Early Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio Is a Prognostic Marker in Acute Ischemic Stroke After Successful Revascularization.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the association between early neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (ENLR) and prognosis of anterior circulation large-vessel occlusion stroke (LVOS) after patients undergo endovascular treatment (EVT) with successful revascularization. METHODS: Patients who experienced acute anterior circulation LVOS and underwent EVT at Changzhou Second People's Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University between May 2017 and May 2020 were included in this retrospective study. We collected information about patients' baseline characteristics, medical history, laboratory test results, imaging data, and endovascular treatment outcomes, as well as data from follow-up at 3 months. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used to evaluate the association between ENLR and functional disease prognosis. A piecewise linear regression model was also applied to compute the threshold effect of ENLR on poor prognosis (defined as modified Rankin Scale score 3-6) at 3 months using a smoothing plot. RESULTS: Of 224 patients who received EVT during the study period, 160 patients were included in the analysis. After adjustments were made for potential confounders, multivariate analysis demonstrated a significant association between ENLR and poor prognosis at 3 months (odds radio 1.19; 95% confidence interval 1.07-1.32; P = 0.0016). An ENLR ≥9.75 was found to be significantly associated with poor prognosis at 3 months (odds ratio 1.54; 95% confidence interval 1.19-2.00; P = 0.0119). CONCLUSIONS: Increased ENLR after successful revascularization is independently associated with poor prognosis. These findings suggest that ENLR could be used to inform treatment strategies for patients who experience anterior circulation LVOS.

Giant Middle Cerebral Artery Aneurysms: A 55-Patient Series.

BACKGROUND: The treatment of middle cerebral artery (MCA) giant aneurysms (GAs) represents a challenging task. METHODS: The data for 55 patients treated for MCA GA (≥25 mm) at the N.N. Burdenko NMRCN between 2010 and 2019 were analyZed. RESULTS: The GAs were located in the M1 segment in 11 (20%) patients, MCA bifurcation in 33 (60%), M2 in 7 (12.7%), and M3 in 4 (7.3%). There were 32 (58.2%) saccular and 23 (41.8%) fusiform GAs. MCA GAs were treated with neck clipping (50.9%), clipping with the artery lumen formation (3.6%), bypass surgeries (34.5%), wrapping (3.6%), and endovascular surgery (7.3%). A worsening of the neurologic state in the perioperative period was observed in 50.9% of patients. The complete closure of GA was achieved in 78.2%. Surgery-related mortality was 1.8%. The long-term outcome was favorable in 76.9% of patients. Surgery-related and disease-related plus treatment failures-related mortality was 9.6%. CONCLUSIONS: Microsurgical clipping and bypass surgery are the main operative interventions for MCA GA treatment. These operations are technically complex and are followed by a relatively high percentage of complications. The main tasks that require further investigations are the introduction of new precise diagnostic methods for the collateral circulation assessment in the cortical MCA branches, the perfection of the algorithm for the bypass selection, and investigation of the long-term results of the endovascular and combined treatments. It is of major importance to thoroughly observe the patients long-term after the surgery and ensure the possibility for further angiographic studies.

Imaging Pattern and the Mechanisms of Postoperative Infarction After Indirect Revascularization in Patients with Moyamoya Disease.

OBJECTIVE: To develop preventive strategies against postoperative infarction after indirect revascularization surgery in patients with moyamoya disease (MMD), we evaluated clinical information, with a specific focus on the imaging pattern of postoperative infarction. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated 421 surgical procedures performed in 354 (262 pediatric and 159 adult) patients with MMD from April 1991 to March 2021 at our institute. In addition to clinical information, raw images of postoperative infarction were collected and categorized into subtypes by the location of the infarction. RESULTS: Symptomatic and asymptomatic postoperative infarction occurred in 47 and 12 patients (11.1% and 2.6%), respectively, and more than half (51.7%) of these cases of postoperative infarction occurred immediately or the day after the surgery. Cortical infarction around the craniotomy site was the most frequent pattern observed (50/59, 84.8%), and some of these cases seemed to occur under local compression from epidural or subdural hematomas (15/50, 30.0%). Ipsilateral white matter infarctions located in the watershed area (9/59, 15.3%) and contralateral infarctions (3/59, 5.1%) were also observed. Four patients (1.0%) showed sudden occlusions of ipsilateral or contralateral large intracranial arteries immediately after surgery. Postoperative infarction caused permanent neurologic deficits in 7 patients (1.7%), and all included the cortex outside the craniotomy site. CONCLUSIONS: Local cortical irritation, hemodynamic fluctuation, and thromboembolic events were suggested as possible mechanisms of postoperative infarction after indirect revascularization in patients with MMD. Minimizing cortical irritation, maintaining adequate cerebral blood flow, and perioperative antiplatelet agents might decrease the incidence of postoperative infarction.

