Intraprocedural continuous saline infusion lines significantly reduce the incidence of acute kidney injury during endovascular procedures for stroke and myocardial infarction: evidence from a systematic review and meta-regression

BACKGROUND

Contrast media used in mechanical therapies for stroke and myocardial infarction represent a significant cause of acute kidney injury (AKI) in acute medical scenarios. Although the continuous saline infusion line (CSIL) is a standard procedure to prevent thrombus formation within the catheter during neurovascular interventions of mechanical thrombectomy (MT), it is not utilized in percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI).

METHODS

A systematic review of the incidence of AKI after MT for stroke treatment was performed. These data were compared with those reported in the literature regarding the incidence of AKI after PCI for acute myocardial infarction. A random-effect model meta-regression was performed to explore the effects of CSIL on AKI incidence, using clinical details as covariates.

RESULTS

A total of 18 and 33 studies on MT and PCI were included, respectively, with 69,464 patients (30,138 [43.4%] for MT and 39,326 [56.6%] for PCI). The mean age was 63.6 years±5.8 with male 66.6%±12.8. Chronic kidney disease ranged 2.0-50.3%. Diabetes prevalence spanned 11.1% to 53.0%. Smoking status had a prevalence of 7.5-72.0%. Incidence of AKI proved highly variable (I2=98%, Cochrane's Q 2985), and appeared significantly lower in the MT subgroup than in the PCI subgroups (respectively 8.3% [95% confidence interval: 4.7-11.9%] vs. 14.7 [12.6-16.8%], P<0.05). Meta-regression showed that CSIL was significantly associated with a decreased incidence of AKI (OR=0.93 [1.001-1.16]; P=0.03).

CONCLUSIONS

Implementation of CSIL during endovascular procedures in acute settings was associated with a significant decrease in the risk of AKI, and its safety should be routinely considered in such interventions.

Acute and Chronic Kidney Dysfunction and Prognosis following Thrombectomy for Ischemic Stroke

INTRODUCTION

Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) have an increased risk of stroke, and CKD seems associated with worse outcome after a stroke. The main objective of our study RISOTTO was to evaluate the influence of CKD and acute kidney injury (AKI) on the clinical outcome and mortality of ischemic stroke patients after thrombolysis and/or thrombectomy.

METHODS

This multicenter cohort study included patients in the acute phase of ischemic stroke due to large artery occlusion managed by thrombectomy. Functional outcome at 3 months was assessed by the modified Rankin Scale (mRS).

RESULTS

280 patients were included in the analysis. Fifty-nine patients (22.6%) had CKD. At 3 months, CKD was associated with similar functional prognosis (mRS 3-6: 50.0% vs. 41.7%, p = 0.262) but higher mortality (24.2% versus 9.5%, p = 0.004). In univariate analysis, patients with CKD had a higher burden of white matter hyperintensities (Fazekas score: 1.7 ± 0.8 vs. 1.0 ± 0.8, p = 0.002), lower initial infarct volume with equivalent severity, and lower recanalization success (86.4% vs. 97.0%, p = 0.008) compared to non-CKD patients. Forty-seven patients (20.0%) developed AKI. AKI was associated with poorer 3-month functional outcome (mRS 3-6: 63.8% vs. 49.0%, p = 0.002) and mortality (23.4% versus 7.7%, p = 0.002). In multivariate analysis, AKI appeared as an independent risk factor for poor functional outcome (mRS 3-6: adjOR 2.79 [1.11-7.02], p = 0.029) and mortality (adjOR 2.52 [1.03-6.18], p = 0.043) at 3 months, while CKD was not independently associated with 3-month mortality and poor neurological outcome.

CONCLUSIONS

AKI is independently associated with poorer functional outcome and increased mortality at 3 months. CKD was not an independent risk factor for 3-month mortality or poor functional prognosis.

