Trial of Thrombectomy for Stroke with a Large Infarct of Unrestricted Size.

BACKGROUND: The use of thrombectomy in patients with acute stroke and a large infarct of unrestricted size has not been well studied. METHODS: We assigned, in a 1:1 ratio, patients with proximal cerebral vessel occlusion in the anterior circulation and a large infarct (as defined by an Alberta Stroke Program Early Computed Tomographic Score of ≤5; values range from 0 to 10) detected on magnetic resonance imaging or computed tomography within 6.5 hours after symptom onset to undergo endovascular thrombectomy and receive medical care (thrombectomy group) or to receive medical care alone (control group). The primary outcome was the score on the modified Rankin scale at 90 days (scores range from 0 to 6, with higher scores indicating greater disability). The primary safety outcome was death from any cause at 90 days, and an ancillary safety outcome was symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage. RESULTS: A total of 333 patients were assigned to either the thrombectomy group (166 patients) or the control group (167 patients); 9 were excluded from the analysis because of consent withdrawal or legal reasons. The trial was stopped early because results of similar trials favored thrombectomy. Approximately 35% of the patients received thrombolysis therapy. The median modified Rankin scale score at 90 days was 4 in the thrombectomy group and 6 in the control group (generalized odds ratio, 1.63; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.29 to 2.06; P<0.001). Death from any cause at 90 days occurred in 36.1% of the patients in the thrombectomy group and in 55.5% of those in the control group (adjusted relative risk, 0.65; 95% CI, 0.50 to 0.84), and the percentage of patients with symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage was 9.6% and 5.7%, respectively (adjusted relative risk, 1.73; 95% CI, 0.78 to 4.68). Eleven procedure-related complications occurred in the thrombectomy group. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with acute stroke and a large infarct of unrestricted size, thrombectomy plus medical care resulted in better functional outcomes and lower mortality than medical care alone but led to a higher incidence of symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage. (Funded by Montpellier University Hospital; LASTE ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT03811769.).

Multiple separated and multi-lobular aneurysms of the anterior communicating artery complex

The anterior communicating artery complex [ACoA] is the most common site of occurrence of intracranial aneurysms, harboring about 30 percent of these lesions. Multiple aneurysms account for 20 percent of all cerebral aneurysms. Multiple aneurysms on the same artery correspond to 2.8 percent of aneurysms, usually found in the internal carotid artery or middle cerebral artery. Multiple aneurysms of the ACoA are very rare and there are only a few cases reported in the literature. In cases of multiple aneurysms of the anterior communicating artery complex, not all lesions may be detected on preoperative radiological studies, due to the complex angio-archiecture around the ACoA. Careful dissection is mandatory to ensure the completeness of aneurysm surgery. Multiple separated and multi-lobular aneurysms of the anterior communicating artery are unusual lesions and should be studied as a special topic. The authors present four cases of these rare aneurysms, namely three multiple separated aneurysms and one multi-lobular aneurysm of the ACoC. Three of these patients presented with subarachnoid hemorrhage [SAH]. There were no familial or arteriovenous malformation.related aneurysms reported in our series. We propose a new classification for this type of aneurysm on the ACoA. The literature is reviewed. The results, physiopathology and management are dis cussed.