Penumbra Consumption Rates Based on Time-to-Maximum Delay and Reperfusion Status: A Post Hoc Analysis of the DEFUSE 3 Trial.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: In patients with acute large vessel occlusion, the natural history of penumbral tissue based on perfusion time-to-maximum (Tmax) delay is not well established in relation to late-window endovascular thrombectomy. In this study, we sought to evaluate penumbra consumption rates for Tmax delays in patients with large vessel occlusion evaluated between 6 and 16 hours from last known normal. METHODS: This is a post hoc analysis of the DEFUSE 3 trial (The Endovascular Therapy Following Imaging Evaluation for Ischemic Stroke), which included patients with an acute ischemic stroke due to anterior circulation occlusion within 6 to 16 hours of last known normal. The primary outcome is percentage penumbra consumption, defined as (24-hour magnetic resonance imaging infarct volume-baseline core infarct volume)/(Tmax 6 or 10 s volume-baseline core volume). We stratified the cohort into 4 categories based on treatment modality and Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction (TICI score; untreated, TICI 0-2a, TICI 2b, and TICI3) and calculated penumbral consumption rates in each category. RESULTS: We included 141 patients, among whom 68 were untreated. In the untreated versus TICI 3 patients, a median (interquartile range) of 53.7% (21.2%-87.7%) versus 5.3% (1.1%-14.6%) of penumbral tissue was consumed based on Tmax >6 s (P<0.001). In the same comparison for Tmax>10 s, we saw a difference of 165.4% (interquartile range, 56.1%-479.8%) versus 25.7% (interquartile range, 3.2%-72.1%; P<0.001). Significant differences were not demonstrated between untreated and TICI 0-2a patients for penumbral consumption based on Tmax >6 s (P=0.52) or Tmax >10 s (P=0.92). CONCLUSIONS: Among extended window endovascular thrombectomy patients, Tmax >10-s mismatch volume may comprise large volumes of salvageable tissue, whereas nearly half the Tmax >6-s mismatch volume may remain viable in untreated patients at 24 hours.

Impact of anticoagulation status on recanalization and outcome of cerebral venous thrombosis.

Effective anticoagulation status may determine the recanalization and outcome of cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT). We report impact of anticoagulation status on recanalization and outcome of CVT. This is a retrospective study on 126 patients with CVT diagnosed on magnetic resonance venography (MRV). Their clinical features and risk factors were noted. The data were retrieved from a prospectively maintained registry, and international normalized ratio (INR) was noted after discharge till 3 months. All the patients were on acenocoumarol. Based on INR value, patients were categorized as Group A (effective anticoagulation INR within the therapeutic range or above) and Group B (ineffective anticoagulation INR > 50% below the therapeutic range). A repeat MRV at 3 months was done for recanalization. Outcome at 3 months was evaluated using modified Rankin Scale (mRS), and categorized as good (mRS ≤ 2) and poor (mRS 2 or more) 101(80.2%) patients were in group A and 25(19.8%) in group B. Their demographic, risk factors, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and MRV findings were comparable. On repeat MRV, recanalization occurred in 22/24(91.7%); 15(88%) in group A and 7(100%) in group B. Recanalization was independent of coagulation status. Seven (5.6%) patients died and 107(84.9%) had good outcome; 85(84.2%) in group A and 22(88%) in group B. Kaplan Meier analysis also did not reveal survival or good outcome benefits between the groups. In CVT, outcome and recanalization at 3 months are not dependent on coagulation status. Further prospective studies are needed regarding duration of anticoagulant and its impact on recanalization and outcome.

Does Src Kinase Mediated Vasoconstriction Impair Penumbral Reperfusion?

