Ventilation time and prognosis after stroke thrombectomy: the shorter, the better!

Effect of early vs. delayed extubation on functional outcome among patients with acute ischemic stroke treated with endovascular thrombectomy under general anesthesia: the prospective, randomized controlled EDESTROKE trial study protocol

BACKGROUND

Recent meta-analyses and randomized studies have shown that among patients with acute ischemic stroke undergoing endovascular thrombectomy, general anesthesia with mechanical ventilation is associated with better functional status compared to local anesthesia and sedation, and they recommend its use. But once the procedure is completed, when is the optimal moment for extubation? Currently, there are no guidelines recommending the optimal moment for extubation. Prolonged mechanical ventilation time could potentially be linked to increased complications such as pneumonia or disturbances in cerebral blood flow due to the vasodilatation produced by most anesthetic drugs. However, premature extubation in a patient who has suffered a stroke could led to complications such as agitation, disorientation, abolished reflexes, sudden fluctuations in blood pressure, alterations in cerebral blood flow, respiratory distress, bronchial aspiration, and the need for reintubation. We therefore designed a randomized study hypothesizing that early compared with delayed extubation is associated with a better functional outcome 3 months after endovascular thrombectomy treatment under general anesthesia for acute ischemic stroke.

METHODS

This investigator-initiated, single-center, prospective, parallel, evaluated blinded, superiority, randomized controlled trial will include 178 patients with a proximal occlusion of the anterior circulation treated with successful endovascular thrombectomy (TICI 2b-3) under general anesthesia. Patients will be randomly allocated to receive early (< 6 h) or delayed (6-12 h) extubation after the procedure. The primary outcome measure is functional independence (mRS of 0-2) at 90 days, measured with the modified Rankin Score (mRS), ranging from 0 (no symptoms) to 6 (death).

DISCUSSION

This will be the first trial to compare the effect of mechanical ventilation duration (early vs delayed extubation) after satisfactory endovascular thrombectomy for acute ischemic stroke under general anesthesia.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

The study protocol was approved April 11, 2023, by the by the Santiago-Lugo Research Ethics Committee (CEI-SL), number 2023/127, and was registered into the clinicaltrials.gov clinical trials registry with No. NCT05847309. Informed consent is required. Participant recruitment begins on April 18, 2023. The results will be submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal and presented at one or more scientific conferences.

Evaluating high-flow oxygen therapy after mechanical thrombectomy under general anesthesia in acute ischemic stroke: A retrospective single-center study

BACKGROUND

The use of mechanical thrombectomy for acute intracranial vascular occlusion under general anesthesia with endotracheal intubation is well-established as a safe and effective method. However, the process of extubation post-surgery presents challenges for certain patients. This retrospective study assesses the safety and efficacy of combining mechanical ventilation with high-flow oxygen inhalation as an interim strategy, while also examining its impact on long-term clinical outcomes.

METHODS

This research enrolled 119 patients with acute intracranial large vessel occlusion who underwent mechanical thrombectomy under general anesthesia with tracheal intubation between January 2020 and November 2023. Participants were categorized into two groups: Group 1 (n=55), which received high-flow oxygen (HFO) post-extubation, and Group 2 (n=64), which was treated with routine oxygen supplementation (RO). The study compared reintubation and tracheotomy rates between these groups to determine safety and effectiveness. Additionally, it analyzed long-term clinical outcomes by comparing NIHSS and mRS scores before treatment and at 90-day follow-up.

RESULTS

The reintubation rate post-extubation was significantly lower in the HFO group (12.7 %, n=7) compared to the RO group (31.2 %, n=20, p=0.016). The incidence of tracheotomy within 7 days was also reduced in the HFO group compared to the RO group (7.3 %, n=4 vs 20.3 %, n=13, p=0.043). Moreover, a greater proportion of patients in the HFO group achieved mRS scores of 0-2 at 90 days post-stroke than those in the RO group (60 %, n=33 vs 40.6 %, n=26, p=0.035). The median NIHSS score at 90 days was more favorable in the HFO group than in the RO group (6, IQR [1-18] vs 8, IQR [1-20], p=0.005).

