Safety and Efficacy of Conscious Sedation Versus General Anesthesia for Distal Vessel Thrombectomy.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Anesthesia modality for endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) for distal and medium vessel occlusions remains an open question. General anesthesia (GA) may offer advantages over conscious sedation (CS) because of reduced patient movement facilitating catheter navigation, but concerns persist about potential delays and hypotension affecting collateral circulation. METHODS: In our prospectively maintained stroke registry from December 2014 to July 2023, we identified patients with distal and medium vessel occlusions defined as M2, M3, or M4 occlusion; A1 or A2 occlusion; and P1 or P2 occlusion, who underwent EVT for acute ischemic stroke. We compared patients who received CS with those who received GA. Primary outcomes were early neurological improvement (ENI), successful reperfusion, first-pass effect, and good outcome at 90 days. Secondary outcomes included intracerebral hemorrhage, subarachnoid hemorrhage, and 90-day mortality. RESULTS: Of 279 patients, 69 (24.7%) received GA, whereas 193 (69.2%) received CS. CS was associated with higher odds of ENI compared with GA (odds ratio [OR] 2.59, 95% CI [1.04-6.98], P < .05). CS was also associated with higher rates of successful reperfusion (OR 2.33, 95% CI [1.11-4.93], P < .05). CS nonsignificantly trended toward lower rates of mortality (OR 0.51, 95% CI [0.2-1.3], P = .16). No differences in good outcome at 90 days, intracerebral hemorrhage, subarachnoid hemorrhage, or first-pass effect were seen. CONCLUSION: The use of CS during EVT seems to be safe and feasible with regard to successful recanalization, hemorrhagic complications, clinical outcome, and mortality. In addition, it may be associated with a higher rate of ENI. Further randomized studies in this specific EVT subpopulation are warranted.

Endovascular therapy of isolated posterior cerebral artery occlusion stroke with and without general anesthesia.

BACKGROUND: The optimal anesthetic strategy for endovascular therapy (EVT) in acute ischemic stroke is still under debate. The aim of this study was to compare the clinical outcomes of patients with isolated posterior cerebral artery (PCA) occlusion stroke undergoing EVT by anesthesia modality with conscious sedation (non-GA) versus general anesthesia (GA). METHODS: Patients from the Posterior CerebraL Artery Occlusion (PLATO) study were analyzed with regard to anesthetic strategy. GA was compared with non-GA using multivariable logistic regression and inverse probability of weighting treatment (IPTW) methods. The primary endpoint was the 90-day distribution of the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score. Secondary outcomes included functional independence or return to Rankin at day 90, and successful reperfusion, defined as expanded Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction (eTICI) 2b to 3. Safety endpoints were symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage and mortality. RESULTS: Among 376 patients with isolated PCA occlusion stroke treated with EVT, 183 (49%) had GA. The treatment groups were comparable, although the GA group contained more patients with severe stroke and lower posterior circulation Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score (pc-ASPECTS). On IPTW analysis, there was no difference between groups with regard to ordinal mRS shift analysis (common OR 0.89, 95% CI 0.53 to 1.51, P=0.67) or functional independence (OR 0.84, 95% CI 0.50 to 1.39, P=0.49). There were greater odds for successful reperfusion with GA (OR 1.70, 95% CI 1.17 to 2.47, P=0.01). Safety outcomes were comparable between groups. CONCLUSION: In patients with isolated PCA occlusion undergoing EVT, patients treated with GA had higher reperfusion rates compared with non-GA. Both GA and non-GA strategies were safe and functional outcomes were similar.

Endovascular Thrombectomy Versus Intravenous Thrombolysis of Posterior Cerebral Artery Occlusion Stroke.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Posterior cerebral artery occlusion (PCAo) can cause long-term disability, yet randomized controlled trials to guide optimal reperfusion strategy are lacking. We compared the outcomes of PCAo patients treated with endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) with or without intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) to patients treated with IVT alone. METHODS: From the multicenter retrospective Posterior cerebraL ArTery Occlusion (PLATO) registry, we included patients with isolated PCAo treated with reperfusion therapy within 24 hours of onset between January 2015 and August 2022. The primary outcome was the distribution of the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) at 3 months. Other outcomes comprised 3-month excellent (mRS 0-1) and independent outcome (mRS 0-2), early neurological improvement (ENI), mortality, and symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH). The treatments were compared using inverse probability weighted regression adjustment. RESULTS: Among 724 patients, 400 received EVT+/-IVT and 324 IVT alone (median age 74 years, 57.7% men). The median National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score on admission was 7, and the occluded segment was P1 (43.9%), P2 (48.3%), P3-P4 (6.1%), bilateral (1.0%), or fetal posterior cerebral artery (0.7%). Compared to IVT alone, EVT+/-IVT was not associated with improved functional outcome (adjusted common odds ratio [OR] 1.07, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.79-1.43). EVT increased the odds for ENI (adjusted OR [aOR] 1.49, 95% CI 1.05-2.12), sICH (aOR 2.87, 95% CI 1.23-6.72), and mortality (aOR 1.77, 95% CI 1.07-2.95). CONCLUSION: Despite higher odds for early improvement, EVT+/-IVT did not affect functional outcome compared to IVT alone after PCAo. This may be driven by the increased risk of sICH and mortality after EVT.

