Angioplasty, stenting, or both - rescue maneuvers and reperfusion after endovascular therapy for intracranial atherosclerosis-related occlusion.

PURPOSE: Data concerning reperfusion strategies of intracranial atherosclerosis-related occlusion (ICARO) and clinico-angiographic outcomes remain scarce, particularly in Caucasians. We aim to compare the reperfusion rate and functional outcome between reperfusion strategies in the setting of the ICARO. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of prospectively maintained endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) registries at three high-volume stroke centers were retrospectively analyzed for consecutive ICARO patients from January 2015 to December 2019. We defined ICARO as any fixed high-degree (> 70%) focal narrowing or stenosis of any degree with a perpetual tendency for reocclusion. We categorized reperfusion strategies into four groups: EVT [group 1], balloon angioplasty [(BAp), group 2], placement of self-expandable stents [(SES), group 3], and BAp combined with implantation of SES; or direct placement of balloon mounted stents (BMS) [(BAp-SES/BMS), group 4]. We evaluated the association with the successful reperfusion [mTICI 2b - 3] and favorable outcome [mRS 0-2] with logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Out of 2550 EVT, 124 patients (median age, 70 (61-80) years; 76 men) with ICARO and 130 reperfusion attempts [36 EVT, 38 BAp, 17 SES, and 39 BAp + SES/BMS] were analyzed. SES implantation showed the highest frequency of post-procedural symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage [(18%, 3/17), p = .03]; however, we observed no significant differences in the mortality rate. Overall, we achieved successful reperfusion in 71% (92/130) and favorable outcomes in 42% (52/124) of the patients. BAp + SES/BMS was the only independent predictor of the final successful reperfusion [aOR, 4.488 (95% CI, 1.364-14.773); p = .01], which was significantly associated with the 90-day favorable outcome [aOR, 10.837 (95% CI, 3.609-32.541); p = < .001] after adjustment for confounding variables between the reperfusion strategies. CONCLUSION: Among patients with ICARO, the rescue angioplasty stenting effectively contributed to higher odds of successful reperfusion with no increased risk for intracranial hemorrhage.

First-line Double Stentriever Thrombectomy for M1/TICA Occlusions : Initial Experiences.

BACKGROUND: Mechanical thrombectomy is the standard of care for acute ischemic stroke due to large-vessel occlusion; however, mechanical thrombectomy fails to achieve adequate recanalization in nearly one third of these cases. Rescue therapy using two stentrievers simultaneously yields good results in clots refractory to single stentriever treatment. We aimed to determine the safety and efficacy of first-line double stentriever thrombectomy for acute occlusion of the M1 segment of the middle cerebral artery and/or terminal internal carotid artery (TICA). METHODS: This single-center study prospectively enrolled consecutive patients with a single M1/TICA occlusion to undergo double stentriever thrombectomy between May and October 2020. Outcomes included successful recanalization (modified thrombolysis in cerebral infarction, TICI 2b/3), first-pass effect, procedure times, number of device passes, symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale Score (NIHSS) at discharge, 90-day functional independence (modified Rankin scale 0-2), and 90-day mortality. RESULTS: We analyzed 39 patients median age 79 years (range 42-96 years); 23 (58.9%) female; 19 (48.7%) with TICA occlusions; 5 (12.8%) with mRS 3-5 at admission; mean NIHSS at admission, 17 ± 4.39). Mean time from symptom onset to final angiogram was 238.0 ± 94.6 min; mean intervention duration was 36.0 ± 24.2 min. The mean number of device passes was 1.5 ± 1.07. All patients had final TICI 2b/3, and 27 (69%) had TICI 2c/3 after the first pass. We observed 3 (7.9%) cases of intracerebral symptomatic hemorrhages. At 90 days, 16 (41%) patients were functionally independent and 9 (23%) had died. The percentage of patients with good clinical outcome at 90 days was 55.5% in the first-pass subgroup. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that first-line double stentriever thrombectomy is safe and effective for M1/TICA occlusions.

Initial Experience Performing Mechanical Thrombectomy With the CatchView Mini Device for Distal M2 Segment Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusions.