CONCLUSION

The study suggests that high-flow oxygen therapy after mechanical thrombectomy under general anesthesia with tracheal intubation may lessen the need for reintubation and tracheotomy, potentially leading to improved long-term prognosis.

Nomogram to predict ventilator-associated pneumonia in large vessel occlusion stroke after endovascular treatment: a retrospective study

Background

Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia (VAP) severely impacts stroke patients' prognosis after endovascular treatment. Hence, this study created a nomogram to predict the occurrence of VAP after endovascular treatment.

Methods

The individuals with acute ischemic stroke and large vessel occlusion (AIS-LVO) who received mechanical ventilation and endovascular therapy between July 2020 and August 2023 were included in this retrospective study. The predictive model and nomogram were generated by performing feature selection optimization using the LASSO regression model and multifactor logistic regression analysis and assessed the evaluation, verification and clinical application.

Results

A total of 184 individuals (average age 61.85 ± 13.25 years, 73.37% male) were enrolled, and the rate of VAP occurrence was found to be 57.07%. Factors such as the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score, duration of stay in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), dysphagia, Fazekas scale 2 and admission diastolic blood pressure were found to be associated with the occurrence of VAP in the nomogram that demonstrating a strong discriminatory power with AUC of 0.862 (95% CI, 0.810-0.914), and a favorable clinical net benefit.

Conclusion

This nomogram, comprising GCS score, ICU duration, dysphagia, Fazekas scale 2 and admission diastolic blood pressure, can aid clinicians in predicting the identification of high-risk patients for VAP following endovascular treatment in large vessel occlusion stroke.

Type of anesthesia for endovascular therapy in acute ischemic stroke: A literature review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) has been proven as the standard treatment for acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients due to large vessel occlusion (LVO). However, the ideal anesthetic strategy during EVT still remains unclear. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to determine the optimal anesthetic modality for patients with AIS undergoing EVT based on current randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

METHODS

The databases Medline (via PubMed), EMBASE, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library were searched for RCTs comparing general anesthesia (GA) and conscious sedation (CS) in AIS patients undergoing EVT. The primary outcome was a favorable functional outcome at 90 days postintervention. Data analysis was conducted using the Review Manager software (RevMan V.5.3).

RESULTS

Eight RCTs involving 1199 patients were included. There was no significant difference between GA and CS group in the rate of functional independence (risk ratio (RR) = 1.10, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.96 to 1.25; p = 0.17; I2 = 30%). Compared with the CS group, the GA group attained a higher successful recanalization rate (RR = 1.14, 95% CI = 1.08 to 1.20; p < 0.00001; I2 = 17%). In addition, patients in the GA were associated with a higher rate of hypotension (RR = 1.87, 95% CI = 1.44 to 2.41; p < 0.00001; I2 = 66%) and a higher incidence of pneumonia (RR = 1.38, 95% CI = 1.05 to 1.8; p = 0.02; I2 = 37%).

CONCLUSION

For AIS patients receiving EVT, the choice of anesthetic modality did not influence the 3-month neurological outcome while GA is superior to CS in terms of successful reperfusion rate. Moreover, the patients in the GA group were at a higher risk of developing hypotension and pneumonia. Further studies are required to provide more sufficient evidence.

Development and verification of a nomogram for predicting short-term mortality in elderly ischemic stroke populations

Stroke is a major healthcare problem worldwide, particularly in the elderly population. Despite limited research on the development of prediction models for mortality in elderly individuals with ischemic stroke, our study aimed to address this knowledge gap. By leveraging data from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care IV database, we collected comprehensive raw data pertaining to elderly patients diagnosed with ischemic stroke. Through meticulous screening of clinical variables associated with 28-day mortality, we successfully established a robust nomogram. To assess the performance and clinical utility of our nomogram, various statistical analyses were conducted, including the concordance index, integrated discrimination improvement (IDI), net reclassification index (NRI), calibration curves and decision curve analysis (DCA). Our study comprised a total of 1259 individuals, who were further divided into training (n = 894) and validation (n = 365) cohorts. By identifying several common clinical features, we developed a nomogram that exhibited a concordance index of 0.809 in the training dataset. Notably, our findings demonstrated positive improvements in predictive performance through the IDI and NRI analyses in both cohorts. Furthermore, calibration curves indicated favorable agreement between the predicted and actual incidence of mortality (P > 0.05). DCA curves highlighted the substantial net clinical benefit of our nomogram compared to existing scoring systems used in routine clinical practice. In conclusion, our study successfully constructed and validated a prognostic nomogram, which enables accurate short-term mortality prediction in elderly individuals with ischemic stroke.

