P117 Predictive factors of outcome in poor grade subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH)

Objectives

To study the factors associated with outcome in poor grade SAH in a busy tertiary centre.

Design

Retrospective records review.

Subjects

All Patients with SAH WFNS grades IV and V admitted Jan 2016-Dec 2017.

Methods

We admitted 379 SAH patients, 84 (22%) were poor grade (n=84, 33M/51F mean age 60.7±1.4 y). Outcome was assessed by Modified Rankin Scale (mRS) scores before surgery and at latest follow up (3–6 months). mRS was dichotomised as good (0–3) and poor (4–6).Spearman’s rank-order test evaluated correlation between latest mRS and all other variables (WFNS grade, GCS, Motor score of GCS, age, sex, smoking, hypertension, intraventricular haemorrhage (IVH) and intracerebral haemorrhages (ICH)).

Results

63 patients (75%) had poor outcome, of which 46 (55%) died (44 with 30 days), versus 21 (25%) had good outcome. Spearman’s correlation analysis revealed that patients with smaller aneurysms (3.3±0.4 mm in good outcome patients vs 11.3±1.2 mm in poor outcome) (rs=0.37, p=0.009), who are younger (rs=0.24, p=0.03), have higher GCS (rs=−0.24, p=0.03), higher motor score (rs=0.25, p=0.02), lower WFNS grade (rs=0.3, p=0.007) and received coiling of aneurysms vs no treatment (rs=−0.39, p<0.0001) had better outcome. There was no significant correlation in outcome with ICH, IVH, external ventricular drain insertion, location of aneurysms, smoking, hypertension, other co-morbidities or sex.

Conclusions

In poor grade SAH, younger patients with smaller aneurysms, higher GCS and higher motor score who received endovascular coiling had better outcome.

P112 Management and outcome of subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) in older people: a centre series

Objectives

To study the management and factors associated with outcomes in SAH in elderly over 80 years of age.

Design

Retrospective records review.

Subjects

All Patients with SAH confirmed on head CT admitted Jan 2012-Dec 2017.

Methods

We admitted 1079 patients with SAH, 32 were aged ≥80 y (3%). We subdivided the patients into a poor outcome group (POG) (Modified Rankin Scale (mRS) 4–6), (n=24, 14F/10M, mean age 83.7±0.7 y) and good outcome group (GOG) (mRS 0–3) (n=8, 7F/1M, mean age 82.6±0.6 y). Spearman’s rank-order test evaluated correlation between outcome (mRS) and all other variables (WFNS grade, GCS, Motor score of GCS, age, sex, smoking, hypertension, intraventricular haemorrhage (IVH) and intracerebral haemorrhages (ICH)).

Results

9 patients (38%) of POG were WFNS grades IV – V versus 1 patient (13%) in GOG. More POG than GOG patients had IVH (83% vs 38%, rs=−0.44 p=0.011). 20% of POG had ICH vs none in GOG. GOG patients had better GCS (rs=−0.37, p=0.04), lower WFNS grade (rs=0.43, p=0.01) and did not need external ventricular drain (EVD) (rs=0.51, p=0.003). There was no significant correlation between outcome and sex, smoking, hypertension, size of aneurysm (4.9 mm ±1.0 in GOG vs 5.4 mm ±1.1 in POG, rs=−0.29, p=0.28), percentage receiving coiling or clipping, GCS motor score, procedure complications and general medical complications.

Conclusions

75% of patients’ aged ≥80 y with SAH had poor outcome. WFNS grade (I-III), higher GCS patients who did not need EVD had better outcome.

WM1-4 Decompressive craniectomy versus strokectomy for malignant middle cerebral artery (MCA) infarction

Objectives

To compare the outcomes of decompressive craniectomy (DC) with craniotomy and debulikng of stroke tissue (Strokectomy (SC)) for malignant MCA infarction at our centre.

Design

Retrospective records review.

Subjects

All Patients with malignant MCA infraction that underwent DC and SC between Jan 2012 and Sep 2017.

Methods

20 patients had DC (11F/9M, mean age 44.7±1.8 y) and four patients had SC (1F/3M) 51.5±5.9 7 y). Outcomes were assessed by Modified Rankin Scale (mRS) scores before surgery and at latest follow up (3–6 months). mRS was dichotomised as good (0–3) and poor (4–6). Craniotomy size was measured by antero-posterior (AP) diameter and compared between the groups.

