Reperfusion strategies in stroke with medium-to-distal vessel occlusion: a prospective observational study

INTRODUCTION

Medium vessel occlusion (MeVO) accounts for 30% of acute ischemic stroke cases. The risk/benefit profile of endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) and intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) or the combination of the two (bridging therapy (BT)) is still unclear in MeVO. Here, we compare reperfusion strategies in MeVO for clinical and radiological outcomes.

METHODS

This prospective single center study enrolled consecutive patients with AIS due to primary MeVO undergoing IVT, EVT, or BT at a comprehensive stroke center. Primary outcome was good functional status, defined as modified Rankin Scale (mRS) 0-2 at 3-month follow-up. Additional outcomes included mortality, successful recanalization, defined as mTICI ≥ 2b, stroke severity at discharge, and symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (sICH) according to SITS-MOST criteria. Logistic regression was modeled to define independent predictors of the primary outcome.

RESULTS

Overall, 180 consecutive people were enrolled (IVT = 59, EVT = 38, BT = 83), mean age 75. BT emerged as independent predictor of primary outcome (OR = 2.76, 95% CI = 1.08-7.07) together with age (OR = 0.94, 95% CI = 0.9-0.97) and baseline NIHSS (OR = 0.88, 95% CI = 0.81-0.95). BT associated with a 20% relative increase in successful recanalization compared to EVT (74.4 vs 56.4%, p = 0.049). Rates of sICH (1.1%) and procedural complications (vasospasm 4.1%, SAH in 1.7%) were very low, with no difference across groups.

DISCUSSION

BT may carry a higher chance of good functional outcome compared to EVT/IVT only in people with AIS due to MeVO, with marginally higher rates of successful recanalization. Randomized trials are needed to define optimal treatment tailoring for MeVO.

Predictors for hemorrhagic transformation and cerebral edema in stroke patients with first-pass complete recanalization

BACKGROUND

Predictors of radiological complications attributable to reperfusion injury remain unknown when baseline setting is optimal for endovascular treatment and procedural setting is the best in stroke patients with large vessel occlusion (LVO).

AIMS

To identify clinical and radiological/procedural predictors for hemorrhagic transformation (HT) and cerebral edema (CED) at 24 hr in patients obtaining complete recanalization in one pass of thrombectomy for ischemic stroke ⩽ 6 h from symptom onset with intra-cranial anterior circulation LVO and ASPECTS ⩾ 6.

METHODS

We conducted a cohort study on prospectively collected data from 1400 patients enrolled in the Italian Registry of Endovascular Treatment in Acute Stroke.

RESULTS

HT was reported in 248 (18%) patients and early CED was reported in 260 (19.2%) patients. In the logistic regression model including predictors from a first model with clinical variables and from a second model with radiological/procedural variables, diabetes mellitus (odds ratio (OR) = 1.832, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.201-2.795), higher National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) (OR = 1.076, 95% CI = 1.044-1.110), lower Alberta Stroke Program Early CT (ASPECTS) (OR = 0.815, 95% CI = 0.694-0.957), and longer onset-to-groin time (OR = 1.005, 95% CI = 1.002-1.007) were predictors of HT, whereas general anesthesia was inversely associated with HT (OR = 0.540, 95% CI = 0.355-0.820). Higher NIHSS (OR = 1.049, 95% CI = 1.021-1.077), lower ASPECTS (OR = 0.700, 95% CI = 0.613-0.801), intravenous thrombolysis (OR = 1.464, 95% CI = 1.061-2.020), longer onset-to-groin time (OR = 1.002, 95% CI = 1.001-1.005), and longer procedure time (OR = 1.009, 95% CI = 1.004-1.015) were predictors of early CED. After repeating a fourth logistic regression model including also good collaterals, the same variables remained predictors for HT and/or early CED, except diabetes mellitus and thrombolysis, while good collaterals were inversely associated with early CED (OR = 0.385, 95% CI = 0.248-0.599).