Association of age with 1-year outcome in patients with acute ischaemic stroke treated with thrombectomy: real-world analysis in 18 506 patients

BACKGROUND

To evaluate the association of age with long-term outcome after thrombectomy.

METHODS

In a retrospective cohort study based on routine healthcare data from Germany between 2010 and 2018, we included 18 506 patients with acute ischaemic stroke treated with mechanical thrombectomy. Association between age and mortality, disability, and level of care at 1 year was assessed.

RESULTS

The median age was 76 years, 36.3% were aged ≥80 years and 55.8% were women. Patients aged ≥80 compared with those <80 years had a higher mortality (55.4% vs 28.5%; adjusted HR 1.13; 95% CI 1.05 to 1.31), more often had moderate/severe disability (35.5% vs 33.2%, adjusted HR 1.14; 95% CI 1.06 to 1.23) and less frequently had no/slight disability (17.4% vs 41.0%) at 1 year. Older age was associated with a higher likelihood of living in a nursing home (13.4% vs 9.2%, adjusted HR 1.09; 95% CI 0.97 to 1.22) and a lower likelihood of living at home (33.8% vs 62.8%) at 1 year. These associations were also robust when analysed in patients with no disability prior to stroke. Factors most strongly associated with worse 1-year outcomes in elderly patients were chronic limb-threatening ischaemia (67.9% vs 56.4%; HR 1.59, 95% CI 1.38 to 1.82), dementia at baseline (65.2% vs 47.3%; HR 1.29, 95% CI 1.17 to 1.44) and ventilation >48 hours (79.3% vs 52.2%; HR 2.91, 95% CI 2.66 to 3.18).

CONCLUSIONS

In this large 'real-world' cohort, outcomes after mechanical thrombectomy were strongly associated with age. Of patients aged ≥80 years more than half were dead and less than one-fifth were functionally independent at 1 year. Certain comorbidities and ventilation >48 hours were associated with even worse outcomes.

Clinical perspective in relation to age in patients treated with thrombectomy for anterior circulation stroke in a stroke center in Colombia

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Endovascular treatment for cerebrovascular disease is accepted as a first-line option with level I evidence in patients with an early and late time of window of onset symptoms, and an additional option in patients who do not respond or with contraindications to systemic thrombolysis; nevertheless the efficacy and outcomes of some groups were not clear, one of them are patients aged 80 years and older, because they were excluded of the trials, so the evidence is controversial with significant heterogeneity, for that reason in our study, we decided to analyze the age in the patients treated in our stroke center, as a predictor of prognosis, and to provide a baseline for the establishment of personalized treatment plans.

METHODS

Observational, retrospective study of patients that received endovascular treatment for cerebrovascular disease in a Colombian stroke center between 2016 and 2020, continuous and categorical variables were compared using the Student's t test and Chi-Square. To determine cut-off points in the variable against death and Rankin score variable on 90th day.

RESULTS

In total, 108 patients were recruited, 35 of them were of 80 or more years, and the mean age was 72.7 years, we found age as a significant variable to predict the risk in the population over 80 years of age [RR 3.37 CI (95% 1.14-103) p  =  0.029].

CONCLUSIONS

Age younger than 80 is a significant predictor for results and long-term outcomes in patients suffering from stroke, and in patients older than 80 years old a Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction score 2b-3 is a predictor of good outcomes. Further studies are needed to evaluate the relationship between intrahospital complications and long-term outcomes.