Despite successful recanalization, a significant number of patients with ischemic stroke experience impaired local brain tissue reperfusion with adverse clinical outcome. The cause and mechanism of this multifactorial complication are yet to be understood. At the current moment, major attention is given to dysfunction in blood-brain barrier and capillary blood flow but contribution of exaggerated constriction of cerebral arterioles has also been suggested. In the brain, arterioles significantly contribute to vascular resistance and thus control of perfusion. Accordingly, pathological changes in arteriolar wall function can, therefore, limit sufficient reperfusion in ischemic stroke, but this has not yet received sufficient attention. Although an increased vascular tone after reperfusion has been demonstrated in several studies, the mechanism behind it remains to be characterized. Importantly, the majority of conventional mechanisms controlling vascular contraction failed to explain elevated cerebrovascular tone after reperfusion. We propose here that the Na,K-ATPase-dependent Src kinase activation are the key mechanisms responsible for elevation of cerebrovascular tone after reperfusion. The Na,K-ATPase, which is essential to control intracellular ion homeostasis, also executes numerous signaling functions. Under hypoxic conditions, the Na,K-ATPase is endocytosed from the membrane of vascular smooth muscle cells. This initiates the Src kinase signaling pathway that sensitizes the contractile machinery to intracellular Ca2+ resulting in hypercontractility of vascular smooth muscle cells and, thus, elevated cerebrovascular tone that can contribute to impaired reperfusion after stroke. This mechanism integrates with cerebral edema that was suggested to underlie impaired reperfusion and is further supported by several studies, which are discussed in this article. However, final demonstration of the molecular mechanism behind Src kinase-associated arteriolar hypercontractility in stroke remains to be done.

Delayed Neurological Improvement After Full Endovascular Reperfusion in Acute Anterior Circulation Ischemic Stroke.

Background and Purpose: We aimed to determine the prevalence and predictors of delayed neurological improvement (DNI) after complete endovascular reperfusion in anterior circulation acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Methods: Retrospective analysis of an online multicenter prospective reperfusion registry of patients with consecutive anterior circulation AIS treated with endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) from January 2018 to June 2019 in tertiary stroke centers of the NORDICTUS (NORD-Spain Network for Research and Innovation in ICTUS) network. We included patients with AIS with a proximal occlusion in whom a modified Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction 3 reperfusion pattern was obtained. DNI was defined if, despite absence of early neurological improvement during the first 24 hours, patients achieved functional independence on day 90. Clinical and radiological variables obtained before EVT were analyzed as potential predictors of DNI. Results: Of 1565 patients with consecutive AIS treated with EVT, 1381 had proximal anterior circulation occlusions, 803 (58%) of whom achieved a modified Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction 3. Of these, 628 patients fulfilled all selection criteria and were included in the study. Mean age was 73.8 years, 323 (51.4%) were female, and median baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale was 16. Absence of early neurological improvement was observed in 142 (22.6%) patients; 32 of these (22.5%) achieved good long-term outcome and constitute the DNI group. Predictors of DNI in multivariable-adjusted logistic regression were male sex (odds ratio, 6.4 [95% CI, 2.1­22.3] P=0.002), lower pre-EVT National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score (odds ratio, 1.4 [95% CI, 1.2­1.5], P<0.001), and intravenous thrombolysis (odds ratio, 9.1 [95% CI, 2.7­30.90], P<0.001). Conclusions: One-quarter of patients with anterior circulation AIS who do not clinically improve within the first 24 hours after complete cerebral endovascular recanalization will achieve long-term functional independence, regardless of the poor early clinical course. Male sex, lower initial clinical severity, and use of intravenous thrombolysis before EVT predicted this clinical pattern.

Editor's Choice - Risk of Stroke before Revascularisation in Patients with Symptomatic Carotid Stenosis: A Pooled Analysis of Randomised Controlled Trials.