CONCLUSIONS

Higher NIHSS, lower ASPECTS, and longer onset-to-groin time were predictors for both HT and early CED. General anesthesia and good collaterals were inversely associated with HT and early CED, respectively. Longer procedure time was predictor of early CED.

Carotid free-floating thrombus in COVID-19: a cerebrovascular disorder of cytokine storm-related immunothrombosis

BACKGROUNDS

Several neurological manifestations, including stroke, have been reported in COVID-19 patients. The putative role of the COVID-19-related hyperinflammatory state in cerebrovascular disorders remains unclear.

METHODS

From March 2020 to September 2021, we searched for patients who exhibited an ischemic stroke related to carotid free-floating thrombus (CFFT) to investigate its incidence and relationship with COVID-19.

RESULTS

Of 853 ischemic strokes referred to our Stroke Centre during the study period, 5.7% (n = 49) were positive for SARS-CoV-2. Six had CFFT, of which two tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 (2/49 = 4.1%), and four did not (4/802 = 0.5%). The former were two middle-aged men suffering from COVID-19 pneumonia. Floating thrombi were promptly extracted by endarterectomy and endovascular thrombectomy, respectively, with no early and long-term complications. Notably, our COVID-19 patients exhibited little or no atherosclerosis burden on CT angiography, markedly elevated D-dimer levels, and extensive thrombus length.

CONCLUSIONS

COVID-19-induced immunothrombosis possibly played a significant pathogenic role in CFFT.

Acute ischemic stroke with cervical internal carotid artery steno-occlusive lesion: multicenter analysis of endovascular approaches

BACKGROUND

Occlusion of the internal carotid artery (ICA), whether isolated or in the setting of a tandem lesion (TL) have a poor response to treatment with intravenous thrombolysis. Previous studies ​​have demonstrated the superiority of mechanical thrombectomy in the treatment of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) following large vessel occlusion, compared to standard intravenous fibrinolysis. The aim of our study was to describe endovascular treatment (EVT) in AIS due to isolated ICA occlusion or TL.

METHODS

We assessed the association between 90-day outcome and clinical, demographic, imaging, and procedure data in 51 consecutive patients with acute isolated ICA occlusion or TL who underwent EVT. We evaluated baseline NIHSS and mRS, ASPECTS, type of occlusion, stent placement, use of stent retrievers and/or thromboaspiration, duration of the procedure, mTICI, postprocedural therapy and complications.

RESULTS

A favorable 90-day outcome (mRS 0-2) was achieved in 34 patients (67 %) and was significantly associated with the use of dual antiplatelet therapy after the procedure (p = 0.008), shorter procedure duration (p = 0.031), TICI 2b-3 (p < 0.001) and lack of post-procedural hemorrhagic transformation (p = 0.001). Four patients did not survive, resulting in a mortality rate of 8 %.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study has shown that EVT in the treatment of AIS due to ICA occlusion is safe, and effective in determining a good functional outcome. ICA stenting led to good angiographic results and therapy with a glycoprotein IIb / IIIa inhibitor immediately after stent release did not result in a greater risk of hemorrhage. The use of post-procedural dual antiplatelet therapy was associated with favorable outcome, without a significant increase in hemorrhagic transformation.

Functional and radiological outcomes after bridging therapy versus direct thrombectomy in stroke patients with unknown onset: Bridging therapy versus direct thrombectomy in unknown onset stroke patients with 10-point ASPECTS

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The aim was to assess functional and radiological outcomes after bridging therapy (intravenous thrombolysis plus mechanical thrombectomy) versus direct mechanical thrombectomy (MT) in unknown onset stroke patients.

METHODS

A cohort study was conducted on prospectively collected data from unknown onset stroke patients who received endovascular procedures at ≤6 h from symptom recognition or awakening time.