Results

18 patients (90%) of the DC group had mRS 4–6 before surgery versus 100% in the SC group. Post-surgery 15 patients (75%) of the DC group had poor outcome with 7 mortalities (35%) in comparison to one patient (25%) with poor outcome in the SC group and no mortalities. The average craniotomy size in DC was 120.1±4.1 mm versus 85.5±13.1 mm in the SC, p=0.003 students t test). Six patients of the DC group underwent cranioplasty where two developed post-operative seizures. There was no significant difference in age, sex and side of craniotomy (7 Left/13 Right in DC vs 2 Left/2 Right in SC).

Conclusions

Strokectomy is comparable to decompressive craniectomy in outcomes without taking the extra risks and costs of cranioplasty. Further studies are required to promote this approach.

Posttreatment Infarct Volumes when Compared with 24-Hour and 90-Day Clinical Outcomes: Insights from the REVASCAT Randomized Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Endovascular therapy has become the standard of care for patients with disabling anterior circulation ischemic stroke due to proximal intracranial thrombi. Our aim was to determine whether the beneficial effect of endovascular treatment on functional outcome could be explained by a reduction in posttreatment infarct volume in the Endovascular Revascularization With Solitaire Device Versus Best Medical Therapy in Anterior Circulation Stroke Within 8 Hours (REVASCAT) trial.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The REVASCAT trial was a multicenter randomized open-label trial with blinded outcome evaluation. Among 206 enrolled subjects (endovascular treatment, n = 103; control, n = 103), posttreatment infarct volume was measured in 204 subjects. Posttreatment infarct volumes were compared with treatment assignment and recanalization status. Appropriate statistical models were used to assess the relationship among baseline clinical and imaging variables, posttreatment infarct volume, the 24-hour NIHSS score, and functional status with the 90-day modified Rankin Scale score.

RESULTS

The median posttreatment infarct volume in all subjects was 23.7 mL (interquartile range = 68.9 mL) and 16.3 mL (interquartile range = 50.2 mL) in the endovascular treatment arm and 38.6 mL (interquartile range = 74.9 mL) in the control arm (P = .02 for endovascular treatment versus control subjects). Baseline NIHSS (P < .01), site of occlusion (P < .03), baseline NCCT ASPECTS (P < .01), and recanalization status (P = .02) were independently associated with posttreatment infarct volume. Baseline NIHSS (P < .01), time from symptom onset to randomization (P = .02), treatment type (P = .04), and recanalization status (P < .01) were independently associated with the 24-hour NIHSS scores. The 24-hour NIHSS score strongly mediated the relationship between treatment type and 90-day mRS (P < .01 for indirect effect when adjusted for age), while posttreatment infarct volume did not (P = .26).

CONCLUSIONS

Endovascular treatment saves brain and improves 90-day clinical outcomes primarily through a beneficial effect on the 24-hour stroke severity.

Association Between Time to Reperfusion and Outcome Is Primarily Driven by the Time From Imaging to Reperfusion

Background and Purpose—

A progressive decline in the odds of favorable outcome as time to reperfusion increases is well known. However, the impact of specific workflow intervals is not clear.

Methods—

We studied the mechanical thrombectomy group (n=103) of the prospective, randomized REVASCAT (Randomized Trial of Revascularization With Solitaire FR Device Versus Best Medical Therapy in the Treatment of Acute Stroke due to Anterior Circulation Large Vessel Occlusion Presenting Within Eight Hours of Symptom Onset) trial. We defined 3 workflow metrics: time from symptom onset to reperfusion (OTR), time from symptom onset to computed tomography, and time from computed tomography (CT) to reperfusion. Clinical characteristics, core laboratory-evaluated Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Scores (ASPECTS) and 90-day outcome data were analyzed. The effect of time on favorable outcome (modified Rankin scale, 0–2) was described via adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for every 30-minute delay.

