Endovascular thrombectomy versus intravenous thrombolysis for primary distal, medium vessel occlusion in acute ischemic stroke.

Introduction: In the absence of clinical trials, the benefit of endovascular therapy (EVT) on the treatment of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) with primary distal and medium vessel occlusions (DMVO) is still not well defined. The aim of the study is to evaluate EVT with or without intravenous thrombolysis (EVT ± IVT) in primary DMVO stroke in comparison with a control cohort treated with IVT alone. Methods: We analysed all consecutive AIS with proven primary DMVO. Primary endpoints were excellent outcome, functional independence at 3 months follow-up, and early neurologic improvement at 1 day after treatment. Results: One hundred and fourteen patients with DMVO strokes were included between 2019 and 2023. Propensity-weighted analysis showed no significant differences in EVT ± IVT vs IVT for the excellent outcome (adjusted OR [aOR], 1.575; 95% CI, 0.706-3.513), functional independence (aOR, 2.024; 95% CI, 0.845-4.848), early neurological improvement (aOR, 2.218; 95% CI, 0.937-5.247), mortality (aOR, 0.498; 95% CI, 0.177-1.406), symptomatic intracranial haemorrhage (aOR, 0.493; 95% CI, 0.102-2.385), and subarachnoid haemorrhage (aOR, 0.560; 95% CI, 0.143-2.187). The type of revascularization did not influence the percentage of cerebral volume lost (adjusted linear regression estimate, -19.171, t value, 11.562; p = 0.104). Conclusions: This study supports the hypothesis that patients with primary DMVO stroke treated with EVT (±IVT) or IVT alone have comparable outcomes.

Stroke with large vessel occlusion in the posterior circulation: IV thrombolysis plus thrombectomy versus IV thrombolysis alone.

Efficacy and safety of mechanical thrombectomy (MT) for stroke with posterior circulation large vessel occlusion (LVO) is still under debate. We aimed to compare the outcomes of stroke patients with posterior circulation LVO treated with intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) (< 4.5 h after symptom onset) plus MT < 6 h after symptom onset with those treated with IVT alone (< 4.5 h after symptom onset). Patients enrolled in the Italian Registry of Endovascular Treatment in Acute Stroke (IRETAS) and in the Italian centers included in the SITS-ISTR were analysed. We identified 409 IRETAS patients treated with IVT plus MT and 384 SITS-ISTR patients treated with IVT alone. IVT plus MT was significantly associated with higher rate of sICH (ECASS II) compared with IVT alone (3.1 vs 1.9%; OR 3.984, 95% CI 1.014-15.815), while the two treatments did not differ significantly in 3-month mRS score ≤ 3 (64.3 vs 74.1%; OR 0.829, 95% CI 0.524-1.311). In 389 patients with isolated basilar artery (BA) occlusion, IVT plus MT was significantly associated with higher rate of any ICH compared with IVT alone (9.4 vs 7.4%; OR 4.131, 95% CI 1.215-14.040), while two treatments did not differ significantly in 3-month mRS score ≤ 3 and sICH per ECASS II definition. IVT plus MT was significantly associated with higher rate mRS score ≤ 2 (69.1 vs 52.1%; OR 2.692, 95% CI 1.064-6.811) and lower rate of death (13.8 vs 27.1%; OR 0.299, 95% CI 0.095-0.942) in patients with distal-segment BA occlusion, while two treatments did not differ significantly in 3-month mRS score ≤ 3 and sICH per ECASS II definition. IVT plus MT was significantly associated with lower rate of mRS score ≤ 3 (37.1 vs 53.3%; OR 0.137, 0.009-0.987), mRS score ≤ 1 (22.9 vs 53.3%; OR 0.066, 95% CI 0.006-0.764), mRS score ≤ 2 (34.3 vs 53.3%; OR 0.102, 95% CI 0.011-0.935), and higher rate of death (51.4 vs 40%; OR 16.244, 1.395-89.209) in patients with proximal-segment BA occlusion. Compared with IVT alone, IVT plus MT was significantly associated with higher rate of sICH per ECASS II definition in patients with stroke and posterior circulation LVO, while two treatment groups did not differ significantly in 3-month mRS score ≤ 3. IVT plus MT was associated with lower rate of mRS score ≤ 3 compared with IVT alone in patients with proximal-segment BA occlusion, whereas no significant difference was found between the two treatments in primary endpoints in patients isolated BA occlusion and in the other subgroups based on site occlusion.