Acute kidney injury after endovascular therapy in acute stroke patients: systematic review with meta-analysis

AIMS

Endovascular therapy (EVT) is a highly effective stroke treatment, but it requires the administration of contrast media which puts patients at risk of acute kidney injury (AKI). AKI is associated with increased morbidity and mortality in cardiovascular patients.

METHODS

PubMed, Scopus, ISI and the Cochrane Library were systematically searched for observational and experimental studies assessing the occurrence of AKI in adult acute stroke patients submitted to EVT. Two independent reviewers collected study data regarding study setting, period, source of data, and AKI definition and predictors, the outcomes of interest being AKI incidence and 90-day death or dependency (modified Rankin Scale score ≥3). These outcomes were pooled using random effect models, and heterogeneity was measured using the I2 statistic.

RESULTS

22 studies were identified and included in the analysis, involving 32 034 patients. Pooled incidence of AKI was 7% (95% CI 5% to 10%), but heterogeneity was high across studies (I2=98%), and not accounted for by the definition of AKI used. The most frequently reported AKI predictors were impaired baseline renal function (5 studies) and diabetes (3 studies); 3 studies (2103 patients) reported data on death and 4 studies (2424 patients) reported data on dependency. Overall, AKI was associated with both outcomes, with ORs of 6.21 (95% CI 3.52 to 10.96) and 2.86 (95% CI 1.88 to 4.37), respectively. Heterogeneity was low for both analyses (I2=0%).

CONCLUSIONS

AKI affects 7% of acute stroke patients submitted to EVT and identifies a subgroup of patients for which treatment outcomes are suboptimal, with an increased risk of death and dependency.

Kidney disease and stroke: epidemiology and potential mechanisms of susceptibility

Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) have an increased risk of both ischaemic and haemorrhagic stroke compared with the general population. Both acute and chronic kidney impairment are independently associated with poor outcome after the onset of a stroke, after adjustment for confounders. End-stage kidney disease (ESKD) is associated with a 7- and 9-fold increased incidence of both ischaemic and haemorrhagic strokes, respectively, poorer neurological outcome and a 3-fold higher mortality. Acute kidney injury (AKI) occurs in 12% of patients with stroke and is associated with a 4-fold increased mortality and unfavourable functional outcome. CKD patients seem to have less access to revascularisation techniques like thrombolysis and thrombectomy despite their poorer prognosis. Even if CKD patients could benefit from these specific treatments in acute ischaemic stroke, their prognosis remains poor. After thrombolysis, CKD is associated with a 40% increased risk of intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH), a 20% increase in mortality and poorer functional neurological outcomes. After thrombectomy, CKD is not associated with ICH but is still associated with increased mortality, and AKI with unfavourable outcome and mortality. The beneficial impact of gliflozins on the prevention of stroke is still uncertain. Non-traditional risk factors of stroke, like uraemic toxins, can lead to chronic cerebrovascular disease predisposing to stroke in CKD, notably through an increase in the blood-brain barrier permeability and impaired coagulation and thrombosis mechanisms. Preclinical and clinical studies are needed to specifically assess the impact of these non-traditional risk factors on stroke incidence and outcomes, aiming to optimize and identify potential therapeutic targets.

Impact of anemia on acute ischemic stroke outcomes: A systematic review of the literature

INTRODUCTION

Anemia has been reported in nearly 40% of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients and is linked to significant morbidity and disability. The presence of anemia is associated with worse outcomes in AIS, specifically in the presence of large vessel occlusion (LVO). An optimal hemoglobin (Hb) target specific to this pathology has not yet been established. The goal of this review is to systematically review literature that observes the association that exists between AIS outcomes and hemoglobin (Hb) levels.

METHODS

A systematic review was performed in accordance with guidelines for the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) to identify studies from 2008-2022. The following inclusion and exclusion criteria were used: studies of adult patients with AIS; must describe outcomes with regard to Hb levels in AIS (not limited to LVO); must be written in English. The clinical variables extracted included Length of Stay (LOS), modified rankin score (mRS), Hb levels, and mortality.