Cervical Dissection in Patients With Tandem Lesions Is Associated With Distal Embolism and Lower Recanalization Success.

BACKGROUND: Tandem lesions consist of cervical internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis or occlusion, most commonly of atherosclerosis or dissection etiology, plus a large vessel occlusion. In this study, we compare outcomes in patients with atherosclerosis versus dissection of the cervical ICA. METHODS: This multicenter retrospective cohort study includes data from tandem lesion patients who underwent endovascular treatment from 2015 to 2020. Atherosclerosis was defined as ICA stenosis/occlusion associated with a calcified lesion and dissection by the presence of a tapered or flame-shaped lesion and intramural hematoma. Primary outcome: 90-day functional independence (modified Rankin Scale score, 0-2); secondary outcomes: 90-day favorable shift in the modified Rankin Scale score, modified Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction score 2b-3, modified Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction score 2c-3, symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage, parenchymal hematoma type 2, petechial hemorrhage, distal embolization, early neurological improvement, and mortality. Analysis was performed with matching by inverse probability of treatment weighting. RESULTS: We included 526 patients (68 [59-76] years; 31% females); 11.2% presented dissection and 88.8%, atherosclerosis. Patients with dissection were younger, had lower rates of hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, and smoking history. They also exhibited higher rates of ICA occlusion, multiple stents (>1), and lower rates of carotid self-expanding stents. After matching and adjusting for covariates, there were no differences in 90-day functional independence. The rate of successful recanalization was significantly lower in the dissection group (adjusted odds ratio, 0.38 [95% CI, 0.16-0.91]; P=0.031), which also had significantly higher rates of distal emboli (adjusted odds ratio, 2.53 [95% CI, 1.15-5.55]; P=0.021). There were no differences in other outcomes. Acute ICA stenting seemed to increase the effect of atherosclerosis in successful recanalization. CONCLUSIONS: This study reveals that among patients with acute stroke with tandem lesions, cervical ICA dissection is associated with higher rates of distal embolism and lower rates of successful recanalization than atherosclerotic lesions. Using techniques to minimize the risk of distal embolism may mitigate this contrast. Further prospective randomized trials are warranted to fully understand these associations.

Endovascular Versus Medical Therapy in Posterior Cerebral Artery Stroke: Role of Baseline NIHSS Score and Occlusion Site.

BACKGROUND: Acute ischemic stroke with isolated posterior cerebral artery occlusion (iPCAO) lacks management evidence from randomized trials. We aimed to evaluate whether the association between endovascular treatment (EVT) and outcomes in iPCAO acute ischemic stroke is modified by initial stroke severity (baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale [NIHSS]) and arterial occlusion site. METHODS: Based on the multicenter, retrospective, case-control study of consecutive iPCAO acute ischemic stroke patients (PLATO study [Posterior Cerebral Artery Occlusion Stroke]), we assessed the heterogeneity of EVT outcomes compared with medical management (MM) for iPCAO, according to baseline NIHSS score (≤6 versus >6) and occlusion site (P1 versus P2), using multivariable regression modeling with interaction terms. The primary outcome was the favorable shift of 3-month modified Rankin Scale (mRS). Secondary outcomes included excellent outcome (mRS score 0-1), functional independence (mRS score 0-2), symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage, and mortality. RESULTS: From 1344 patients assessed for eligibility, 1059 were included (median age, 74 years; 43.7% women; 41.3% had intravenous thrombolysis): 364 receiving EVT and 695 receiving MM. Baseline stroke severity did not modify the association of EVT with 3-month mRS distribution (Pinteraction=0.312) but did with functional independence (Pinteraction=0.010), with a similar trend on excellent outcome (Pinteraction=0.069). EVT was associated with more favorable outcomes than MM in patients with baseline NIHSS score >6 (mRS score 0-1, 30.6% versus 17.7%; adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 2.01 [95% CI, 1.22-3.31]; mRS score 0 to 2, 46.1% versus 31.9%; aOR, 1.64 [95% CI, 1.08-2.51]) but not in those with NIHSS score ≤6 (mRS score 0-1, 43.8% versus 46.3%; aOR, 0.90 [95% CI, 0.49-1.64]; mRS score 0-2, 65.3% versus 74.3%; aOR, 0.55 [95% CI, 0.30-1.0]). EVT was associated with more symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage regardless of baseline NIHSS score (Pinteraction=0.467), while the mortality increase was more pronounced in patients with NIHSS score ≤6 (Pinteraction=0.044; NIHSS score ≤6: aOR, 7.95 [95% CI, 3.11-20.28]; NIHSS score >6: aOR, 1.98 [95% CI, 1.08-3.65]). Arterial occlusion site did not modify the association of EVT with outcomes compared with MM. CONCLUSIONS: Baseline clinical stroke severity, rather than the occlusion site, may be an important modifier of the association between EVT and outcomes in iPCAO. Only severely affected patients with iPCAO (NIHSS score >6) had more favorable disability outcomes with EVT than MM, despite increased mortality and symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage.