OBJECTIVE: Current guidelines recommending rapid revascularisation of symptomatic carotid stenosis are largely based on data from clinical trials performed at a time when best medical therapy was potentially less effective than today. The risk of stroke and its predictors among patients with symptomatic carotid stenosis awaiting revascularisation in recent randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and in medical arms of earlier RCTs was assessed. METHODS: The pooled data of individual patients with symptomatic carotid stenosis randomised to stenting (CAS) or endarterectomy (CEA) in four recent RCTs, and of patients randomised to medical therapy in three earlier RCTs comparing CEA vs. medical therapy, were compared. The primary outcome event was any stroke occurring between randomisation and treatment by CAS or CEA, or within 120 days after randomisation. RESULTS: A total of 4 754 patients from recent trials and 1 227 from earlier trials were included. In recent trials, patients were randomised a median of 18 (IQR 7, 50) days after the qualifying event (QE). Twenty-three suffered a stroke while waiting for revascularisation (cumulative 120 day risk 1.97%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.75 - 3.17). Shorter time from QE until randomisation increased stroke risk after randomisation (χ2 = 6.58, p = .011). Sixty-one patients had a stroke within 120 days of randomisation in the medical arms of earlier trials (cumulative risk 5%, 95% CI 3.8 - 6.2). Stroke risk was lower in recent than earlier trials when adjusted for time between QE and randomisation, age, severity of QE, and degree of carotid stenosis (HR 0.47, 95% CI 0.25 - 0.88, p = .019). CONCLUSION: Patients with symptomatic carotid stenosis enrolled in recent large RCTs had a lower risk of stroke after randomisation than historical controls. The added benefit of carotid revascularisation to modern medical care needs to be revisited in future studies. Until then, adhering to current recommendations for early revascularisation of patients with symptomatic carotid stenosis considered to require invasive treatment is advisable.

Failures in Revascularization for Pediatric Moyamoya Disease and Syndrome: A Scoping Review.

BACKGROUND: Moyamoya disease (MMD) and moyamoya syndrome (MMS) are a rare cause of stroke commonly managed surgically. We conducted a scoping review to identify the current scope of the literature regarding factors associated with failure of revascularization surgery for MMD and MMS in pediatric patients and to catalyze future research. METHODS: A scoping review was conducted to explore failures of revascularization surgery for MMD and MMS in pediatric patients using the PubMed, Embase, and Scopus databases. Titles and abstracts returned from searches were screened for full-text review. Studies meeting inclusion criteria were reviewed in full, and relevant data were extracted. RESULTS: Of 2450 resultant articles, 15 were included. Angiographic outcomes were reported for 900 hemispheres, of which 442 (49.1%) were denoted as Matsushima grade A, 299 (33.2%) as Matsushima grade B, and 159 (17.7%) as Matsushima grade C. Patients with MMS had poorer angiographic outcomes than did patients with MMD. Patients with poor neovascularization had a greater degree of moyamoya vessels on follow-up angiogram. Suzuki stage was not associated with angiographic outcome in individual patients. Angiographic outcomes differed by surgical approach and were not associated with clinical outcomes. Literature identifying factors was sparse. CONCLUSIONS: The existing literature indicates that factors such as cause, degree of moyamoya vessels, and surgical approach may affect the likelihood of Matsushima grade C revascularization in pediatric patients with MMD and MMS. Future studies are necessary to definitively elucidate factors associated with failure of revascularization surgery for pediatric MMD.

Encephaloduroarteriosynangiosis Averts Stroke in Atherosclerotic Patients With Border-Zone Infarct: Post Hoc Analysis From a Performance Criterion Phase II Trial.

BACKGROUND: Intracranial atherosclerotic disease (ICAD) is one of the leading causes of stroke worldwide. Patients with ICAD who initially present with ischemia in border-zone areas and undergo intensive medical management (IMM) have the highest recurrence rates (37% at 1 yr) because of association with hemodynamic failure and poor collaterals. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of encephaloduroarteriosynagiosis (EDAS) on stroke recurrence in patients with ICAD and border-zone stroke (BDZS) at presentation. METHODS: A phase II clinical trial of EDAS revascularization for symptomatic ICAD failing medical management (EDAS Revascularization for Symptomatic Intracranial Atherosclerosis Steno-occlusive [ERSIAS]) was recently concluded. We analyze the outcomes of the subgroup of patients with BDZS at presentation treated with EDAS vs the previously reported Stenting versus Aggressive Medical Management for Preventing Recurrent stroke in Intracranial Stenosis (SAMMPRIS) IMM subgroup with BDZS at presentation. RESULTS: Of 52 patients included in the ERSIAS trial, 35 presented with strokes at baseline, and 28 had a BDZ pattern, including 15 (54%) with exclusive BDZS and 13 (46%) with mixed patterns (BDZ plus other distribution). Three of the 28 (10.7%) had recurrent strokes up to a median follow-up of 24 months. The rate of recurrent stroke in ICAD patients with BDZS at presentation after EDAS was significantly lower than the rate reported in the SAMMPRIS IMM subgroup with BDZS at presentation (10.7% vs 37% P = .004, 95% CI = 0.037-0.27). CONCLUSION: ICAD patients with BDZS at presentation have lower rates of recurrent stroke after EDAS surgery than those reported with medical management in the SAMMPRIS trial. These results support further investigation of EDAS in a randomized clinical trial.