RESULTS

Of the 349 patients with a 10-point Alberta Stroke Program Early Computed Tomography Score (ASPECTS), 248 received bridging and 101 received direct MT. Of the 134 patients with 6-9-point ASPECTS, 123 received bridging and 111 received direct MT. Each patient treated with bridging was propensity score matched with a patient treated with direct MT for age, sex, study period, pre-stroke disability, stroke severity, type of stroke onset, symptom recognition to groin time (or awakening to groin time), ASPECTS and procedure time. In the two matched groups with 10-point ASPECTS (n = 73 vs. n = 73), bridging was associated with higher rates of excellent outcome (46.6% vs. 28.8%; odds ratio 2.302, 95% confidence interval 1.010-5.244) and successful recanalization (83.6% vs. 63%; odds ratio 3.028, 95% confidence interval 1.369-6.693) compared with direct MT; no significant association was found between bridging and direct MT with regard to rate of symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (0% vs. 1.4%). In the two matched groups with 6-9-point ASPECTS (n = 45 vs. n = 45), no significant associations were found between bridging and direct MT with regard to rates of excellent functional outcome (44.4% vs. 31.1%), successful recanalization (73.3% vs. 76.5%) and symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (0% vs. 0%).

CONCLUSIONS

Bridging at ≤ 6 h of symptom recognition or awakening time was associated with better functional and radiological outcomes in unknown onset stroke patients with 10-point ASPECTS.

IER-SICH Nomogram to Predict Symptomatic Intracerebral Hemorrhage After Thrombectomy for Stroke

Background and Purpose—

As a reliable scoring system to detect the risk of symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage after thrombectomy for ischemic stroke is not yet available, we developed a nomogram for predicting symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage in patients with large vessel occlusion in the anterior circulation who received bridging of thrombectomy with intravenous thrombolysis (training set), and to validate the model by using a cohort of patients treated with direct thrombectomy (test set).

Methods—

We conducted a cohort study on prospectively collected data from 3714 patients enrolled in the IER (Italian Registry of Endovascular Stroke Treatment in Acute Stroke). Symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage was defined as any type of intracerebral hemorrhage with increase of ≥4 National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score points from baseline ≤24 hours or death. Based on multivariate logistic models, the nomogram was generated. We assessed the discriminative performance by using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve.

Results—

National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score, onset-to-end procedure time, age, unsuccessful recanalization, and Careggi collateral score composed the IER-SICH nomogram. After removing Careggi collateral score from the first model, a second model including Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score was developed. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the IER-SICH nomogram was 0.778 in the training set (n=492) and 0.709 in the test set (n=399). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the second model was 0.733 in the training set (n=988) and 0.685 in the test set (n=779).

Conclusions—

The IER-SICH nomogram is the first model developed and validated for predicting symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage after thrombectomy. It may provide indications on early identification of patients for more or less postprocedural intensive management.

Endovascular Treatment of Visceral Artery Pseudoaneurysms in Patients with Chronic Pancreatitis: Our Single-Center Experience

BACKGROUND

To analyze our experience in endovascular treatment as first-line approach for severe and acute hemorrhage in patients with chronic pancreatitis.

METHODS

From 2010 to 2016 at our institution, 12 males (mean age 66 years) with bleeding pseudoaneurysms (PSAs) underwent urgent visceral angiography and endovascular treatment. All patients had chronic pancreatitis. True visceral artery aneurysms and PSAs arising after surgery were excluded from the study.

RESULTS

Pancreatitis was caused by alcohol abuse in 9 (9/12, 75%) patients and biliary lithiasis in 3 (3/12, 25%). Involved arteries were gastroduodenal (5/12, 50%), splenic (2/12, 16%), common hepatic (2/12, 16%), middle colic (1/12, 9%), and celiac trunk (1/12, 9%). All patients underwent computed tomography angiography (CTA) scan and visceral angiography followed by endovascular treatment using different devices. Technical success rate was 100%. Bleeding was stopped in all patients, and no one required reembolization. No major complications occurred. There were 2 complications associated with the endovascular procedure: in one case, a coil migration and in another case, in-stent restenosis at 6 months. Follow-up included CTA performed during hospitalization and at 6 months after the procedure.

CONCLUSIONS

Our experience confirms the role of CTA and visceral angiography as diagnostic and therapeutic tool, respectively.