Vein of Galen Malformations.

Significant efforts have been made over the last few decades to improve the diagnosis and management of patients with vein of Galen malformations (VOGMs). The mainstays of treatment remain focused on primary endovascular management by staged transarterial embolizations with adjunctive use of transvenous embolization, medical therapy, and neurosurgical intervention for symptom control in select patients. Innovation in endovascular technology and techniques as well as promising new genomic research elucidating potential therapeutic targets hold significant promise for the future of VOGM treatment.

Endovascular Versus Medical Management in Distal Medium Vessel Occlusion Stroke: The DUSK Study.

BACKGROUND: Endovascular treatment (EVT) is part of the usual care for proximal vessel occlusion strokes. However, the safety and effectiveness of EVT for distal medium vessel occlusions remain unclear. We sought to compare the clinical outcomes of EVT to medical management (MM) for isolated distal medium vessel occlusions. METHODS: This is a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data from seven comprehensive stroke centers. Patients were included if they had isolated distal medium vessel occlusion strokes due to middle cerebral artery M3/M4, anterior cerebral artery A2/A3, or posterior cerebral artery P1/P2 segments. Patients treated with EVT or MM were compared with multivariable logistic regression and inverse probability of treatment weighting. The primary outcome was the shift in the degree of disability as measured by the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) at 90 days. Secondary outcomes included 90-day good (mRS score, 0-2) and excellent (mRS score, 0-1) outcomes. Safety measures included symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage and 90-day mortality. RESULTS: A total of 321 patients were included in the analysis (EVT, 179; MM, 142; 40.8% treated with intravenous thrombolysis). In the inverse probability of treatment weighting model, there were no significant differences between EVT and MM in terms of the overall degree of disability (mRS ordinal shift; adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.25 [95% CI, 0.95-1.64]; P=0.110), rates of good (mRS score, 0-2; aOR, 1.32 [95% CI, 0.97-1.80]; P=0.075) and excellent (aOR, 1.32 [95% CI, 0.94-1.85]; P=0.098) outcomes, or mortality (aOR, 1.20 [95% CI, 0.78-1.85]; P=0.395) at 90 days. The multivariable regression model showed similar findings. Moreover, there was no difference between EVT and MM in rates of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage in the multivariable regression model (aOR, 0.57 [95% CI, 0.21-1.58]; P=0.277), but the inverse probability of treatment weighting model showed a lower likelihood of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (aOR, 0.46 [95% CI, 0.24-0.85]; P=0.013) in the EVT group. CONCLUSIONS: This multicenter study failed to demonstrate any significant outcome differences among patients with isolated distal medium vessel occlusions treated with EVT versus MM. These findings reinforce clinical equipoise. Randomized clinical trials are ongoing and will provide more definite evidence.

Anesthesia modality in endovascular treatment for distal medium vessel occlusion stroke: intention-to-treat propensity score-matched analysis.