Mechanical Thrombectomy in Distal Residual Occlusions of the Middle Cerebral Artery after Large Vessel Recanalization in Acute Stroke: 2b or not 2b? A Pragmatic Approach in Real-Life Scenarios.

BACKGROUND /OBJECTIVE: Recent studies have suggested that a recanalization grade of modified Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction (mTICI) score ≥2c is strongly related with good clinical outcome rather than the current therapeutic angiography target ≥2b. To achieve better recanalization, additional further maneuvers on distal residual vessel occlusion (RVO) may be required. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of rescue treatment in RVOs after recanalization of large vessel occlusions in the anterior circulation. METHODS: A single-center retrospective review of a prospectively maintained stroke databank was performed. Patients presenting with RVOs after mechanical thrombectomy on the M1/internal carotid artery terminus were included and further divided into treated and untreated groups: the former underwent additional maneuvers on RVOs, whereas the latter did not. Baseline and posttreatment clinical, radiologic, and angiographic data were compared between the 2 groups. End points included good functional outcome (modified Rankin Scale [mRS] score ≤2) rates of hemorrhagic transformations, neurologic deterioration and mortality. RESULTS: RVOs were observed in 183/488 patients (37.5%). 74/183 (40.4%) underwent rescue treatment, showing a better outcome in terms of median 24 hours National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score (13 vs. 18; P < 0001), 24 hours Alberta Stroke Programme Early CT Score (6 vs. 5; P < 0.001) and 3 months mRS score 0-2 (47.3% vs. 33.1%; P = 0.06). Recanalization of the superior (frontal) branch of the middle cerebral artery was particularly critical in terms of outcome. Hemorrhagic transformation was higher in the untreated group (53.6% vs. 66.6%; P = 0.1) as well as symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (13.1% vs. 29.4%; P = 0.01). Neurologic deterioration occurred more often among untreated patients (16.2% vs. 25.7%; P = 0.1). Three complications (1.3%) occurred during rescue treatment. CONCLUSIONS: When feasible, improving mTICI score 2a-2b recanalization to mTICI 2c/3 is safe and associated with a better clinical outcome, particularly for residual occlusions involving the superior branch of bifurcation.

Flow diverter stents with hydrophilic polymer coating for the treatment of acutely ruptured aneurysms using single antiplatelet therapy: Preliminary experience.

BACKGROUND: The use of flow diverter stent (FDS) has limitations in cases of subarachnoid haemorrhage caused by ruptured aneurysm, due to the need for double antiplatelet therapy and the delay in the aneurysm occluding. The p48 MW and the p64 MW (Phenox) are available with Hydrophilic Polymer Coating (HPC), that reduces the risk of thrombus formation. Purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of p48 and p64 MW HPC with single antiplatelet therapy for the acute treatment of ruptured aneurysm. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated all patients treated for acutely ruptured aneurysms with a p48 MW HPC or p64 MW HPC from October 2019 to April 2020 using single antiplatelet therapy. For each patient, we considered demographic and aneurysm-related data, clinical presentation, size and location of the implanted flow diverter stent, intra- and post-procedural complications, aneurysm occlusion. RESULTS: Seven patients were included. The ruptured aneurysms were four saccular, two blister-like and one dissecting, six in the anterior and one in posterior circulation. No intraprocedural stent thrombosis and rebleeding was observed. In two cases the aneurysm is completely excluded, in one patient it was found only neck perfusion, in three cases there were mild reduction of the sac and in one case there was a persistent perfusion. No patients needed retreatment in this series. CONCLUSION: In our experience, FDS HPC appears a potential treatment option in selected cases. Our study is limited by small population and short-term follow-up. We report our preliminary data, but further investigations are necessary.

Intracranial Carotid Artery Aneurysm Treatment: First Reported Case of DERIVO®Flow-Diverter Placement by Direct Carotid Artery Puncture.