RESULTS

A total of 1,154 studies were gathered, with 116 undergoing full text review. 31 studies were included in this review. The age of patients ranged from 61.4 to 77.8. The presence of anemia in AIS increased LOS by 1.7 days on average and these patients also have a 15.2% higher rate of mortality at one year, on average.

DISCUSSION

This data suggests that the contemporary thresholds for treating anemia in AIS patients may be inadequate because anemia is strongly associated with poor outcomes (e.g., mRS>2 or mortality) and increased LOS in AIS patients. The current generalized Hb threshold for transfusion (7 g/dL) is also used in AIS patients, however, a more aggressive transfusion parameter should be further explored based on these findings. Further studies are required to confirm these findings and to determine if a more liberal RBCT threshold will result in clinical benefits.

Association between rehabilitation after reperfusion treatment and in-hospital mortality: Results from a national registry study

Background

There is no effective regimen to reduce the mortality of patients treated with intravenous thrombolysis or endovascular therapy (EVT). Therefore, we aimed to examine whether sequential therapy by rehabilitation could effectively reduce the in-hospital mortality of patients treated with reperfusion therapy.

Methods

This prospective registry study included patients with ischemic stroke who were treated by intravenous thrombolysis or endovascular therapy at Stroke Center Work Plan in China between 1 October 2018 and 31 July 2020. The patients were divided into 2 groups: those with (IRT+) or without (IRT–) inpatient rehabilitation therapy (IRT). The primary outcome was all-cause in-hospital mortality. We used Cox proportional hazards models and conducted a propensity score matching analysis to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) for mortality in the thrombolysis-only and EVT groups.

Results

Of the 189,519 patients in the thrombolysis-only group, 35.7% were women, and the median (interquartile range, IQR) age, onset-to-needle time, and follow-up time were 66 (57–74) years, 165 (119–220) min, and 9 (5–12) days, respectively. Among the 45,211 patients in the EVT group, 35.9% were women, and the median (interquartile range, IQR) age, onset-to-puncture time, and follow-up time were 66 (56–74) years, 297 (205–420) min, and 11 (6–16) days, respectively. In the thrombolysis-only group with a median (IQR) initial National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score of 6 (3–11), 105,244 patients (55.5%) treated with IRT had significantly lower all-cause in-hospital mortality [0.6 vs. 2.3%; adjusted HR 0.18 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.16–0.2)] than those without IRT. In the EVT group with a median (IQR) initial NIHSS score of 15 (10–20), 31,098 patients (68.8%) treated with IRT also had significantly lower all-cause in-hospital mortality [2 vs. 12.1%; adjusted HR, 0.13 (95% CI 0.12–0.15)]. IRT remained significantly associated with reduced in-hospital mortality in sensitivity, subgroup, and propensity score matching analyses among both the thrombolysis-only and EVT groups.

Conclusion

Among the patients with ischemic stroke treated with intravenous thrombolysis or endovascular therapy, sequential therapy by rehabilitation was associated with lower all-cause in-hospital mortality. These findings suggest the necessity of promoting inpatient rehabilitation therapy after reperfusion in patients with ischemic stroke.

Association of annual volume and in-hospital outcomes of catheter-directed thrombolysis for pulmonary embolism

OBJECTIVE

We sought to evaluate the association between the institutional volume of catheter-directed thrombolysis (CDT) for pulmonary embolism and in-hospital mortality.

BACKGROUND

CDT is an increasingly utilized therapy in patients with intermediate/high-risk PE. However, data on the relationship between hospital volume and clinical outcomes remain limited.