Long-Term Independence in Older Patients with Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage in the Barrow Ruptured Aneurysm Trial.

OBJECTIVE: Older patients have a higher risk for poor neurological outcomes following aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). This study compared functional independence in older versus younger patients with aSAH and compared endovascular coiling with microsurgical clipping in the older cohort. METHODS: Patients enrolled in the Barrow Ruptured Aneurysm Trial (BRAT) with confirmed aSAH were analyzed. Patients were grouped by age: older (≥65 years old) or younger (<65 years old). The primary outcome analyzed was functional independence at long-term follow-up, defined as Barthel index >80 at 6-year follow-up. A second analysis was performed comparing functional independence in older patients treated with endovascular coiling versus microsurgical clipping. RESULTS: Of 405 patients with aSAH enrolled in BRAT, 77 (19%) were ≥65 years old, and 328 (81%) were <65 years old. A lower percentage of older versus younger patients was functionally independent (Barthel index >80) at 6-year follow-up (42.0% [29/69] vs. 82.2% [217/264]; P < 0.001). A higher percentage of younger patients (69.7% [184/264]) had good neurological outcomes (modified Rankin Scale score <3) at 6-year follow-up compared with older patients (31.9% [22/69]; P < 0.001). A greater percentage of older patients treated with microsurgical clipping (51.0% [18/47]) versus endovascular coiling (22.7% [5/22]) had functional independence at 6-year follow-up (P < 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Patients ≥65 years old with aSAH are at increased risk for poor neurological outcomes compared with younger patients. Greater independence was observed in older patients after microsurgical clipping than after endovascular coiling at long-term follow-up.

Long-term safety and efficacy of distal aneurysm treatment with flow diversion in the M2 segment of the middle cerebral artery and beyond.

BACKGROUND: Indications for flow diversion stent (FDS) treatment are expanding. However, there is still a lack of evidence for the long-term outcome in distally located aneurysms in the M2 segment of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) and beyond. METHODS: Consecutive subjects (from June 2013 to August 2020) with MCA aneurysms in the M2 segment or beyond treated with FDS were reviewed retrospectively. The primary endpoints for clinical safety were the absence of mortality, stroke event, re-rupture of the aneurysm, and worsening of clinical symptoms. The primary endpoint for treatment efficacy was complete/near-complete occlusion at follow-up after 12 months. RESULTS: 23 patients were identified: 7 aneurysms were located in the M2 segment of the MCA, 4 in the M2-M3 bifurcation, 2 in M3, 3 in M3-4 branching, and 2 in M4; 5 aneurysms were located in M2 with extension into the M1-M2 bifurcation. 13 aneurysms were of fusiform morphology, 8 sacculofusiform, and 2 saccular. 16 aneurysms were of highly suspected dissecting etiology. The median diameter of the parent vessel was 2.1 mm proximally and 2 mm distally. The median time of the follow-up was 30 months (range 16 months to 6 years). Complete/near complete occlusion was observed in 14/20 patients (70%) and one stable remodeling (5%) was seen at 12 months. 22 patients (95.6%) had an excellent clinical outcome (mRS 0-1) at 6 months. Technical challenges associated with the deployment of FDS occurred in 8.7% of cases. Severe complications, intraparenchymal hemorrhage and re-rupture of the aneurysm occurred in 2 patients (8.7%). CONCLUSION: Flow diversion of distally located aneurysms is technically feasible with low morbidity and mortality.

