Hospital Volume Threshold Associated with Higher Survival after Endovascular Recanalization Therapy for Acute Ischemic Stroke / 대한뇌졸중학회지

Background@#and Purpose Endovascular recanalization therapy (ERT) is becoming increasingly important in the management of acute ischemic stroke (AIS). However, the hospital volume threshold for optimal ERT remains unknown. We investigated the relationship between hospital volume of ERT and risk-adjusted patient outcomes. @*Methods@#From the National Health Insurance claims data in Korea, 11,745 patients with AIS who underwent ERT from July 2011 to June 2016 in 111 hospitals were selected. We measured the hospital’s ERT volume and patient outcomes, including the 30-day mortality, readmission, and postprocedural intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) rates. For each outcome measure, we constructed risk-adjusted prediction models incorporating demographic variables, the modified Charlson comorbidity index, and the stroke severity index (SSI), and validated them. Risk-adjusted outcomes of AIS cases were compared across hospital quartiles to confirm the volume-outcome relationship (VOR) in ERT. Spline regression was performed to determine the volume threshold. @*Results@#The mean AIS volume was 14.8 cases per hospital/year and the unadjusted means of mortality, readmission, and ICH rates were 11.6%, 4.6%, and 8.6%, respectively. The VOR was observed in the risk-adjusted 30-day mortality rate across all quartile groups, and in the ICH rate between the first and fourth quartiles (P<0.05). The volume threshold was 24 cases per year. @*Conclusions@#There was an association between hospital volume and outcomes, and the volume threshold in ERT was identified. Policies should be developed to ensure the implementation of the AIS volume threshold for hospitals performing ERT.

Feasibility, Safety, and Follow-up Angiographic Results of Endovascular Treatment for Non-Selected Ruptured Intracranial Aneurysms Under Local Anesthesia with Conscious Sedation

BACKGROUND: At most centers, general anesthesia (GA) has been preferred for endovascular treatment (EVT) of ruptured intracranial aneurysms (RIAs). In this study, we analyzed procedural results, clinical outcomes, and follow-up angiographic findings for patients undergoing EVT for RIA under local anesthesia (LA) with conscious sedation (CS). METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated 308 consecutive patients who underwent EVT for RIAs at a single institution between June 2009 and February 2017. EVT under LA with CS was considered for all patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage, regardless of Hunt and Hess (HH) scale score. RESULTS: EVT was performed for 320 aneurysms in 308 patients with subarachnoid hemorrhages. The mean patient age was 55.5±12.6 years. Moderate (III) and poor (IV, V) HH grades were observed in 75 (24.4%) and 77 patients (25%), respectively. Complete occlusion immediately after EVT was achieved for 270 (84.4%) of 320 aneurysms. Thromboembolic complications and intraprocedural ruptures occurred in 25 (7.8%) and 14 cases (4.3%), respectively. The morbidity rate at discharge (as defined by a modified Rankin scale score of 3 or greater) was 27.3% (84/308), while the mortality rate was 11.7% (36/308). Follow-up angiographic results were available for 210 (68.1%) of 308 patients. Recanalization was observed in 64 (29.3%) of 218 aneurysms in 210 patients. CONCLUSION: Based on our experience, EVT for RIAs under LA with CS was feasible, regardless of the clinical grade of the subarachnoid hemorrhage. Complication rates and follow-up angiographic results were also comparable to those observed when GA was used to perform the procedure.

Recurrent Ischemic Strokes with Progression of Middle Cerebral Artery Stenosis during HIV Treatment

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection can result in ischemic stroke via several mechanisms, including opportunistic infection, vasculopathy, cardioembolism, and coagulopathy. HIV-vasculopathy is related to endothelial dysfunction, stenosis and aneurysm formation, infectious vasculitis, dissection and accelerated atherosclerosis during highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). We represent a case of HIV infection manifested as an acute ischemic stroke attack. After 4 months during HAART, our patient experienced a recurrent ischemic stroke with progression of middle cerebral artery stenosis.

Bilateral Lesions in the Posterior Limb of Internal Capsule Attributed to Combination Therapy of Isoniazid and Rifampin

Transient isoniazid-induced brain lesions have rarely been reported. The lesions were in the dentate nucleus of cerebellum and thalamus. Meanwhile, the neurotoxicity of rifampin has not been reported evidently. We observed bilateral lesions in the internal capsule in a young woman after taking a combination of isoniazid and rifampin. She transiently suffered numbness in both hands, dysarthria, and left side motor weakness while taking the medication. Isoniazid may induce structural lesions in various brain areas including the internal capsule.

Hyperintense Acute Reperfusion Marker after Intravenous Thrombolysisin a Patient with Hyperacute Ischemic Stroke

No abstract available.

Currrent Source Analysis of Interictal Spikes in a Patient With Ictal Grimacing

Facial grimacing can be a manifestation of complex partial seizures from the temporal lobe. We observed a case of seizure with facial grimacing and partial loss of consciousness during an electroencephalography recording. The recording revealed interictal spikes on the left-sided inferior temporal electrodes and ictal discharges starting on the same electrodes. The current source appeared to be in the inferior and lateral temporal areas of the left cerebral hemisphere. These results show that it is possible to localize the current sources responsible for interictal spikes.