METHODS

Patients who underwent CDT between October 1, 2015, and March 31, 2021, were identified in the Vizient Clinical Database. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. Secondary outcome were major complications, length of stay, and cost. Hospitals were dichotomized into <8 and ≥ 8 cases/year following restricted cubic spline analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 6741 CDT procedures at 171 hospitals were included with a median annual hospital volume of 4.1 cases (IQR = 1.9-8.3). A total of 44 hospitals (25.7%) were classified as high-volume ( ≥ 8 cases/year) and performed 60.9% of all CDT cases. CDT at high-volume centers was associated with lower in-hospital mortality (6.0% vs. 11.3%; p < 0.0001). Stroke and bleeding rates were similar, but pulmonary complications were more frequent at low-volume centers. CDT at high volume centers was associated with a significantly shorter length of stay and lower cost. The association between high CDT volume and in-hospital mortality persisted after adjustment for demographics (odds ratio [OR] = 0.49, [0.41-0.58]), demographics and risk factors (OR = 0.52 [0.44-0.62]), and demographics, risk factors, and troponin elevation (OR = 0.51 [0.40-0.66]).

CONCLUSION

In a large contemporary cohort of patients undergoing CDT in the United States, low annual institutional volume of CDT was associated with higher in-hospital mortality.

Sex-Related Disparities in the Incidence and Outcomes of Ischemic Stroke among Type 2 Diabetes Patients. A Matched-Pair Analysis Using the Spanish National Hospital Discharge Database for Years 2016-2018

Background: To analyze the incidence, use of therapeutic procedures, and in-hospital outcomes among patients suffering an ischemic stroke (IS) according to the presence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in Spain (2016–2018) and to assess the existence of sex differences. Methods: Matched-pair analysis using the Spanish National Hospital discharge. Results: IS was coded in 92,524 men and 79,731 women (29.53% with T2DM). The adjusted incidence of IS (IRR 2.02; 95% CI 1.99–2.04) was higher in T2DM than non-T2DM subjects, with higher IRRs in both sexes. Men with T2DM had a higher incidence of IS than T2DM women (IRR 1.54; 95% CI 1.51–1.57). After matching patients with T2DM, those with other comorbid conditions, however, significantly less frequently received endovascular thrombectomy and thrombolytic therapy. In-hospital mortality (IHM) was lower among T2DM men than matched non-T2DM men (8.23% vs. 8.71%; p < 0.001). Women with T2DM had a higher IHM rate than T2DM men (11.5% vs. 10.20%; p = 0.004). After adjusting for confounders, women with T2DM had a 12% higher mortality risk than T2DM men (OR 1.12; 95% CI 1.04–1.21). Conclusions: T2DM is associated with higher incidence of IS in both sexes. Men with T2DM have a higher incidence rates of IS than T2DM women. Women with T2DM have a higher risk of dying in the hospital.

Challenges of Outcome Prediction for Acute Stroke Treatment Decisions

Physicians often base their decisions to offer acute stroke therapies to patients around the question of whether the patient will benefit from treatment. This has led to a plethora of attempts at accurate outcome prediction for acute ischemic stroke treatment, which have evolved in complexity over the years. In theory, physicians could eventually use such models to make a prediction about the treatment outcome for a given patient by plugging in a combination of demographic, clinical, laboratory, and imaging variables. In this article, we highlight the importance of considering the limits and nuances of outcome prediction models and their applicability in the clinical setting. From the clinical perspective of decision-making about acute treatment, we argue that it is important to consider 4 main questions about a given prediction model: (1) what outcome is being predicted, (2) what patients contributed to the model, (3) what variables are in the model (considering their quantifiability, knowability at the time of decision-making, and modifiability), and (4) what is the intended purpose of the model? We discuss relevant aspects of these questions, accompanied by clinically relevant examples. By acknowledging the limits of outcome prediction for acute stroke therapies, we can incorporate them into our decision-making more meaningfully, critically examining their contents, outcomes, and intentions before heeding their predictions. By rigorously identifying and optimizing modifiable variables in such models, we can be empowered rather than paralyzed by them.