BACKGROUND: The optimal anesthesia modality during endovascular treatment (EVT) for distal medium vessel occlusion (DMVO) stroke is uncertain. We aimed to evaluate the association of the anesthesia modality with procedural and clinical outcomes following EVT for DMVO stroke. METHODS: This is a multicenter retrospective analysis of a prospectively collected database. Patients were included if they had DMVO involving the middle cerebral artery-M3/4, anterior cerebral artery-A2/3, or posterior cerebral artery-P1/P2-3, and underwent EVT. The cohort was divided into two groups, general anesthesia (GA) and non-general anesthesia (non-GA), and compared based on the intention-to-treat principle as primary analysis. We used propensity scores to balance the two groups. The primary outcome was the shift in the degree of disability as measured by the 90-day modified Rankin Scale (mRS). Secondary outcomes included successful reperfusion, as well as excellent (mRS 0-1) and good (mRS 0-2) clinical outcomes at 90 days. Safety measures included procedural complications, symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (sICH), and 90-day mortality. RESULTS: Among 366 DMVO thrombectomies, 61 matched pairs were eligible for analysis. Median age and National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score as well as other baseline demographic and clinical characteristics were balanced between both groups. The GA group had no difference in the overall degree of disability (common OR 1.19, 95% CI 0.52 to 2.86, P=0.67) compared with the non-GA arm. Likewise, the GA group had comparable rates of successful reperfusion (OR 2.38, 95% CI 0.80 to 7.07, P=0.12), good/excellent clinical outcomes (OR 1.14, 95% CI 0.44 to 2.96, P=0.79/(OR 0.65, 95% CI 0.24 to 1.81, P=0.41), procedural complications (OR 1.00, 95% CI 0.19 to 5.16, P>0.99), sICH (OR 3.24, 95% CI 0.83 to 12.68, P=0.09), and 90-day mortality (OR 1.43, 95% CI 0.48 to 4.27, P=0.52) compared with the non-GA group. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with DMVO, our study showed that GA and non-GA groups had similar procedural and clinical outcomes, as well as safety measures. Further larger controlled studies are warranted.

Safety and effectiveness assessment of the surpass evolve (SEASE): a post-market international multicenter study.

BACKGROUND: Flow diverters are the first-line treatment for specific intracranial aneurysms (iA). Surpass Evolve (SE) is a new-generation 64-wire flow diverter with a high braid angle. Current literature on the SE is limited. We aimed to report the first international real-world experience evaluating the safety and effectiveness of the SE. METHODS: The Safety and Effectiveness Assessment of the Surpass Evolve (SEASE) was a multicenter retrospective international post-marketing cohort study including consecutive patients treated with SE for iAs between 2020 and 2022. Demographic, clinical, and angiographic data were collected. Primary effectiveness was independent core lab adjudicated complete occlusion rates (Raymond-Roy Class 1) at last follow-up. Primary safety were major ischemic/hemorrhagic events and mortality. RESULTS: In total, 305 patients with 332 aneurysms underwent SE implantation. The patients had a median age of 59 [50-67] years, and 256 (83.9%) were female. The baseline modified Rankin scale score was 0-2 in 291 patients (96.7%). Most aneurysms were unruptured (285, 93.4%) and saccular (309, 93.1%). Previous treatment was present in 76 (22.9%) patients. The median aneurysm size was 5.1 [3.4-9.0] mm, and the median neck width was 3.6 [2.7-5.1] mm. Most aneurysms were in the internal carotid artery C6 ophthalmic segment (126, 38.0%), followed by the communicating segment (58, 17.5%). At median 10.2 [6.4-12.9] months follow-up, 233 (73.0%) aneurysms achieved complete occlusion. After adjusting for confounders, complete occlusion remained consistent. Major stroke and procedure-related mortality were reported in 6 (2%) and 2 (0.7%) cases, respectively. CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate that SE has a consistently high effectiveness and favorable safety for the treatment of iAs.

Treatment trends and clinical outcomes of endovascular embolization for unruptured intracranial aneurysms in the pediatric population.

BACKGROUND: Owing to the relative rarity of unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIAs) in the pediatric population, evidence regarding treatment modalities and clinical outcomes remains limited. OBJECTIVE: To characterize the use and clinical outcomes of endovascular therapy (EVT) and microsurgical clipping (MSC) for pediatric UIAs over a two-decade interval using a large national registry. METHODS: Pediatric (<18 years of age) UIA hospitalizations were identified in the National Inpatient Sample from 2002 to 2019. Temporal use and clinical outcomes were compared for treatment with EVT and MSC. RESULTS: Among 734 UIAs identified, 64.9% (n=476) were treated with EVT. Use of EVT significantly increased during the study period from 54.3% (2002-2004) to 78.6% (2017-2019) (P=0.002 by Cochrane-Armitage test). In comparison with those treated with MSC, pediatric patients treated with EVT demonstrated higher rates of favorable outcomes (discharge to home without services) (96.0% vs 91.1%, P=0.006), shorter durations of hospital stay (4.6 vs 10.0 days, P<0.001), and lower rates of ischemic or hemorrhagic procedural-related complications (1% vs 4%, P=0.010). Conservative management also increased significantly over the study period (P<0.001 by Cochrane-Armitage test). CONCLUSION: A retrospective evaluation of nearly 20 years of population-level data from the United States demonstrates increasing use of EVT for the treatment of pediatric UIAs, with high rates of favorable outcomes and shorter hospital stays in comparison with those treated with microsurgery.

