Inter-hospital transfer for mechanical thrombectomy within the supraregional stroke network NEVAS.

BACKGROUND: Telemedicine stroke networks are mandatory to provide inter-hospital transfer for mechanical thrombectomy (MT). However, studies on patient selection in daily practice are sparse. METHODS: Here, we analyzed consecutive patients from 01/2014 to 12/2018 within the supraregional stroke network "Neurovascular Network of Southwest Bavaria" (NEVAS) in terms of diagnoses after consultation, inter-hospital transfer and predictors for performing MT. Degree of disability was rated by the modified Rankin Scale (mRS), good outcome was defined as mRS ≤ 2. Successful reperfusion was assumed when the modified thrombolysis in cerebral infarction (mTICI) was 2b-3. RESULTS: Of 5722 telemedicine consultations, in 14.1% inter-hospital transfer was performed, mostly because of large vessel occlusion (LVO) stroke. A total of n = 350 patients with LVO were shipped via NEVAS to our center for MT. While n = 52 recanalized spontaneously, MT-treatment was performed in n = 178 patients. MT-treated patients had more severe strokes according to the median National institute of health stroke scale (NIHSS) (16 vs. 13, p < 0.001), were more often treated with intravenous thrombolysis (64.5% vs. 51.7%, p = 0.026) and arrived significantly earlier in our center (184.5 versus 228.0 min, p < 0.001). Good outcome (27.5% vs. 30.8%, p = 0.35) and mortality (32.6% versus 23.5%, p = 0.79) were comparable in MT-treated versus no-MT-treated patients. In patients with middle cerebral artery occlusion in the M1 segment or carotid artery occlusion good outcome was twice as often in the MT-group (21.8% vs. 12.8%, p = 0.184). Independent predictors for performing MT were higher NIHSS (OR 1.096), higher ASPECTS (OR 1.28), and earlier time window (OR 0.99). CONCLUSION: Within a telemedicine network stroke care can successfully be organized as only a minority of patients has to be transferred. Our data provide clinical evidence that all MT-eligible patients should be shipped with the fastest transportation modality as possible.

Drip and ship for mechanical thrombectomy within the Neurovascular Network of Southwest Bavaria.

OBJECTIVE: To determine feasibility and safety of stroke care organization within our Neurovascular Network of Southwest Bavaria (NEVAS) in a rural area with distances of up to 100 kilometers, we compared patients who underwent mechanical thrombectomy (MT) in large vessel occlusion admitted directly to our center (direct to center [DTC]) to patients who were transferred for MT via NEVAS (drip and ship [DS]). METHODS: This is a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data of all MT patients between January 2015 and May 2018. Successful recanalization was defined as a thrombolysis in cerebral infarction score of 2b-3. Symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (sICH) was defined according to European Cooperative Acute Stroke Study 3. Modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score of 0-2 at 3 months indicated good outcome. RESULTS: MT was performed in 410 patients: 221 DTC and 189 DS. Median NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score was 16 and premorbid mRS score was 0. Thrombolysis was applied in 62.2% with the same time from symptom onset in both groups (94.5 vs 95 minutes). Successful recanalization (79.3% vs 77.8%) and NIHSS score reduction from admission to discharge (16-7 vs 17-6) were comparable. Time delay from onset to revascularization was 96 minutes in DS (212 vs 308 minutes, p = 0.001). At follow-up, DTC patients had a trend to better outcome (33.5% vs 24.3%, p = 0.056). Neither sICH (6.3% vs 5.9%, p = 0.840) nor mortality (31.2% vs 34.4%, p = 0.387) differed between the groups. CONCLUSION: DS patients benefit from MT without relevant safety concerns, but with a trend to unfavorable outcome compared to DTC patients. These results suggest that DS is suitable to provide MT in rural areas where DTC is not possible.

Bilateral anterior opercular (Foix-Chavany-Marie) syndrome.

The bilateral anterior opercular (Foix-Chavany-Marie) syndrome is a rare condition most commonly encountered after bilateral middle cerebral artery stroke. Clinically, the syndrome is characterised by a loss of voluntary control of the facio-pharyngeo-glosso-masticatory muscles, while reflex movements and limb strength are preserved. We report the clinical presentation of a patient with anterior biopercular syndrome due to a bilateral middle cerebral artery stroke.

Percutaneous recanalization of acute internal carotid artery occlusions in patients with severe stroke.

BACKGROUND: Sudden symptomatic occlusions of the proximal internal carotid artery (ICA) resulting in severe middle cerebral artery (MCA) ischemia and stroke are usually not accessible by rt-PA thrombolysis and the prognosis is usually very poor. Mechanical recanalization of the proximal ICA combined with intravenous and intra-arterial thrombolysis was therefore used as a rescue procedure. METHODS: Ten patients (9 men, 1 woman; mean age 56.1 years) were treated with emergency recanalization of the proximal carotid artery by using stents and/or balloon angioplasty as a rescue procedure. Three patients showed dissection, and 7 had atherothrombotic occlusions. Nine of 10 presented with an initial modified Rankin Scale (mRS) of 5, the remaining patient with mRS 4 (average NIHSS 21.4). After sonographic confirmation of ICA with associated MCA/distal ICA occlusion and bridging with rt-PA (without abciximab) an emergency angiography was performed with subsequent mechanical recanalization by percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) (n = 1) or primary stenting (n = 9) using self-expanding stents. Distal protection was used in 1 of 10 patients. RESULTS: Recanalization of the proximal ICA was achieved in all. At least partial recanalization of the intracerebral arteries was achieved in all, and complete recanalization in 5. In 4 of 10 patients limited hemorrhage was detected during CT controls. Major complications included 2 patients who had to undergo hemicraniectomy. One patient died from malignant infarction. At the time of discharge from the stroke unit 9 of 10 patients had improved markedly, 5 patients having an mRS of < or =2, and 3 patients a mRS of 3. At control after a mean of 20 weeks, 7 of 8 (88%) patients had a mRS < or =2, and 1 a mRS of 3. CONCLUSIONS: Primary mechanical recanalization of ICA occlusions by stent and PTA combined with fibrinolysis and/or GPIIb/IIIa-receptor antagonists seems to be feasible to improve patient outcome significantly.