Effects of clinical outcomes by modification of patient selection protocol based on premorbid independence for mechanical thrombectomy in older adult patients.

OBJECTIVES: Since the beneficial effect attained by mechanical thrombectomy (MT) seems to be worse in older than in the younger population, the establishment of an ideal and distinctive patient selection protocol in older is warranted. Herein, we modified our patient selection protocol based on age and premorbid independence in older adult patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 141 consecutive patients with acute ischemic stroke who were treated with MT between 2015 and 2020. We started to restrict the indication of MT in very old patients (≥85-year-old) with severe premorbid functional independence (≥modified Rankin Scale [mRS] 3) in 2018. Clinical outcomes before the modification of protocol (period 1) were compared to after (period 2). RESULTS: Although there were no significant differences in median mRS at 90 days and the rates of favorable outcomes (mRS 0-2) between both periods, rates of poor outcomes (mRS 5, 6) significantly decreased (37.3% vs. 19.7%, P = 0.021) during period 2 compared with period 1. For older adults (≥80-year-old), median mRS was significantly better (P = 0.012) during period 2 than period 1. During period 1, rates of favorable outcomes were significantly lower (P = 0.004) in older than in younger. However, this significant difference was diminished (P = 0.28) during period 2. CONCLUSION: Our modified patient selection protocol in older adults, not only limited by age but also premorbid function, improved the therapeutic outcome of MT. In rapidly aging society, further investigations facilitating a better understanding are necessary to establish an optimal patient selection protocol.

A case of catastrophic epistaxis from the internal carotid artery due to multiple surgeries and irradiations for pituitary tumor: Rescued utilizing high-flow bypass and simultaneous skull base reconstruction.

Revascularization for internal carotid artery rupture should be considered immediately under the situation where endovascular treatment is not indicated. Revascularization can prevent the risk of hemorrhage during skull base reconstruction.

ADAPT First-Line Strategy for MCA Mainstem Occlusion; Analysis for Optimal Salvage Therapy and its Related Factor.

OBJECTIVES: A direct first-pass aspiration technique (ADAPT) is an attractive interventional technique for mechanical thrombectomy (MT), which could achieve recanalization quickly and safely at a small amount of material resources. To clarify its usefulness, our ADAPT first-line strategy for middle cerebral artery (MCA)-mainstem occlusion was retrospectively analyzed. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed 54 consecutive patients who underwent MT for MCA-mainstem occlusion using ADAPT first-line strategy. A salvage procedure was concurrently conducted in cases that failed to achieve successful recanalization by ADAPT attempt alone. Procedural and clinical outcome were assessed in both ADAPT alone and Salvage groups. Further investigation was performed in cases that required salvage procedure to determine the reason, risk factors, and optimal procedure. RESULTS: Forty-one patients (75.9%) were able to achieve successful recanalization with ADAPT technique alone. In salvage group, the procedural time was longer, and rates of successful recanalization were lower than in ADAPT-alone group. No significant difference in the rates of favorable outcomes was observed. Among 13 patients who required salvage therapy, the major reason (eight cases) was intra-procedural "thrombus distal migration". Failure of recanalization was seen in two cases due to "inaccessibility". In patients who had "thrombus distal migration", occlusion in the proximal portion was more frequently observed than in patients who did not (p = 0.032, 63.6% vs. 23.3%). CONCLUSIONS: Our ADAPT first-line strategy for MCA-mainstem occlusion demonstrated favorable procedural and clinical outcomes, even in cases that required additional procedures. Further investigation and better understanding are required to refine this promising procedure.

A Direct Aspiration First Pass Technique for Vertebra-Basilar Occlusion: A Retrospective Comparison to Stent Retriever.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to assess the clinical usefulness of a direct aspiration first pass technique as a first-line strategy for mechanical thrombectomy in posterior circulation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We examined 34 consecutive patients treated with mechanical thrombectomy for acute vertebrobasilar artery occlusion. Procedural and clinical outcomes were assessed and compared between patients treated with a direct aspiration first pass technique first-line strategy (ADAPT group) and stent retriever system first-line strategy (stent retriever group). RESULTS: Overall, successful reperfusion, complete reperfusion, and first-pass effects were achieved in 94.1%, 61.8%, and 50% of patients with acute ischemic stroke in vertebra-basilar artery occlusion treated with mechanical thrombectomy, respectively. The ADAPT group required a significantly shorter procedural time (p=.015) and fewer attempts (p=.0498) to achieve successful recanalization than the stent retriever group. The ADAPT group also tended to show better recanalization rates and first-pass effects than the stent retriever group. The rates of favorable outcomes seemed to be better, although insignificant, in the ADAPT group than in the stent retriever group (52.2% vs. 27.3%, p=.217). However, a significant correlation between the time required for reperfusion and clinical outcome was detected, and this will serve as the rationale for encouraging a direct aspiration first pass technique as a first-line strategy in the acute vertebra-basilar artery. CONCLUSIONS: The a direct aspiration first pass technique first-line strategy for mechanical thrombectomy in posterior circulation may achieve successful recanalization with fewer attempts and shorter durations than the stent retriever first-line strategy.