Brain health may be threatened by aneurysm ruptures, and early recognition of these vascular malformations allows for neuroradiological intervention. Neurointerventional procedures are usually performed with femoral artery access. In patients with severe anatomical complexity of the supra-aortic vessels, however, treatment by this approach could be hindered or impossible. Flow-diverter stent deployment is an effective and safe treatment for large, wide necked intracranial aneurysms, but it requires a complete and firm stability of the coaxial system to achieve a correct and precise deployment of the device. We present the first reported Italian case of a patient with an intracranial aneurysm which was treated with Flow-diverter stent (DERIVO®; AcandisGmbH & Co. KG; Pforzheim; Germany) by direct common carotid artery puncture due to severe tortuosity of supra-aortic trunks.

Apparent diffusion coefficient and tumor volume measurements help stratify progression-free survival of bevacizumab-treated patients with recurrent glioblastoma multiforme.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to determine whether apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) bi-component curve-fitting histogram analysis and volume percentage change (VPC) prior to bevacizumab treatment can stratify progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in patients with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) on first recurrence. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated 17 patients with recurrent GBM who received bevacizumab and fotemustine (n = 13) or only bevacizumab (n = 4) on first recurrence at our institution between December 2009 and July 2015. Both T2/FLAIR abnormalities and enhancing tumor on T1 images were mapped to the ADC images. ADC-L and ADC-M values were obtained trough bi-Gaussian curve fitting histogram analysis. Furthermore, the study population was dichotomized into two subgroups: patients displaying a reduction in enhancing tumor volume of either >55% or <55% between the mean value calculated at baseline and first follow-up. Subsequently, a second dichotomization was performed according to a reduction in the T2 / FLAIR volume >41% or <41% at first check after treatment. OS and PFS were assessed using volume parameters in a Cox regression model adjusted for significant clinical parameters. RESULTS: In univariate analysis, contrast-enhanced (CE)-ADC-L was significantly predictive of PFS (p = 0.01) and OS (p = 0.03). When we dichotomized our sample using the 55% cut-off for enhancing tumor volume, CE-VPC was able to predict PFS (p = 0.01) but not OS (p = 0.08). In multivariate analysis, only the CE-ADC-L was predictive of PFS (p = 0.01), albeit not predictive of OS (p = 0.14). CE-ADC-M, T2/FLAIR-ADC-L, T2/FLAIR-ADC, and T2/FLAIR VPC were not significantly predictive of PFS and OS (p > 0.05) in both univariate and multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: CE-ADC and CE-VPC can stratify PFS for patients with recurrent glioblastoma prior to bevacizumab treatment.

Posttraumatic Middle Meningeal Artery Pseudoaneurysm: Case Report and Review of the Literature.

BACKGROUND: Intracranial pseudoaneurysm is a rare entity, with few cases described in the literature, and is mostly associated with a history of traumatic brain injury. Traumatic aneurysms comprise <1% of all intracranial aneurysms. In particular, middle meningeal artery (MMA) aneurysms are uncommon and usually caused by a skull fracture in the temporal region. About 40 traumatic MMA aneurysms are reported in the literature, and only 28 nontraumatic aneurysms are reported, usually related to high-flow conditions. The behavior of these aneurysms is largely unknown: both spontaneous resolution and aneurysm growth, leading to subsequent rupture, have been reported. Surgical and endovascular management are feasible for MMA aneurysms; however, the criterion standard treatment is not defined. CASE DESCRIPTION: We report the case of a traumatic pseudoaneurysm of the right MMA treated with an endovascular approach and provide a review of the literature. CONCLUSIONS: Aneurysms of the MMA are a rare entity that must be taken into account in the setting of a traumatic brain injury or predisposing factors. The diagnosis and aggressive treatment are mandatory, preventing the devastating consequences of their rupture. Endovascular and surgical techniques are well defined and available, even though there is not a demonstrated superiority in any of them.

Endovascular repair of popliteal artery aneurysms: an Italian multicenter study.