Risk factors for ineffective recanalization after endovascular treatment in acute ischemic stroke.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the risk factors of early ineffective recanalization, defined as a modified Rankin scale (mRS) score of 4∼6 at two weeks after symptom onset, in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients receiving endovascular treatment (EVT). METHOD: One hundred eighty-four AIS patients who received EVT in 01/2016-12/2018 were analyzed. The recanalization rate was 81.5 % (150/184). Patients were divided into effective (mRS 0-3) and ineffective (mRS 4-6) recanalization groups. The independent risk factors for ineffective recanalization were analyzed. RESULT: The ineffective recanalization rate was 67.3 % (101/150 cases) at 14 days after symptom onset. Twenty-five patients (24.8 %) in the ineffective recanalization group had coronary heart disease, higher than that in the effective group (4 patients, 8.2 %, P = 0.016). Infratentorial pathology accounted for 34.7 % (35 cases) of the ineffective group and only 14.3 % (7 cases) of the control group (P = 0.011). Systolic blood pressure (SBP) was higher in the ineffective group than in the effective group (146 mmHg vs 140 mmHg, P = 0.038). General anesthesia was more common in the ineffective group than in the control group (49 cases, 48.5 %, vs 9 cases, 18.4 %; P = 0.000). Logistic regression showed that coronary heart disease (odds ratio (OR) = 3.399, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.013-11.401, P = 0.048), unconsciousness before EVT (OR = 4.292, 95 % CI 1.963-9.386, P = 0.000), SBP (OR = 1.016, 95 % CI 0.997-1.035, P = 0.090) and general anesthesia (OR = 3.378, 95 % CI 1.395-8.180, P = 0.007) were independent risk factors for ineffective recanalization. CONCLUSION: Patients with coronary heart disease, unconsciousness before EVT, elevated SBP and general anesthesia need precise assessment to benefit from EVT.

Long-Term Patency and Final Structure After Superficial Temporal Artery-Middle Cerebral Artery Bypass Surgery: A Retrospective Study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate long-term bypass patency and final structure for patients who underwent superficial temporal artery (STA)-middle cerebral artery (MCA) bypass. METHODS: This study retrospectively evaluated 20 patients who underwent STA-MCA bypass and had 2-year follow-up with cerebral angiography. Patients were divided into internal carotid artery occlusion (n = 11) and MCA occlusion or stenosis (n = 9) groups, and diagnosis was either arteriosclerotic (n = 14) or nonarteriosclerotic (n = 6) disease. Final bypass formation was examined with cerebral angiography at 2 years postoperatively. Diameters of the STA, middle meningeal artery (MMA), and deep temporal artery (DTA) were measured at preoperative angiography and at 2-year follow-up. RESULTS: No significant differences in STA, MMA, and DTA diameters were reported between the internal carotid artery versus MCA group. For patients with arteriosclerotic disease, thicker STA diameters were noted on preoperative angiography. For patients with nonarteriosclerotic disease, MMA and DTA dilatation was noted on 2-year follow-up imaging. For patients with arteriosclerotic disease, all direct bypasses were patent at 2 years. For patients with nonarteriosclerotic disease, remarkable angiogenesis was demonstrated. CONCLUSIONS: Long-term patency of a direct bypass may be correlated with arteriosclerotic or nonarteriosclerotic etiology. An indirect bypass route may develop in patients with nonarteriosclerotic disease; therefore, it is important to create a foundation for an indirect bypass with MMA and DTA preservation during craniotomy. In 2 patients with nonarteriosclerotic disease, STA remained the primary bypass foundation; however, the technique resembled novel angiogenesis after encephaloduroarteriosynangiosis and not direct STA-MCA bypass. Therefore, final bypass structure might be affected by disease etiology.

Outcomes of Carotid Revascularization versus Optimal Medical Treatment Alone for Asymptomatic Carotid Stenosis: Inverse-Probability-of-Treatment Weighting Using Propensity Scores.