Results—

Median admission National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale was 17.0 (14.0–20.0), reperfusion rate was 66%, and rate of favorable outcome was 43.7%. Mean (SD) workflow times were as follows: OTR: 342 (107) minute, onset to CT: 204 (93) minute, and CT to reperfusion: 138 (56) minute. Longer OTR time was associated with a reduced likelihood of good outcome (OR for 30-minute delay, 0.74; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.59–0.93). The onset to CT time did not show a significant association with clinical outcome (OR, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.67–1.12), whereas the CT to reperfusion interval showed a negative association with favorable outcome (OR, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.54–0.95). A similar subgroup analysis according to admission ASPECTS showed this relationship for OTR time in ASPECTS<8 patients (OR, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.35–0.9) but not in ASPECTS≥8 (OR, 0.99; 95% CI, 0.68–1.44).

Conclusions—

Time to reperfusion is negatively associated with favorable outcome, being CT to reperfusion, as opposed to onset to CT, the main determinant of this association. In addition, OTR was strongly associated to outcome in patients with low ASPECTS scores but not in patients with high ASPECTS scores.

Clinical Trial Registration—

URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov . Unique identifier: NCT01692379.

Potential role of NovoSeven in the prevention of rebleeding following aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage

Rebleeding following aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage is a major factor contributing to unfavourable outcome. Antifibrinolytic agents reduce the rate of rebleeding but increase the risk of cerebral ischaemia and infarction and hence provide no overall benefit. To address the theoretical concern that recombinant activated factor VII (NovoSeven, Novo Nordisk A/S, Bagsvaerd, Denmark) might increase the risk of cerebral ischaemia while stabilizing the clot at the site of aneurysmal rupture, an open-label, dose-escalation safety study has been developed in collaboration with the UK Spontaneous Intracranial Haemorrhage Group. The trial design includes the recruitment of 15 patients (aged 18 years or over) in good grade with subarachnoid haemorrhage verified by computerized tomography scan or lumbar puncture. Safety evaluation includes clinical observation, monitoring of laboratory variables, positron emission tomography (PET) scanning (rCBF, rOEF, rCMRO2) and transcranial Doppler ultrasound. To date, ten patients have been recruited [NovoSeven 80 microg/kg single bolus (n = 2), NovoSeven 80 microg/kg single bolus followed by continuous infusion at 3.5 microg/kg per h (n = 2) or 7 microg/kg per h (n = 1), or control (n = 5)]. Clinical observation, transcranial Doppler ultrasound and PET studies revealed no evidence of cerebral ischaemia in the first nine patients treated with NovoSeven. The last patient developed middle cerebral artery branch thrombosis contralateral to the aneurysm. The study is currently suspended pending further investigation.

Can cerebrovascular reactivity be measured with near-infrared spectroscopy?

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

We used near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) to monitor the cerebral oxygenation changes during CO2 reactivity tests.

METHODS

Fifty healthy volunteers were examined (age range, 19 to 68 years). The monitored parameters were as follows: transcranial Doppler (TCD) time-averaged middle cerebral artery flow velocity end-tidal CO2 (EtCO2); change in concentration of cerebral oxyhemoglobin (HbO2), deoxyhemoglobin (Hb), and total hemoglobin; mean arterial blood pressure; peripheral arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2); and extracranial tissue perfusion with the use of cutaneous laser-Doppler flowmetry. The examination protocol included both hypercapnia and hypocapnia. The cerebrovascular reactivity indexes were calculated as follows: TCD, relative change in flow velocity per 1 kPa increase in EtCO2; NIRS, absolute change in HbO2, Hb, and total hemoglobin concentration (micromoles per liter) per 1 kPa increase in EtCO2.

RESULTS

Mean middle cerebral artery flow velocity was found to be 58 cm/s at a mean baseline EtCO2 of 4.7 kPa. Mean cerebrovascular reactivities were as follows: TCD, 24%/kPa (SEM, 1.1); HbO2, 2.06 mumol/L per kilopascal (SEM, 0.08); Hb, -0.63 mumol/L per kilopascal (SEM, 0.09); and total hemoglobin concentration, 1.44 mumol/L per kilopascal (SEM, 0.1). Statistical analysis revealed significant correlation between reactivities calculated with the use of NIRS and TCD (P < .001). Although some fluctuations were observed in SaO2 and laser-Doppler flux, they were not correlated with either EtCO2 or NIRS.

CONCLUSIONS

NIRS signal changes in HbO2, Hb, and total hemoglobin concentration are very sensitive to alterations in EtCO2, which are largely independent of extracranial tissue perfusion. NIRS may be developed as an alternative method for testing cerebrovascular reactivity and may be of particular clinical importance when the ultrasound window is poor.