PURPOSE: The aim of our study is to assess the effectiveness of popliteal artery aneurysm (PAA) endovascular treatment. BASIC PROCEDURES: We retrospectively evaluated 48 high-surgical-risk patients that presented at our three departments with evidence of popliteal artery aneurysms, both symptomatic and asymptomatic, and were therefore treated by deployment of stent graft. Immediate technical success was 100%. No periprocedural complications occurred. MAIN FINDINGS: During a mean follow-up of 24.5 months (range 6-72), 12/48 occlusions of stent graft occurred, five of which occurred in the first 30 days after the procedure while other seven occurred during long-term follow-up. Primary stent patency rate was 70.8% and secondary stent patency rate was 89.6% at 1 year. No limb amputation was witnessed. CONCLUSIONS: According to our experience, endovascular approach appeared as an effective treatment for popliteal artery aneurysms, as it appeared affected by a low rate of peri- and post-procedural complications. It could be proposed as treatment of choice in patients with high surgical risk.

Mechanical Thrombectomy by a Direct Aspiration First Pass Technique (ADAPT) in Ischemic Stroke: Results of Monocentric Study Based on Multimodal CT Patient Selection.

INTRODUCTION: Mechanical thrombectomy with ADAP-technique of ischemic stroke has been reported as fast and effective. Aim of this study is to evaluate imaging criteria as possible predictors of stroke severity, therapeutic success, and outcome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients (30) presenting from October 2015 to April 2017 with Emergent Large Vessel Occlusion of the anterior circulation were treated with ADAP-technique. 22 received also IV tPA; 8 underwent endovascular treatment only. Every patient was evaluated with noncontrast CT, multiphase angiography-CT, and perfusion CT. Clinical and radiological characteristics were measured. Good clinical outcome was an improvement of 8 points on NIHSS at discharge or a modified Rankin Scale ≤2 at discharge and at 90 days. RESULTS: Successful revascularization was obtained in 57% of patients, no procedural complications were witnessed, and only two hemorrhages were reported. Good outcome at discharge was obtained in 11 patients (37%) and predicted by NCCT ASPECT and TICI; outcome at 90 days was predicted by NCCT ASPECT, clot length, and premorbid mRS. Mortality was 23% at discharge and 30% at 90 days. CONCLUSION: ADAPT is an effective endovascular method of stroke treatment with fast procedural times. Multimodal CT evaluation is effective in assessing stroke severity, providing important prognostic information, which is able to select patients for the appropriate treatment.

Long-term follow-up in the endovascular treatment of intracranial aneurysms with flow-diverter stents: update of a single-centre experience.

INTRODUCTION: Flow-diverter stents are becoming a useful tool in treating patients with intracranial aneurysms with suitable anatomical feature. Purpose of this study was to evaluate effectiveness and safety of endovascular treatment with flow-diverting stents (FD) in unruptured intracranial aneurysms. METHODS: From May 2009 and May 2014, we treated 49 patients with a total of 58 aneurysms, with FD technique. All patients were treated electively, under general anesthesia and were administered single antiplatelet drug 5 days before the procedure and double antiplatelet therapy for 3 months afterwards. Fifteen of the patients were asymptomatic, eight had headache, thirteen patients presented symptoms due to mass effect of the aneurysm on CNS structures, twelve were treated due to a post-surgical relapse and one patient presented relapsing TIAs due to distal embolization from the aneurysm dome. Choice of FD treatment was done according to aneurysm anatomy (fusiform over saccular, dome/neck ratio < 2) and whenever conventional treatment (coil embolization) appeared difficult (eg. Large aneurysm neck, fusiform aneurysms or difficult sac catheterization). We considered a dome/neck ratio > 2 as the only exclusion criteria. RESULTS: Successful stent deployment was achieved in 50 procedures out of 52 (94.34%) while overall mortality was 2% (1/49). Forty-eight patients were evaluated at long-term follow-up for a total of 56 treated aneurysms. At 3 months, follow-up 75% (42/56) of the aneurysms were excluded from intracranial circulation, at 6 months 80.35% (45/56) and at 12 months 84% (47/56). Stent patency was observed in 100% of patients at short and long-term follow-up, with only two cases of intimal hyperplasia at 3 months, without any further complications. CONCLUSIONS: According to our study FD repair of unruptured intracranial aneurysms appeared to be a safe and effective technique, especially in selected patients with hostile anatomy for traditional embolization.

Is CT perfusion helpful in the treatment allocation of patients with acute ischemic stroke? An expert-opinion analysis.