ARISE I Consensus Statement on the Management of Chronic Subdural Hematoma.

ARISE (Aneurysm/AVM/cSDH Roundtable Discussion With Industry and Stroke Experts) organized a one-and-a-half day meeting and workshop and brought together representatives from academia, industry, and government to discuss the most promising approaches to improve outcomes for patients with chronic subdural hematoma (cSDH). The emerging role of middle meningeal artery embolization in clinical practice and the design of current and potential future trials were the primary focuses of discussion. Existing evidence for imaging, indications, agents, and techniques was reviewed, and areas of priority for study and key questions surrounding the development of new and existing treatments for cSDH were identified. Multiple randomized, controlled trials have met their primary efficacy end points, providing high-level evidence that middle meningeal artery embolization is a potent adjunctive therapy to the standard (surgical and nonsurgical) management of neurologically stable cSDH patients in terms of reducing rates of disease recurrence. Pooled data analyses following the formal conclusion and publication of these trials will form a robust foundation upon which guidelines can be strengthened for cSDH treatment modalities and optimal patient selection, as well as delineate future lines of investigation.

A core-lab adjudicated analysis of single-stent assisted coiling of wide-neck bifurcation aneurysms.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Core-lab adjudicated data regarding the efficacy of the single-stent assisted aneurysm coiling technique 'L-stenting' are lacking. We present a multicenter, core-lab adjudicated study evaluating the safety and effectiveness of single-stent assisted coiling in the treatment of wide-neck bifurcation aneurysms (WNBAs). METHODS: Consecutive patients who underwent L-stenting for WNBAs at three academic institutions between 2015 and 2019 were included in this retrospective study. Clinical safety and efficacy outcomes were gathered from the patient chart, and angiographic imaging was evaluated by core lab analysis. Safety and efficacy outcomes were summarized and predictors of safety and efficacy were calculated. RESULTS: Of 128 patients treated, 124 had angiographic outcome data at last follow-up. Of those, 110 had adequate (core-lab adjudicated modified Raymond Roy (mRR) score of 1 or 2) occlusion (88.7%). During follow-up, 19 patients (14.8%) required retreatment. There were 17 complications experienced in 12 patients: intraoperative (n=8, 6.25%), perioperative (n=5, 3.9%), or delayed (n=6; n=4 attributed to device/procedure, 3.1%). Significant predictors of complete occlusion were smaller aneurysm size and use of the jailing technique (P=0.0276). Significant predictors of retreatment were larger size, neck size, and larger dome to neck ratio (P=0.0008). CONCLUSION: This study provides multicenter, core-lab adjudicated angiographic data regarding the efficacy of single-stent assisted coiling for WNBAs. This study acts as a validated comparator for future studies investigating novel devices or techniques for treating this challenging subgroup of aneurysms.

Anesthetic management for large vessel occlusion acute ischemic stroke with tandem lesions.