BACKGROUND: The benefits and necessity of revascularization for asymptomatic carotid stenosis remains under debate. This study aimed to determine the more durable and beneficial alternative between carotid revascularization and optimal medical treatment (OMT) alone for asymptomatic carotid stenosis. METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of patients with asymptomatic severe carotid stenosis at a tertiary institution between 1994 and 2017. We compared revascularization (carotid endarterectomy [CEA] and carotid artery stenting [CAS]) with OMT alone by using inverse-probability-of-treatment weighting with propensity scores to account for selection bias. The primary end point was a composite of any stroke, myocardial infarction, and death within 30 days, plus ipsilateral stroke thereafter. RESULTS: A total of 1089 patients were included in the analysis (56% CEA, 25% CAS, 19% OMT alone). Patients who underwent CAS consistently showed greater risk regarding the primary composite end point compared with those who received OMT alone (hazard radio [HR] 3.32, 95% confidence interval 1.014-10.868; P = 0.047), but the CEA group showed no significant difference (HR 1.19, 95% confidence interval 0.385-4.584; P = 0.761). The CAS group had the greatest rates of any stroke within 30 days (4.0%, P = 0.0006) and ipsilateral stroke thereafter (3.68%, P = 0.0009). There was no death within 30 days. In the long-term outcomes, neither CEA nor CAS showed significant differences in HR compared with OMT alone. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that for stroke prevention in asymptomatic severe carotid stenosis, CAS might be inferior to the other 2 options regarding early outcomes. However, further investigation is required regarding the efficacy and durability of OMT alone.

Rebleeding and bleeding in the year following intracranial aneurysm coiling: analysis of a large prospective multicenter cohort of 1140 patients-Analysis of Recanalization after Endovascular Treatment of Intracranial Aneurysm (ARETA) Study.

BACKGROUND: Endovascular treatment is the first line therapy for the management of ruptured and unruptured intracranial aneurysms, but delayed aneurysm rupture leading to bleeding/rebleeding can occur subsequently. ARETA (Analysis of Recanalization after Endovascular Treatment of intracranial Aneurysm) is a prospective, multicenter study conducted to analyze aneurysm recanalization. We analyzed delayed bleeding and rebleeding in this large cohort. METHODS: 16 neurointerventional departments prospectively enrolled patients treated for ruptured and unruptured aneurysms between December 2013 and May 2015 (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01942512). Participant demographics, aneurysm characteristics and endovascular techniques were recorded. Data were analyzed from participants with ruptured or unruptured aneurysms treated by coiling or balloon-assisted coiling. Rates of bleeding and rebleeding were analyzed and associated factors were studied using univariable and multivariable analyses. RESULTS: The bleeding rate was 0.0% in patients with unruptured aneurysms and 1.0% (95% CI 0.3% to 1.7%) in patients with ruptured aneurysms. In multivariate analysis, two factors were associated with rebleeding occurrence: incomplete aneurysm occlusion after initial treatment (2.0% in incomplete aneurysm occlusion vs 0.2% in complete aneurysm occlusion, OR 10.2, 95% CI 1.2 to 83.3; p=0.03) and dome-to-neck ratio (1.5±0.5 with rebleeding vs 2.2±0.9 without rebleeding, OR 0.2, 95% CI 0.04 to 0.8; p=0.03). Modalities of management of aneurysm rebleeding as well as clinical outcomes are described. CONCLUSIONS: Aneurysm coiling affords good protection against bleeding (for unruptured aneurysms) and rebleeding (for ruptured aneurysms) at 1 year with rates of 0.0% and 1.0%, respectively. Aneurysm occlusion and dome-to-neck ratio are the two factors that appear to play a role in the occurrence of rebleeding.

Improved Outcomes after Reperfusion Therapies for Ischemic Stroke: A "Real-world" Study in a Developing Country.