Anaesthetic and peri-operative management for thrombectomy procedures in stroke patients

PURPOSE

To provide recommendations for the anaesthetic and peri-operative management for thrombectomy procedure in stroke patients DESIGN: A consensus committee of 15 experts issued from the French Society of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine (Société Française d'Anesthésie et Réanimation, SFAR), the Association of French-language Neuro-Anaesthetists (Association des Neuro-Anesthésistes Réanimateurs de Langue Francaise, ANARLF), the French Neuro-Vascular Society (Société Francaise de Neuro-Vasculaire, SFNV), the French Neuro-Radiology Society (Société Francaise de Neuro-Radiologie, SFNR) and the French Study Group on Haemostasis and Thrombosis (Groupe Français d'Études sur l'Hémostase et la Thrombose, GFHT) was convened, under the supervision of two expert coordinators from the SFAR and the ANARLF. A formal conflict-of-interest policy was developed at the outset of the process and enforced throughout. The entire guideline elaboration process was conducted independently of any industry funding. The authors were required to follow the principles of the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) system to guide their assessment of quality of evidence.

METHODS

Four fields were defined prior to the literature search: (1) Peri-procedural management, (2) Prevention and management of secondary brain injuries, (3) Management of antiplatelet and anticoagulant treatments, (4) Post-procedural management and orientation of the patient. Questions were formulated using the PICO format (Population, Intervention, Comparison, and Outcomes) and updated as needed. Analysis of the literature was then conducted and the recommendations were formulated according to the GRADE methodology.

RESULTS

The SFAR/ANARLF/SFNV/SFNR/GFHT guideline panel drew up 18 recommendations regarding anaesthetic management of mechanical thrombectomy procedures. Due to a lack of data in the literature allowing to conclude with high certainty on relevant clinical outcomes, the experts decided to formulate these guidelines as "Professional Practice Recommendations" (PPR) rather than "Formalized Expert Recommendations". After two rounds of rating and several amendments, a strong agreement was reached on 100% of the recommendations. No recommendation could be formulated for two questions.

CONCLUSIONS

Strong agreement among experts was reached to provide a sizable number of recommendations aimed at optimising anaesthetic management for thrombectomy in patients suffering from stroke.

Effect of differences in extubation timing on postoperative pneumonia following meningioma resection: a retrospective cohort study

Background

This study was designed to examine extubation time and to determine its association with postoperative pneumonia (POP) after meningioma resection.

Methods

We studied extubation time for 598 patients undergoing meningioma resection from January 2016 to December 2020. Extubation time was analysed as a categorical variable and patients were grouped into extubation within 21 minutes, 21–35 minutes and ≥ 35 minutes. Our primary outcome represented the incidence of POP. The association between extubation time and POP was assessed using multivariable logistic regression mixed-effects models which adjusted for confounders previously reported. Propensity score matching (PSM) was also performed at a ratio of 1:1 to minimize potential bias.

Results

Among 598 patients (mean age 56.1 ± 10.7 years, 75.8% female), the mean extubation time was 32.4 minutes. Extubation was performed within 21 minutes (32.4%), 21–35 minutes (31.2%) and ≥ 35 minutes (36.4%), respectively, after surgery. Older patients (mean age 57.8 years) were prone to delayed extubation (≥ 35 min) in the operating room, and more inclined to perioperative fluid infusion. When extubation time was analysed as a continuous variable, there was a U-shaped relation of extubation time with POP (P for nonlinearity = 0.044). After adjustment for confounders, extubation ≥35 minutes was associated with POP (odds ratio [OR], 2.73 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.36 ~ 5.47). Additionally, the results after PSM were consistent with those before matching.

Conclusions

Delayed extubation after meningioma resection is associated with increased pneumonia incidence. Therefore, extubation should be performed as early as safely possible in the operation room.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12871-022-01836-w.

Sepsis in Patients With Large Vessel Occlusion Stroke–Clinical Characteristics and Outcome

Background

Infections are an important complication after stroke and negatively affect clinical outcome. While pneumonia and urinary tract infections are well recognized after stroke, the incidence and consequences of sepsis remain unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency and characteristics of sepsis in patients undergoing endovascular therapy for large vessel occlusion stroke, and its association with clinical outcome.