Intracranial plasmacytoma arising from dura mater secondary to multiple myeloma and presenting with sudden lethal intracerebral hemorrhage: A case report and literature review.

BACKGROUND: Intracranial and central nervous system's involvement with multiple myeloma (MM) is a clinically rare manifestation. Furthermore, the development of intracranial plasmacytoma without bone involvement is much rarer. Herein, we report the case of massive intracerebral hemorrhage form intracranial plasmacytoma that arose from the dura mater without bone involvement. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 71-year-old woman, who had been diagnosed as MM and treated 2 years prior, developed sudden lethal intracerebral hemorrhage from the intracranial plasmacytoma. Massive hemorrhage was observed after a rapid tumor growth in the middle fossa. Immediate hematoma evacuation and tumor resection allowed the patient to avoid severe neurological deficits and lethal conditions. CONCLUSION: A close follow-up by neuroimaging studies is essential in cases of intracranial plasmacytoma in MM patients and early intervention with surgical resection or radiotherapy should be considered.

[The role of endovascular treatment for multiple intracranial aneurysms with subarachnoid hemorrhage].

In consideration of the treatment for multiple cerebral aneurysms occurring in association with subarachnoid hemorrhage, it is sometimes difficult to determine which therapeutic strategy should be used when it is difficult to detect the ruptured aneurysm by CT or angiography and difficult to clip all the aneurysms using one approach. This study was conducted to examine indications and problems of coil embolization in the acute stage in such a situation, based on our experience in 9 patients. The patients were aged between 29 to 91 years (mean 61.6 years), and the severity on admission was recorded according to the World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies (WFNS) Grade I in 6 patients, Grade II in 2 patients, and grade IV in 1 patient. The number of aneurysms was 2 in 5 patients, 3 in 3 patients, and 4 in 1 patient. Four patients underwent embolization for all the aneurysms simultaneously, 3 patients underwent embolization for a single aneurysm and then underwent clipping of other aneurysms, and 2 patients were considered to be eligible for surgery and underwent clipping, but since no rupture was detected, they underwent embolization for all the remaining aneurysms. Seven patients made satisfactory progress, but 1 patient developed an embolic complication. Another patient developed recurrent hemorrhage from the untreated aneurysm, so additional clipping was performed. Coil embolization is beneficial in that treatment is completed simultaneously, but has problems in that it cannot be determined whether or not the embolized aneurysm is the ruptured one, embolic complications may occur, and long-term prognosis is unknown.

[Stress response of subarachnoid hemorrhage to cardiac performance and intravascular volume evaluated by the pulse contour cardiac output (PiCCO) system].

The aim of this study was to investigate cardiac performance and volume status after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Hemodynamic and volumetric parameters including cardiac index (CL), intrathoracic blood volume index (ITBVI), and extravascular lung water index (EVLWI) were evaluated by single indicator transpulmonary thermodilution (PiCCO) from days 1 to 4 in 32 patients with SAH treated surgically or endovascularly within 24 hours. Higher CL and lower ITBVI values were observed after SAH. The mean value of Cl was 5.2 l/min/m2 on day 1, which gradually decreased to 3.4 l/min/m2 on day 4. The mean ITBVI value was 730 ml/m2 on day 1, which recovered to the reference range until day 4 by fluid administration aiming for normovolemia. Higher CL and lower ITBVI values were present in patients with poor clinical grade (WFNS grade IV, V) as compared with mild to moderate grade (I -Ill) (p < 0.05). Relationship between CL and SI were well correlated (r = 0.77, p < 0.0001). The results indicate that SAH predisposes patients to hyperdynamic and hypovolemic states associated with sympathetic hyperactivity, especially in patients with poor clinical grade. Bedside monitoring with the PiCCO system may be a powerful tool for the management of patients after SAH.

Clinical application of experimental cortical dysplasia in rats.

This report details clinical and experimental studies of focal cortical dysplasia. The first part deals with 14 surgical cases of children with intractable epilepsy. At surgery, intraoperative electrocorticography was performed to localize the epileptic foci under neuroleptanalgesia. Thirteen patients showed epileptiform discharges on this preresection electrocorticography. All foci in noneloquent areas were resected. Patients who had undergone total lesionectomy with complete focus resection showed the most favorable postoperative results. However, the positive correlation between the intraoperative electrocorticographic findings and the pathologic classification of cortical dysplasia was not found in the present study. Nine patients have been seizure free with reduced medication and two patients have achieved worthwhile improvement. We conclude that intraoperative electrocorticography can improve the surgical outcome for intractable epilepsy by localizing epileptic foci for resection. The second part describes a kainic acid-induced experimental model of focal cortical dysplasia, which demonstrated not only the epileptic properties of the dysplasia but also the perilesional epileptogenicity. The findings supported the surgical results for the patients with focal cortical dysplasia.