BACKGROUND: It is unknown if improvements in ischemic stroke (IS) outcomes reported after cerebral reperfusion therapies (CRT) in developed countries are also applicable to the "real world" scenario of low and middle-income countries. We aimed to measure the long-term outcomes of severe IS treated or not with CRT in Brazil. METHODS: Patients from a stroke center of a state-run hospital were included. We compared the survival probability and functional status at 3 and 12 months in patients with severe IS treated or not with CRT. From 2010 to 2011, we performed intravenous reperfusion when patients arrived within 4.5 h time-window (IVT group) and after 2011, mechanical thrombectomy (MT) combined or not with intravenous alteplase (IAT group). Those who arrived >4.5 h in 2010-2011 and >6 h in 2012-2017 did not undergo CRT (NCRT group). RESULTS: From 2010 to 2017, we registered 917 patients: 74% (677/917) in the NCRT group, 19% (178/917) in the IVT group and 7% (62/917) in the IAT group. Compared to the NCRT group, IVT patients had a 28% higher (HR: 0.72; 95% CI 0.53-0.96) 3-month adjusted probability of survival and risk of functional dependence was 19% lower (adjusted RR: 0.81; 95% CI 0.73-0.91). For those who underwent MT, the adjusted probability of survival was 59 % higher (HR: 0.41; 95% CI 0.21-0.77) and the risk of functional dependence was 21% lower (adjusted RR: 0.79; 95% CI 0.66-094). These outcomes remained significantly better throughout the first year. CONCLUSION: CRT led to better outcomes in patients with severe IS in Brazil.

Implications of achieving TICI 2b vs TICI 3 reperfusion in patients with ischemic stroke: a cost-effectiveness analysis.

BACKGROUND: The benefit of endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) in stroke patients with large-vessel occlusion (LVO) depends on the degree of recanalization achieved. We aimed to determine the health outcomes and cost implications of achieving TICI 2b vs TICI 3 reperfusion in acute stroke patients with LVO. METHODS: A decision-analytic study was performed with Markov modeling to estimate the lifetime quality-adjusted life years (QALY) of EVT-treated patients, and costs based on the degree of reperfusion achieved. The study was performed with a societal perspective in the United States' setting. The base case calculations were performed in three age groups: 55-, 65-, and 75-year-old patients. RESULTS: Within 90 days, achieving TICI 3 resulted in a cost saving of $3676 per patient and health benefit of 11 days in perfect health as compared with TICI 2b. In the long term, for the three age groups, achieving TICI 3 resulted in cost savings of $46,498, $25,832, and $15 719 respectively, and health benefits of 2.14 QALYs, 1.71 QALYs, and 1.23 QALYs. Every 1% increase in TICI 3 in 55-year-old patients nationwide resulted in a cost saving of $3.4 million and a health benefit of 156 QALYs. Among 65-year-old patients, the corresponding cost savings and health benefit were $1.9 million and 125 QALYs. CONCLUSION: There are substantial cost and health implications in achieving complete vs incomplete reperfusion after EVT. Our study provides a framework to assess the cost-benefit analysis of emerging diagnostic and therapeutic techniques that might improve patient selection, and increase the chances of achieving complete reperfusion.

Impact of reperfusion pump power on technical and clinical outcomes after direct aspiration thrombectomy (ADAPT).

INTRODUCTION: Higher aspiration forces using larger bore catheters in direct aspiration thrombectomy (ADAPT) have been associated with shorter procedure time and better outcomes in patients treated for acute ischemic stroke (AIS). However, the effect of using reperfusion pumps of higher aspiration power on outcomes of ADAPT has not been investigated. We evaluated the effect of using pumps with different aspiration powers on technical and clinical outcomes after ADAPT. METHODS: We reviewed a retrospective database of AIS cases between January 2018 and February 2019, while comparing technical and clinical outcomes between patients undergoing ADAPT using the MAX pump (28.5 inHg power) vs the ENGINE pump(29.2 inHg power). RESULTS: Among 194 patients (48% females, age 69±15 years) included in the study, 73 patients undergoing ADAPT using the ENGINE pump were age-, gender-, comorbidities-, and operator-matched to 118 patients treated using the MAX pump. The ENGINE group had shorter procedure time (20±17 vs 27±21 mins, p=0.017), lower number of aspiration attempts (2.2±1.6 vs 2.8±1.9, p=0.047), and similar rates of favorable 90 day modified Rankin Scale. Using multivariate linear regression, the use of the ENGINE reperfusion pump with higher vacuum power was independently and inversely correlated with procedure time (coefficient -2.23, p=0.027). While controlling for confounders, there was a trend toward an inverse correlation between use of the ENGINE pump and the number of attempts on linear regression (coefficient -1.04, p=0.09) and lower odds of PH2/intracranial (ICH) hemorrhages on logistic regression (OR 0.227, p=0.075). CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that the use of the ENGINE reperfusion pump of higher aspiration power during ADAPT decreases procedure time, without increasing complications and post-procedural hemorrhage rates.