BACKGROUND: Endovascular therapy (EVT) stands as an established and effective intervention for acute ischemic stroke in patients harboring tandem lesions (TLs). However, the optimal anesthetic strategy for EVT in TL patients remains unclear. This study aims to evaluate the impact of distinct anesthetic techniques on outcomes in acute ischemic stroke patients presenting with TLs. METHODS: Patient-level data, encompassing cases from 16 diverse centers, were aggregated for individuals with anterior circulation TLs treated between January 2015 and December 2020. A stratification based on anesthetic technique was conducted to distinguish between general anesthesia (GA) and procedural sedation (PS). Multivariable logistic regression models were built to discern the association between anesthetic approach and outcomes, including the favorable functional outcome defined as 90-day modified Rankin Score (mRS) of 0-2, ordinal shift in mRS, symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH), any hemorrhage, successful recanalization (modified Thrombolysis In Cerebral Infarction (mTICI) score ≥2b), excellent recanalization (mTICI 3), first pass effect (FPE), early neurological improvement (ENI), door-to-groin and recanalization times, intrahospital mortality, and 90-day mortality. RESULTS: Among 691 patients from 16 centers, 595 patients (GA 38.7%, PS 61.3%) were included in the final analysis. There were no significant differences noted in the door-to-groin time (80 (46-117.5) mins vs 54 (21-100), P=0.607) and groin to recanalization time (59 (39.5-85.5) mins vs 54 (38-81), P=0.836) among the groups. The odds of a favorable functional outcome (36.6% vs 52.6%; adjusted OR (aOR) 0.56, 95% CI 0.38 to 0.84, P=0.005) and a favorable shift in the 90-day mRS (aOR 0.71, 95% CI 0.51 to 0.99, P=0.041) were lower in the GA group. No differences were noted for sICH (3.9% vs 4.7%, P=0.38), successful recanalization (89.1% vs 86.5%, P=0.13), excellent recanalization (48.5% vs 50.3%, P=0.462), FPE (53.6% vs 63.4%, P=0.05), ENI (38.9% vs 38.8%, P=0.138), and 90-day mortality (20.3% vs 16.3%, P=0.525). An interaction was noted for favorable functional outcome between the type of anesthesia and the baseline Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score (ASPECTS) (P=0.033), degree of internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis (P<0.001), and ICA stenting (P<0.001), and intraparenchymal hematoma between the type of anesthesia and intravenous thrombolysis (P=0.019). In a subgroup analysis, PS showed better functional outcomes in patients with age ≤70 years, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score <15, and acute ICA stenting. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that the preference for PS not only aligns with comparable procedural safety but is also associated with superior functional outcomes. These results prompt a re-evaluation of current anesthesia practices in EVT, urging clinicians to consider patient-specific characteristics when determining the optimal anesthetic strategy for this patient population.

Clinical relevance of intracranial hemorrhage after thrombectomy versus medical management for large core infarct: a secondary analysis of the SELECT2 randomized trial.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) and its effect on the outcomes after endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) for patients with large core infarcts have not been well-characterized. METHODS: SELECT2 trial follow-up imaging was evaluated using the Heidelberg Bleeding Classification (HBC) to define hemorrhage grade. The association of ICH with clinical outcomes and treatment effect was examined. RESULTS: Of 351 included patients, 194 (55%) and 189 (54%) demonstrated intracranial and intracerebral hemorrhage, respectively, with a higher incidence in EVT (134 (75%) and 130 (73%)) versus medical management (MM) (60 (35%) and 59 (34%), both P<0.001). Hemorrhagic infarction type 1 (HBC=1a) and type 2 (HBC=1b) accounted for 93% of all hemorrhages. Parenchymal hematoma (PH) type 1 (HBC=1c) and type 2 (HBC=2) were observed in 1 (0.6%) EVT-treated and 4 (2.2%) MM patients. Symptomatic ICH (sICH) (SITS-MOST definition) was seen in 0.6% EVT patients and 1.2% MM patients. No trend for ICH with core volumes (P=0.10) or Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score (ASPECTS) (P=0.74) was observed. Among EVT patients, the presence of any ICH did not worsen clinical outcome (modified Rankin Scale (mRS) at 90 days: 4 (3-6) vs 4 (3-6); adjusted generalized OR 1.00, 95% CI 0.68 to 1.47, P>0.99) or modify EVT treatment effect (Pinteraction=0.77). CONCLUSIONS: ICH was present in 75% of the EVT population, but PH or sICH were infrequent. The presence of any ICH did not worsen functional outcomes or modify EVT treatment effect at 90-day follow-up. The high rate of hemorrhages overall still represents an opportunity for adjunctive therapies in EVT patients with a large ischemic core.

Factors Affecting Selection of TraineE for Neurointervention (FASTEN).

BACKGROUND AND IMPORTANCE: Neurointervention is a very competitive specialty in the United States due to the limited number of training spots and the larger pool of applicants. The training standards are continuously updated to ensure solid training experiences. Factors affecting candidate(s) selection have not been fully established yet. Our study aims to investigate the factors influencing the selection process. METHODS: A 52-question survey was distributed to 93 program directors (PDs). The survey consisted of six categories: (a) Program characteristics, (b) Candidate demographics, (c) Educational credentials, (d) Personal traits, (e) Research and extracurricular activities, and (f) Overall final set of characteristics. The response rate was 59.1%. As per the programs' characteristics, neurosurgery was the most involved specialty in running the training programs (69%). Regarding demographics, the need for visa sponsorship held the greatest prominence with a mean score of 5.9 [standard deviation (SD) 2.9]. For the educational credentials, being a graduate from a neurosurgical residency and the institution where the candidate's residency training is/was scored the highest [5.4 (SD = 2.9), 5.4 (SD = 2.5), respectively]. Regarding the personal traits, assessment by faculty members achieved the highest score [8.9 (SD = 1)]. In terms of research/extracurricular activities, fluency in English had the highest score [7.2 (SD = 1.9)] followed by peer-reviewed/PubMed-indexed publications [6.4 (SD = 2.2)]. CONCLUSION: Our survey investigated the factors influencing the final decision when choosing the future neurointerventional trainee, including demographic, educational, research, and extracurricular activities, which might serve as valuable guidance for both applicants and programs to refine the selection process.