Background: Mechanical thrombectomy (MT) has become the standard of care for acute ischemic stroke due to large vessel occlusion; however, its safety and efficacy in patients with distal strokes remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the safety and efficacy of MT for distal middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusions using the CatchView Mini (CVM; Balt, Montmorency, France). Methods: This was a prospective single-center analysis of patients with a single MCA-M2 occlusion treated with the CVM device. Consecutive patients were prospectively enrolled from October 2018 to March 2020. Efficacy outcomes included successful recanalization [modified Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction (mTICI) 2b/3], procedure times, and number of device passes. Clinical outcomes included National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale Score (NIHSS) at discharge, 90-day functional independence (modified Rankin Scale 0-2) and safety outcomes included hemorrhagic complications, and 90-day mortality. Results: A total of 45 patients (mean age: 74.0 ± 12.6; 53.3% [24/45] female) were included in the study. Upon admission, 33.3% (15/45) of patients were mRS 3-5; and mean NIHSS was 13.2 ± 4.2 Mean time from symptom onset to final angiography was 250.0 ± 83.4 min with a mean intervention duration of 34.0 ± 12.6 min. The mean number of device passes was 1.8 ± 1.5 final mTICI 2b/3 was achieved in 91.1% (41/45) of patients. Eight hemorrhagic complications (17.8%, 8/34) occurred, none of which were symptomatic. At 90-days, 57.8% (26/45) patients were functionally independent and the rate of mortality was 15.6% (7/45). Conclusions: The present analysis demonstrates a low risk profile and high recanalization success for patients with distal M2 occlusions treated with the CVM device.

Dual energy CT in the management of antiplatelet therapy in patients with acute ischemic stroke for carotid obstruction.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Acute tandem occlusions often require carotid stenting. Combination of mechanical and pharmacologic therapies in addition to antiplatelet drugs administered to prevent acute stent thrombosis might increase the risk of intracerebral hemorrhage. We present a protocol of antiplatelet regimen based on early post-procedural dual-energy CT (DE-CT). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Fifty consecutive stroke patients with tandem occlusions treated with acute carotid stenting after intracranial thrombectomy and TICI 2b/3 were reviewed. All patients received intravenous lysine acetylsalicylate during the procedure. Dual (aspirin+clopidogrel with or without clopidogrel load, groups A and B, respectively) or mono (aspirin) antiplatelet regimen (group C) was administered 12-24 h later according to brain DE-CT findings. Carotid ultrasonography was performed at 24 h and before discharge. We evaluated the rate of subsequent symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (SICH) and acute stent thrombosis in each group. RESULTS: Between June 2014 and December 2016, 50 patients were included (mean age 66 years, 76% men, baseline NIHSS 16, median time from symptom onset to recanalization 266 min). According to DE-CT, 24 patients were assigned to group A, 19 to group B and 7 to group C (4 of them had SICH at that time). One patient suffered a subsequent SICH (belonging to group B). There was only one stent thrombosis without clinical repercussions in group B. CONCLUSIONS: DE-CT may contribute to select antiplatelet regimen after acute carotid stenting in tandem occlusions.

Initial experience and one-year follow-up with Neuroform Atlas Stent System for the treatment of brain aneurysms.

INTRODUCTION: The Neuroform Atlas Stent System is a recently introduced modification of the original Neuroform Stent System consisting of a hybrid design with open and closed cells. Initial experience, technical considerations and treatment outcomes including 1-year follow-up using the Atlas stent in combination with coil embolization are reported. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty patients with 30 unruptured aneurysms were treated with stent reconstruction. Immediate, 4-month and 12-month post-treatment angiography and clinical assessment were performed. DISCUSSION: In 29 cases, the stents were delivered and positioned without difficulty in deployment. Technical complications occurred in one patient related to advancement of the stent during delivery. One procedure-related clinical complication occurred with no permanent neurological deficit. On immediate post-treatment angiography, 29 of 30 aneurysms showed Raymond Class I or Class II occlusion. At 1-year follow-up, all 30 patients were clinically stable and 18 of 30 aneurysms showed Raymond Class I complete occlusion. Retreatment was performed in two patients with residual aneurysm. CONCLUSIONS: The Atlas stent is technically safe and simple to implant and has a low thrombogenic potential. We experienced fewer problems associated with deployment and implantation, thromboembolic complications and hemorrhagic events compared with other types of stents, including braided stents. However, because of its low thrombogenic potential, partially occluded aneurysms or those with aneurysm remnants do not progress to complete occlusion.

Internal Carotid Artery Reconstruction with a "Mega Flow Diverter": First Experience with the 6×50 mm DERIVO Embolization Device.

Endoluminal reconstruction with a flow diverter device has emerged as a viable and often preferable alternative to traditional techniques for the treatment of intracranial aneurysms. Precise measurement and device selection are mandatory steps when considering flow diverters usage in order to avoid potential complications. In this sense, incomplete wall-apposition has been described as a predictive factor for immediate in-stent and delayed thrombosis after stent use. One significant usage limitation of flow diverter devices is the parent artery diameter, since the maximum opening of the sizes available are recommended for vessel diameters between 5.2-5.75 mm. Here we present the first clinical use of the largest flow diverter available, the 6×50 mm DERIVO embolization device (Acandis GmbH & Co. KG, Pforzheim, Germany), into the arterial circulation for a cervical internal carotid artery endovascular reconstruction. This is a new device for large or fusiform aneurysms requiring flow diversion, especially located in the vertebrobasilar system or extracranial segments.