BACKGROUND: Intravenous tPA is the standard treatment for acute ischemic stroke within 4.5 hours of symptom onset. Neuroradiological selection is currently based upon non-contrast- brain CT scan (NCCT). AIMS: To verify, in an "expert-opinion setting", the possible usefulness of CT perfusion (CTP) in decision-making toward i.v. thrombolysis. PATIENTS AND METHOD: One hundred and three consecutive patients with acute ischemic stroke who underwent NCCT and CTP were re-evaluated by an expert in cerebrovascular disease, to verify if adding CTP information would have changed expert's opinion. RESULTS: After CTP, a definitive decision was made for 20 more patients, changing the proportion of patients candidate to i.v. tPA from 44% to 51%, and reducing uncertainty from 29% to 10%. CTP results were useful inmilder stroke (p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: In a "real world" setting, CT perfusion could be useful for clinical decision, in particular for milder stroke.

Endovascular Treatment of Aorto-Iliac-Femoral Anastomotic Pseudoaneurysms: A Multicentric Study.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness of anastomotic pseudoaneurysms (APAs) endovascular treatment following aorto-iliac-femoral surgical reconstruction. BASIC PROCEDURES: We retrospectively evaluated 54 patients who underwent aorto-iliac-femoral bypass (72 APAs). Follow-up was performed with echo-color-Doppler and/or computed tomography angiography at 1, 3, and 6 months after the procedure and then yearly. We compared clinical success in terms of mortality between aortic APAs and nonaortic APAs (iliac-femoral-popliteal). MAIN FINDINGS: Immediate technical success was 100%. No periprocedural complications occurred. Six patients died during follow-up due to causes not related to APA and 5 due to sepsis at 3 months after the procedure. Thirty-day mortality was 9% overall, and we did not register any statistically significant different between aortic APA and nonaortic APA groups. During a mean follow-up of 25.5 months (range: 3-72), we registered 3 occlusions of stent-graft leg, respectively, at 3 days, 7 days, and 24 months after the procedure, 2 type I endoleaks and 1 type III endoleak. Primary clinical success rate was 87.2%, and secondary clinical success was 95.7%. CONCLUSIONS: Endovascular treatment resulted as a valid alternative to open surgery and could be proposed as the treatment of choice for APAs especially in patients with a high surgical risk.

Endoluminal Dilation Technique to Remove Stuck Port-A-Cath: A Case Report.

Port-a-cath is a type of central venous catheter (CVC) designed to allow repeated access to the venous system for parenteral delivery of medications, fluids, and nutritional solutions and for sampling venous blood. After years of use or in case of damage, CVC must be removed and eventually replaced: the recovery of the device should normally be easy, with a small surgical incision of the skin and tissues surrounding the device and pulling the catheter. Sometimes, scar tissue can develop around the device, making it resistant to removal even after application of forceful traction. We report a case of stuck port-a-cath that was extracted by using endoluminal dilatation technique.

Central nervous system involvement in mycosis fungoides: relevance of tcr gene testing in cerebrospinal fluid.

INTRODUCTION: Mycosis Fungoides (MF) is a rare malignant T-cell lymphoma, involving mainly the skin. In 50%-75% of cases, it can involve organs other than skin, with a 11%-14% Central Nervous System involvement (CNS). CASE REPORT: A 82-year-old woman presented to our Department with a 15-years history of MF with skin lesions. Neurological examination showed dysarthria and a left facio-brachial-crural hemiparesis. A CT scan showed a right fronto-rolandic lesion. A MRI, including DWI, confirmed the presence of the "neoplastic" lesion with slight hemorrhagic component and leptomeningeal contrast enhancement. Molecular TCR rearrangement test by PCR analysis was performed on skin biopsy, showed the presence of a single peak which fits with a monoclonal TCRG gene rearrangement (size 67). Molecular TCR test was also performed on the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), which confirmed the presence of lymphocyte clone T g/ more expressed with the same size of that observed in the skin biopsy A total body CT scan did not show any lymphnodal or extranodal disease. The patient died after ten days. CONCLUSION: MF usually occurs in the context of advanced and often histologically transformed cutaneous disease. Isolated CNS involvement is remarkably rare. This case highlights the need for regular neurologic follow-up after the diagnosis of MF, in particular when features that suggest risk of disease progression are present. Furthermore, the analysis of the skin biopsy and above all of CSF by PCR technique, based on our experience, should always be executed in MF patients with signs or symptoms suggesting CNS involvement.