Endovascular thrombectomy plus medical care versus medical care alone for large ischaemic stroke: 1-year outcomes of the SELECT2 trial.

BACKGROUND: Multiple randomised trials have shown efficacy and safety of endovascular thrombectomy in patients with large ischaemic stroke. The aim of this study was to evaluate long-term (ie, at 1 year) evidence of benefit of thrombectomy for these patients. METHODS: SELECT2 was a phase 3, open-label, international, randomised controlled trial with blinded endpoint assessment, conducted at 31 hospitals in the USA, Canada, Spain, Switzerland, Australia, and New Zealand. Patients aged 18-85 years with ischaemic stroke due to proximal occlusion of the internal carotid artery or of the first segment of the middle cerebral artery, showing large ischaemic core on non-contrast CT (Alberta Stroke Program Early Computed Tomographic Score of 3-5 [range 0-10, with lower values indicating larger infarctions]) or measuring 50 mL or more on CT perfusion and MRI, were randomly assigned, within 24 h of ischaemic stroke onset, to thrombectomy plus medical care or to medical care alone. The primary outcome for this analysis was the ordinal modified Rankin Scale (range 0-6, with higher scores indicating greater disability) at 1-year follow-up in an intention-to-treat population. The trial is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03876457) and is completed. FINDINGS: The trial was terminated early for efficacy at the 90-day follow-up after 352 patients had been randomly assigned (178 to thrombectomy and 174 to medical care only) between Oct 11, 2019, and Sept 9, 2022. Thrombectomy significantly improved the 1-year modified Rankin Scale score distribution versus medical care alone (Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney probability of superiority 0·59 [95% CI 0·53-0·64]; p=0·0019; generalised odds ratio 1·43 [95% CI 1·14-1·78]). At the 1-year follow-up, 77 (45%) of 170 patients receiving thrombectomy had died, compared with 83 (52%) of 159 patients receiving medical care only (1-year mortality relative risk 0·89 [95% CI 0·71-1·11]). INTERPRETATION: In patients with ischaemic stroke due to a proximal occlusion and large core, thrombectomy plus medical care provided a significant functional outcome benefit compared with medical care alone at 1-year follow-up. FUNDING: Stryker Neurovascular.

Intracranial aneurysm wall displacement depicted by amplified Flow predicts growth.

BACKGROUND: Abnormal intracranial aneurysm (IA) wall motion has been associated with IA growth and rupture. Recently, a new image processing algorithm called amplified Flow (aFlow) has been used to successfully track IA wall motion by combining the amplification of cine and four-dimensional (4D) Flow MRI. We sought to apply aFlow to assess wall motion as a potential marker of IA growth in a paired-wise analysis of patients with growing versus stable aneurysms. METHODS: In this retrospective case-control study, 10 patients with growing IAs and a matched cohort of 10 patients with stable IAs who had baseline 4D Flow MRI were included. The aFlow was used to amplify and extract IA wall displacements from 4D Flow MRI. The associations of aFlow parameters with commonly used risk factors and morphometric features were assessed using paired-wise univariate and multivariate analyses. RESULTS: aFlow quantitative results showed significantly (P=0.035) higher wall motion displacement depicted by mean±SD 90th% values of 2.34±0.72 in growing IAs versus 1.39±0.58 in stable IAs with an area under the curve of 0.85. There was also significantly (P<0.05) higher variability of wall deformation across IA geometry in growing versus stable IAs depicted by the dispersion variables including 121-150% larger standard deviation ([Formula: see text]) and 128-161% wider interquartile range [Formula: see text]. CONCLUSIONS: aFlow-derived quantitative assessment of IA wall motion showed greater wall motion and higher variability of wall deformation in growing versus stable IAs.

Endovascular Thrombectomy Treatment Effect in Direct vs Transferred Patients With Large Ischemic Strokes: A Prespecified Analysis of the SELECT2 Trial.