Methods

We analyzed a cohort of patients who underwent endovascular therapy at a single center between 2016 and 2020. The diagnosis and timing of infections and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment scores were evaluated retrospectively to identify patients with sepsis. Patients with sepsis were compared to controls regarding clinical characteristics and outcome.

Results

Fifty-four of 406 patients (13.3%) were found to have sepsis. The median onset of sepsis was 2 days after admission. The majority of cases (85.2%) was caused by pneumonia. At 3 months, 72.5% of patients with sepsis were bedridden or dead compared to 25.7 and 42.7% of controls and patients with an infection without sepsis, respectively. The adjusted odds ratio (95% confidence interval) for a poor outcome was 5.4 (1.6–17.6) for patients with sepsis vs. controls, and 2.0 (0.8–5.2) for patients with sepsis vs. patients with an infection without sepsis.

Conclusions

Sepsis is a frequent complication after large vessel occlusion stroke, and may be associated with a poor clinical outcome. More studies are needed to determine specific risk factors and measures to early recognize and reduce the possibly negative impact of sepsis on outcome after stroke.

Impact on functional outcome of an adaptive Stroke Unit based system of care for patients undergoing endovascular treatment during pandemic times

Introduction:

The COVID19 pandemic collapsed intensive care units (ICUs) all around the world, conditioning systems of care (SOC) for other critical conditions such as severe ischemic stroke requiring endovascular treatment (EVT). Our aim was to evaluate the impact of an adaptive Stroke Unit (SU) based SOC on functional outcomes, with the goal of avoiding both general anesthesia (GA) and ICU admission in stroke patients treated with EVT.

Material and methods:

We performed an observational study comparing data from our traditional ICU-GA based SOC and the adaptive SU-Conscious Sedation (CS) based SOC (consecutive patients undergoing EVT 1 year prior and after onset of the pandemic). Primary outcome was 90-days modified Rankin Scale (mRS), and secondary outcomes included, among others, in-hospital complications, and hospital length of stay (LOS).

Results:

A total of 210 EVT were performed during the study period (107 under the traditional-SOC and 103 under the adaptive-SOC). A significantly greater proportion of patient was treated under CS (15.9% vs 57.3%; p < 0.001) and admitted for post-procedural care at SU (15% vs 66%; p < 0.001) in the adaptive SOC. Rates of in-hospital complications were similar in both periods, with reduced hospital LOS in the adaptive SOC (10 (7–15) vs 8 (6–12); p = 0.005). The adaptive SOC was associated with higher odds for 90 days favorable outcome (mRS 0–2) (aOR 3.15 (1.34–7.39); p = 0.008).

Conclusion:

In our case, an adaptive SOC that combined both preference for CS and postprocedural care in SU was associated with better functional outcomes and reduced healthcare resource use for patients undergoing EVT.

Predicting Poststroke Pneumonia in Patients With Anterior Large Vessel Occlusion: A Prospective, Population-Based Stroke Registry Analysis

Objective

To assess predictive factors for poststroke pneumonia (PSP) in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) due to large vessel occlusion (LVO) of the anterior circulation, with special regard to the impact of intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) and endovascular treatment (EVT) on the risk of PSP. As a secondary goal, the validity of the A²DS², PNEUMONIA, and ISAN scores in LVO will be determined.

Methods

Analysis was based on consecutive data for the years 2017 to 2019 from the prospective inpatient stroke registry covering the entire federal state of Hesse, Germany, using the Kruskal-Wallis test and binary logistic regression.

