ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Retinal artery occlusions lead to sudden, painless vision loss, affecting millions globally. Despite their significance, treatment strategies remain unestablished, contrasting with acute ischemic stroke (AIS), where IVT has proven efficacy. Similar to AIS, retinal artery occlusions demand urgent evaluation and treatment, reflecting the principle "time is retina". Even for patients with transient monocular vision loss, also known as amaurosis fugax (AF), pertinent guidelines meanwhile recommend immediate emergency assessment in a specialized facility. However, data on the clinical benefit and comparability with persistent occlusions are missing. This study aimed to compare the results of a comprehensive stroke-workup among patients with persistent retinal artery occlusions (RAO), including both central retinal (CRAO) and branch retinal artery occlusion (BRAO) and those with AF. METHODS: Conducted at the University Hospital Giessen, Germany, this exploratory cross-sectional study enrolled patients with transient or permanent unilateral vision loss of non-arteritic origin. The primary outcome were differences between the two groups RAO and AF with regard to cardiovascular risk profiles and comorbidities, vascular and pharmacological interventions and clinical neurological and ophthalmological outcomes. Secondary outcome was a sub-group analysis of patients receiving IVT. RESULTS: Out of 166 patients assessed, 76 with RAO and 40 with AF met the inclusion criteria. Both groups exhibited comparable age, gender distribution, and cardiovascular risk profiles. Notably, RAO patients did not show significantly more severe vascular comorbidities than AF patients. However, AF patients received vascular interventions more frequently. Pharmacological intervention rates were similar across groups. RAO patients had slightly worse neurological outcomes, and IVT did not yield favorable ophthalmological outcomes within any observed patients. CONCLUSION: The study found similar vascular burden and risk factors in patients with RAO and AF, with implications for clinical workflows. IVT for RAO may only be effective in very early treatment windows. This emphasizes the need for public awareness and collaborative protocols between ophthalmologists and neurologists to improve outcomes.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) is highly effective in acute stroke patients with intracranial large vessel occlusion (LVO), however, presence of concomitant cervical occlusion of the internal carotid artery (ICA) may limit the endovascular access. This study describes feasibility and efficacy of a surgical carotid access (cutdown) to perform interdisciplinary recanalization therapy including carotid endarterectomy (CEA) followed by EVT for recanalization of intracranial LVO in stroke patients with tandem occlusions. METHODS: We identified stroke patients with tandem occlusions who underwent a combined surgical-endovascular approach over a 5-year period. Surgical cutdown was provided by a cardiovascular surgery team at the angio-suite followed by EVT performed by the neuroradiological team. Demographics, stroke characteristics, treatments including antithrombotic management, procedure times, and clinical follow-up were assessed. RESULTS: Four patients with acute stroke because of tandem occlusions received CEA followed by EVT (two patients after frustrating femoral catheterization, two as first-line approach). Successful recanalization (TICI ≥ 2b) via endovascular thrombectomy was achieved in all patients at a median of 28 min after successful surgical CEA. Intraprocedural complication was observed in one case (25%; i.e. ICA dissection). CONCLUSIONS: This small study provides evidence that a combined interdisciplinary approach of CEA followed by EVT in the angio-suite in acute stroke patients with tandem occlusions is a feasible procedure in patients otherwise not accessible to endovascular recanalizing therapy and, therefore, high likelihood of developing large hemispheric infarction. Prospective data are warranted to identify patients who benefit from this combined approach as first-line therapy.