Importance: Patients with large ischemic core stroke have poor clinical outcomes and are frequently not considered for interfacility transfer for endovascular thrombectomy (EVT). Objective: To assess EVT treatment effects in transferred vs directly presenting patients and to evaluate the association between transfer times and neuroimaging changes with EVT clinical outcomes. Design, Setting, and Participants: This prespecified secondary analysis of the SELECT2 trial, which evaluated EVT vs medical management (MM) in patients with large ischemic stroke, evaluated adults aged 18 to 85 years with acute ischemic stroke due to occlusion of the internal carotid or middle cerebral artery (M1 segment) as well as an Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score (ASPECTS) of 3 to 5, core of 50 mL or greater on imaging, or both. Patients were enrolled between October 2019 and September 2022 from 31 EVT-capable centers in the US, Canada, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. Data were analyzed from August 2023 to January 2024. Interventions: EVT vs MM. Main Outcomes and Measures: Functional outcome, defined as modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score at 90 days with blinded adjudication. Results: A total of 958 patients were screened and 606 patients were excluded. Of 352 enrolled patients, 145 (41.2%) were female, and the median (IQR) age was 66.5 (58-75) years. A total of 211 patients (59.9%) were transfers, while 141 (40.1%) presented directly. The median (IQR) transfer time was 178 (136-230) minutes. The median (IQR) ASPECTS decreased from the referring hospital (5 [4-7]) to an EVT-capable center (4 [3-5]). Thrombectomy treatment effect was observed in both directly presenting patients (adjusted generalized odds ratio [OR], 2.01; 95% CI, 1.42-2.86) and transferred patients (adjusted generalized OR, 1.50; 95% CI, 1.11-2.03) without heterogeneity (P for interaction = .14). Treatment effect point estimates favored EVT among 82 transferred patients with a referral hospital ASPECTS of 5 or less (44 received EVT; adjusted generalized OR, 1.52; 95% CI, 0.89-2.58). ASPECTS loss was associated with numerically worse EVT outcomes (adjusted generalized OR per 1-ASPECTS point loss, 0.89; 95% CI, 0.77-1.02). EVT treatment effect estimates were lower in patients with transfer times of 3 hours or more (adjusted generalized OR, 1.15; 95% CI, 0.73-1.80). Conclusions and Relevance: Both directly presenting and transferred patients with large ischemic stroke in the SELECT2 trial benefited from EVT, including those with low ASPECTS at referring hospitals. However, the association of EVT with better functional outcomes was numerically better in patients presenting directly to EVT-capable centers. Prolonged transfer times and evolution of ischemic change were associated with worse EVT outcomes. These findings emphasize the need for rapid identification of patients suitable for transfer and expedited transport. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03876457.

Variation in US acute ischemic stroke treatment by hospital regions: limited endovascular access despite evidence.

BACKGROUND: Although national organizations recognize the importance of regionalized acute ischemic stroke (AIS) care, data informing expansion are sparse. We assessed real-world regional variation in emergent AIS treatment, including growth in revascularization therapies and stroke center certification. We hypothesized that we would observe overall growth in revascularization therapy utilization, but observed differences would vary greatly regionally. METHODS: A retrospective cross-sectional analysis was carried out of de-identified national inpatient Medicare Fee-for-Service datasets from 2016 to 2019. We identified AIS admissions and treatment with thrombolysis and endovascular thrombectomy (ET) with International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision, Clinical Modification codes. We grouped hospitals in Dartmouth Atlas of Healthcare Hospital Referral Regions (HRR) and calculated hospital, demographic, and acute stroke treatment characteristics for each HRR. We calculated the percent of hospitals with stroke certification and AIS cases treated with thrombolysis or ET per HRR. RESULTS: There were 957 958 AIS admissions. Relative mean (SD) growth in percent of AIS admissions receiving revascularization therapy per HRR from 2016 to 2019 was 13.4 (31.7)% (IQR -6.1-31.7%) for thrombolysis and 28.0 (72.0)% (IQR 0-56.0%) for ET. The proportion of HRRs with decreased or no difference in ET utilization was 38.9% and the proportion of HRRs with decreased or no difference in thrombolysis utilization was 32.7%. Mean (SD) stroke center certification proportion across HRRs was 45.3 (31.5)% and this varied widely (IQR 18.3-73.4%). CONCLUSIONS: Overall growth in AIS treatment has been modest and, within HRRs, growth in AIS treatment and the proportion of centers with stroke certification varies dramatically.