and harmful interventional radiology-guided thrombectomy. This highlights the importance of adhering to guidelines in PE diagnosis to mitigate potential harms associated with the overuse of available medical tools.

Association Between Time to Treatment With Endovascular Thrombectomy and Home-Time After Acute Ischemic Stroke.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Home-time is a patient-prioritized stroke outcome that can be derived from administrative data linkages. The effect of faster time-to-treatment with endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) on home-time after acute stroke is unknown. METHODS: We used the Quality Improvement and Clinical Research registry to identify a cohort of patients who received EVT for acute ischemic stroke between 2015 and 2022 in Alberta, Canada. We calculated days at home in the first 90 days after stroke. We used ordinal regression across 6 ordered categories of home-time to evaluate the association between onset-to-arterial puncture and higher home-time, adjusting for age, sex, rural residence, NIH Stroke Scale, comorbidities, intravenous thrombolysis, and year of treatment. We used restricted cubic splines to assess the nonlinear relationship between continuous variation in time metrics and higher home-time, and also reported the adjusted odds ratios within time categories. We additionally evaluated door-to-puncture and reperfusion times. Finally, we analyzed home-time with zero-inflated models to determine the minutes of earlier treatment required to gain 1 day of home-time. RESULTS: We had 1,885 individuals in our final analytic sample. There was a nonlinear increase in home-time with faster treatment when EVT was within 4 hours of stroke onset or 2 hours of hospital arrival. There was a higher odds of achieving more days at home when onset-to-puncture time was <2 hours (adjusted odds ratio 2.36, 95% CI 1.77-3.16) and 2 to <4 hours (1.37, 95% CI 1.11-1.71) compared with ≥6 hours, and when door-to-puncture time was <1 hour (aOR 2.25, 95% CI 1.74-2.90), 1 to <1.5 hours (aOR 1.89, 95% CI 1.47-2.41), and 1.5 to <2 hours (1.35, 95% CI 1.04-1.76) compared with ≥2 hours. Results were consistent for reperfusion times. For every hour of faster treatment within 6 hours of stroke onset, there was an estimated increase in home-time of 4.7 days, meaning that approximately 1 day of home-time was gained for each 12.8 minutes of faster treatment. DISCUSSION: Faster time-to-treatment with EVT for acute stroke was associated with greater home-time, particularly within 4 hours of onset-to-puncture and 2 hours of door-to-puncture time. Within 6 hours of stroke onset, each 13 minutes of faster treatment is associated with a gain of 1 day of home-time.

Safety and efficacy of stent retrievers plus contact aspiration in patients with acute ischaemic anterior circulation stroke and positive susceptibility vessel sign in France (VECTOR): a randomised, single-blind trial.

BACKGROUND: Positive susceptibility vessel sign (SVS) in patients with acute ischaemic stroke has been associated with friable red blood cell-rich clots and more effective recanalisation using stent retrievers versus contact aspiration. We compared the safety and efficacy of stent retrievers plus contact aspiration (combined technique) versus contact aspiration alone as the first-line thrombectomy technique in patients with acute ischaemic anterior circulation stroke and SVS-positive occlusions. METHODS: Adaptive Endovascular Strategy to the Clot MRI in Large Intracranial Vessel Occlusion (VECTOR) was a prospective, randomised, open-label study with blinded evaluation. Patients with SVS-positive anterior circulation occlusions on pretreatment MRI and arterial puncture within 24 h of symptom onset were enrolled from 22 centres in France. A centralised web-based method was used by interventional neuroradiologists for dynamic randomisation by minimisation. Patients were randomly assigned 1:1 to the combined technique or contact aspiration alone. The primary outcome was expanded Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction (eTICI) grade 2c or 3 reperfusion after three or fewer passes on post-treatment angiogram, adjudicated by a blinded independent central imaging core laboratory. The intention-to-treat population was used to assess the primary and secondary outcomes. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04139486) and is complete. FINDINGS: Between Nov 26, 2019, and Feb 14, 2022, 526 patients were enrolled, of whom 521 constituted the intention-to-treat population (combined technique, n=263; contact aspiration alone, n=258). The median age of participants was 74·9 years (IQR 64·4-83·3); 284 (55%) were female and 237 (45%) male. The primary outcome did not differ significantly between groups (152 [58%] of 263 patients for the combined technique vs 135 [52%] of 258 for contact aspiration; odds ratio [OR] 1·27; 95% CI 0·88-1·83; p=0·19). Procedure-related adverse events occurred in 32 (12%) of 263 patients in the combined technique group and 27 (11%) of 257 in the contact aspiration group (OR 1·14; 0·65-2·00; p=0·65). The most common adverse event was intracerebral haemorrhage (146 [56%] of 259 patients for the combined technique vs 123 [49%] of 251 for contact aspiration; OR 1·32; 0·91-1·90; p=0·13). All-cause mortality at 3 months occurred in 57 (23%) of 251 patients in the combined technique group and 48 (19%) of 247 in the contact aspiration group (OR 1·19; 0·76-1·86; p=0·45), none of which was treatment-related. INTERPRETATION: The results of the VECTOR trial do not show superiority of the combined stent retriever plus contact aspiration technique over contact aspiration alone in patients with SVS-positive occlusion with respect to achieving eTICI 2c-3 within three passes. These findings support the use of either the combined technique or contact aspiration alone as the initial thrombectomy strategy in patients with acute anterior circulation stroke with SVS on pretreatment MRI. FUNDING: Cerenovus.