Results

Data from 4,281 patients with LVO were included in the analysis (54.8% female, median age = 78 years, range = 18–102), of whom 66.4% (n = 2,843) received recanalization therapy (RCT). In total, 19.4% (n = 832) of all LVO patients developed PSP. Development of PSP was associated with an increase in overall in-hospital mortality of 32.1% compared with LVO patients without PSP (16.4%; p < 0.001). Incidence of PSP was increased in 2132 patients with either EVT (n = 928; 25.9% PSP incidence) or combined EVT plus IVT (n = 1,204; 24.1%), compared with 2,149 patients with IVT alone (n = 711; 15.2%) or conservative treatment only (n = 1,438; 13.5%; p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis identified EVT (OR 1.5) and combined EVT plus IVT (OR 1.5) as significant independent risk factors for PSP. Furthermore, male sex (OR 1.9), age ≥ 65 years (OR 1.7), dysphagia (OR 3.2) as well as impaired consciousness at arrival (OR 1.7) and the comorbidities diabetes (OR 1.4) and atrial fibrillation (OR 1.3) were significantly associated risk factors (each p < 0.001). Minor stroke (NIHSS ≤ 4) was associated with a significant lower risk of PSP (OR 0.5). Performance of risk stratification scores varied between A²DS² (96.1% sensitivity, 20.7% specificity), PNEUMONIA (78.2% sensitivity and 45.1% specificity) and ISAN score (98.0% sensitivity, 20.0% specificity).

Conclusion

Nearly one in five stroke patients with LVO develops PSP during acute care. This risk of PSP is further increased if an EVT is performed. Other predictive factors are consistent with those previously described for all AIS patients. Available risk stratification scores proved to be sensitive tools in LVO patients but lack specificity.

Predictors of mortality for acute vertebrobasilar artery occlusion receiving endovascular treatment

OBJECTIVES

Acute vertebrobasilar artery occlusion (VBAO) is a devastating type of stroke with a high mortality rate. This study aimed to investigate the predictors of 3-month and 1-year mortality in VBAO patients receiving endovascular treatment (EVT).

MATERIALS & METHODS

Consecutive acute VBAO patients undergoing EVT between January 2014 and December 2019 were retrospectively analyzed in a prospectively maintained database. Multivariate logistical regression models were used to explore the potential predictors of mortality at 3 months and 1 year, respectively. The discrimination of the final model was assessed with the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve.

RESULTS

A total of 100 patients were enrolled in this study (mean age 62 years; 77.0% male). After excluding patients lost to follow-up, the overall mortality rate was 34.3% (34/99) at 3 months and 45.4% (44/97) at 1 year. The Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score at 24 h (Odds ratio [OR], 0.676; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.540-0.846; p = .001) and mechanical ventilation (MV) (OR, 7.356; 95% CI, 2.200-24.593; p = .001) were predictors of 3-month mortality after adjusting for potential confounders in multivariable analysis. Furthermore, the GCS score at 24 h (OR, 0.714; 95% CI, 0.590-0.864; p = .001), intracranial hemorrhage (OR, 7.330; 95% CI, 1.772-30.318; p = .006), and MV (OR, 5.804; 95% CI, 1.841-18.294; p = .003) were independently associated with mortality at 1 year. Sensitivity analyses showed similar results.

CONCLUSION

The 24-h GCS score and MV were common predictors of 3-month and 1-year mortality, and ICH was an additional predictor of 1-year mortality.

Non-invasive markers of liver fibrosis and outcome in large vessel occlusion stroke

Background:

Liver fibrosis has been identified as an outcome predictor in cardiovascular disease and has been associated with hematoma expansion and mortality in patients with primary intracerebral hemorrhage. We aimed to explore whether clinically inapparent liver fibrosis is related to neurological outcome, mortality, and intracranial hemorrhage risk in ischemic stroke patients after mechanical thrombectomy.

Methods:

We included consecutive patients with anterior circulation large vessel occlusion stroke treated at our center with mechanical thrombectomy between January 2011 and April 2019. Clinical data had been collected prospectively; laboratory data were extracted from our electronic hospital information system. We calculated the Fibrosis-4 index (FIB-4), an established non-invasive liver fibrosis test. The main outcomes were postinterventional intracranial hemorrhage, unfavorable functional status (modified Rankin scale scores of 3–6), and mortality three months post-stroke.

Results:

In the 460 patients (mean age 69 years, 49.3% female) analyzed, FIB-4 indicated advanced liver fibrosis in 22.6%. Positive FIB-4 was associated with unfavorable neurological outcomes and mortality three months post-stroke, even after correction for co-factors [Odds Ratio (OR) 2.15 for unfavorable outcome in patients with positive FIB-4, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.21–3.83, p = 0.009, and 2.16 for mortality, 95% CI 1.16–4.03, p = 0.01]. However, FIB-4 was neither related to hemorrhagic transformation nor symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage. Moreover, atrial fibrillation was more frequent in patients with liver fibrosis (p < 0.001). Two further commonly-used liver fibrosis indices (Forns index and the Easy Liver Fibrosis Test) yielded comparable results regarding outcome and atrial fibrillation.

