Outcome of stroke patients eligible to mechanical thrombectomy managed by spoke center, primary stroke center or comprehensive stroke center in the East of France.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Patients with suspected stroke are referred to the nearest hospital and are managed either in a spoke center (SC), a primary stroke center (PSC), or a comprehensive stroke center (CSC) in order to benefit from early intravenous thrombolysis (IVT). In case of large vessel occlusion (LVO), mechanical thrombectomy (MT) is only performed in the CSC, whereas the effectiveness of MT is highly time-dependent. There is a debate about the best management model of patients with suspected LVO. Therefore, we aimed to compare functional and safety outcomes of LVO patients eligible for MT managed through our regional telestroke system. METHOD: We performed a retrospective analysis of our observational prospective clinical registry in all consecutive subjects with LVO within six hours of onset who were admitted to the SC, PSC, or CSC in the east of France between October 2017 and November 2022. The primary endpoint was the functional independence defined as modified Rankin scale (mRS) score 0 to 2 at 90 days. Secondary endpoints were functional outcome, early neurological improvement, symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage and 90-day mortality. RESULTS: Among the 794 included patients with LVO who underwent MT, 122 (15.4%) were managed by a SC, 403 (50.8%) were first admitted to a PSC, and 269 (33.9%) were first admitted to the CSC. The overall median NIHSS and ASPECTS score were 16 and 8, respectively. Multivariate analysis did not find any significant difference for the primary endpoint between patients managed by PSC versus CSC (OR 1.06 [95% CI 0.64;1.76], P=0.82) and between patient managed by SC versus CSC (OR 0.69 [0.34;1.40], P=0.30). No difference between the three groups was found except for the parenchymal hematoma rate between PSC and CSC (15.7 versus 7.4%, OR 2.25 [1.07;4.74], P=0.032). CONCLUSIONS: Compared with a first admission to a CSC, the clinical outcomes of stroke patients with LVO eligible for MT first admitted to a SC or a PSC are similar.

Transradial access with Simmons guiding catheter for carotid artery stenting: Feasibility and procedural complications in a single-center experience.

BACKGROUND: There is an increasing number of transradial approach (TRA) for carotid artery stenting (CAS), however, similar techniques and materials as for femoral access are used. We report the results of TRA lower profile technique for CAS using a 7 F Simmons guiding catheter, especially in terms of feasibility and procedural safety in a single center. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 68 consecutive patients with symptomatic extracranial carotid stenoses who underwent 75 CAS between January 2018 and December 2021. The success and crossover rate, procedural time, fluoroscopy, clinical outcomes, technical considerations, and procedural complications were analyzed. RESULTS: TRA CAS with Simmons guiding catheter was successful in 67/75 (89.3%) cases, with a 7 (9.3%) crossover rate. Fluoroscopy mean time was 15.8 minutes. Two forearm hematomas were described. No ischemic or surgical site complications were reported. CONCLUSIONS: In our experience frontline TRA with a 7 F Simmons guiding catheter is feasible with high procedural success and a low rate of access site complications.

Thrombectomy outcomes for acute stroke patients with anterior circulation tandem lesions: a clinical registry and an update of a systematic review with meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Although mechanical thrombectomy (MT) appears to be superior in stroke patients with extracranial carotid disease (ECD) compared to thrombolysis alone, the impact of emergent carotid stenting during MT remains unclear. The MT outcomes were assessed in anterior stroke patients with ECD, especially when combined with carotid stenting. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of our registry was performed and an update of a systematic review and meta-analysis of MT studies with or without stenting for anterior circulation stroke with ECD published between November 2010 and April 2017 was conducted. RESULTS: In our registry, 46 patients with ECD underwent MT. In the meta-analysis including 13 primary studies plus our prospective registry data (590 patients in total), the successful reperfusion rate (modified thrombolysis in cerebral infarction score ≥2b) reached 75% [95% confidence interval (CI) 69%-81%]. The rate of symptomatic intracranial haemorrhage (sICH) was 8% (95% CI 6%-11%), 90-day favourable outcome was achieved in 50% (95% CI 42%-59%) and mortality rate was 16% (95% CI 11%-22%). When using carotid stenting, rates of successful reperfusion, sICH, 90-day favourable outcome and mortality were 80% (95% CI 73%-87%), 7% (95% CI 4%-12%), 53% (95% CI 43%-62%) and 14% (95% CI 9%-19%), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Our data report an association between acute stenting and successful reperfusion rates in stroke patients with tandem lesion treated with MT. Further studies are warranted to determine the intracranial bleeding risk after MT and stenting according to the antiplatelet therapy.

[Endovascular treatment of giant intracranial aneurysms]. / Traitement endovasculaire des anévrismes géants.

Giant aneurysms are defined as having a maximal diameter higher than 25mm. The dynamic aspect of giant aneurysms, in particular, is its growth, which was responsible for parenchyma sequellae either due to haemorrhagic complications or a compression of cranial nerves. The treatment of these giant aneurysms was challenging because of its size, the mass effect and the neck diameter. These morphologic conditions required complex endovascular procedures such as remodelling, stenting, using flow diverters. Subsequently, the complex procedures increased the risk of morbidity because of ischemic complications. Despite these procedures, the risk of recurrence was high.

Endovascular treatment of ruptured intracranial aneurysms: Indications, techniques and results.

Rupture of an intracranial aneurysm is a diagnostic and therapeutic emergency. Occlusion of the aneurysm with coils is the first line treatment and should be performed promptly to avoid any further rupture, which carries a poor prognosis. Most aneurysms are accessible to this type of treatment. The risks of coiling, which are mostly thromboembolic and less commonly hemorrhagic due to peroperative rupture, are low. The use of stents or a flow diverter requires dual anti-aggregation which increases their risks so that their use are restricted to specific situations such as dissecting aneurysms. Endovascular treatment is effective in the long and short term prevention of recurrent hemorrhage provided that patients are followed up by imaging, which allows possible early recanalization to be detected early and treated if necessary.

Endovascular treatment of aneurisms: pre, intra and post operative management.

The most frequent risk in endovascular aneurysm treatment is thromboembolic complications. Thus adjuvant pharmaceuticals are largely focused on preventing and treating these latter. Additionally symptomatic treatment of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) and treatments to avoid vasospasm will enter into play in cases of ruptured aneurisms. Consensus exists in the literature neither for the necessity of heparin or antiplatelets nor for the doses to be administered. The principles and rationale of the use of these medications are reviewed with a discussion of protocols according with clinical situations and technical choices.