Conclusions:

Clinically inapparent liver fibrosis (based on simple clinical and laboratory parameters) represents an independent risk factor for unfavorable outcomes, including mortality, at three months after stroke thrombectomy. Elevated liver fibrosis indices warrant further hepatological work-up and thorough screening for atrial fibrillation in stroke patients.

Prolonged oxygen exposure causes the mobilization and functional damage of stem or progenitor cells and exacerbates cardiac ischemia or reperfusion injury in healthy mice

Oxygen is often administered to patients and occasionally to healthy individuals as well; however, the cellular toxicity of oxygen, especially following prolonged exposure, is widely known. To evaluate the potential effect of oxygen exposure on circulating stem/progenitor cells and cardiac ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury, we exposed healthy adult mice to 100% oxygen for 20 or 60 min. We then examined the c-kit-positive stem/progenitor cells and colony-forming cells and measured the cytokine/chemokine levels in peripheral blood. We also induced cardiac I/R injury in mice at 3 h after 60 min of oxygen exposure and examined the recruitment of inflammatory cells and the fibrotic area in the heart. The proportion of c-kit-positive stem/progenitor cells significantly increased in peripheral blood at 3 and 24 h after oxygen exposure for either 20 or 60 min (p < .01 vs. control). However, the abundance of colony-forming cells in peripheral blood conversely decreased at 3 and 24 h after oxygen exposure for only 60 min (p < .05 vs. control). Oxygen exposure for either 20 or 60 min resulted in significantly decreased plasma vascular endothelial growth factor levels at 3 h, whereas oxygen exposure for only 60 min reduced plasma insulin-like growth factor 1 levels at 24 h (p < .05 vs. control). Protein array indicated the increase in the levels of some cytokines/chemokines, such as CXCL6 (GCP-2) at 24 h after 60 min of oxygen exposure. Moreover, oxygen exposure for 60 min enhanced the recruitment of Ly6g- and CD11c-positive inflammatory cells at 3 days (p < .05 vs. control) and increased the fibrotic area at 14 days in the heart after I/R injury (p < .05 vs. control). Prolonged oxygen exposure induced the mobilization and functional impairment of stem/progenitor cells and likely enhanced inflammatory responses to exacerbate cardiac I/R injury in healthy mice.

Acute and Chronic Kidney Dysfunction and Outcome After Stroke Thrombectomy

Data on the impact of kidney dysfunction on outcome in patients with stroke due to large vessel occlusion are scarce. The few available studies are limited by only considering single kidney parameters measured at one time point. We thus investigated the influence of both chronic kidney disease (CKD) and acute kidney injury (AKI) on outcome after mechanical thrombectomy. We included consecutive patients with anterior circulation large vessel occlusion stroke receiving mechanical thrombectomy at our center over an 8-year period. We extracted clinical data from a prospective registry and investigated kidney serum parameters at admission, the following day and throughout hospital stay. CKD and AKI were defined according to established nephrological criteria. Unfavorable outcome was defined as scores of 3–6 on the modified Rankin Scale 3 months post-stroke. Among 465 patients, 31.8% had an impaired estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) at admission (< 60 ml/min/1.73 m²). Impaired admission eGFR was related to unfavorable outcome in univariable analysis (p = 0.003), but not after multivariable adjustment (p = 0.96). Patients frequently met AKI criteria at admission (24.5%), which was associated with unfavorable outcome in a multivariable model (OR 3.03, 95% CI 1.73–5.30, p < 0.001). Moreover, patients who developed AKI during hospital stay also had a worse outcome (p = 0.002 in multivariable analysis). While CKD was not associated with 3-month outcome, we identified AKI either at admission or throughout the hospital stay as an independent predictor of unfavorable prognosis in this study cohort. This finding warrants further investigation of kidney–brain crosstalk in the setting of acute stroke.