Influencing factors of futile recanalization after endovascular intervention in patients with acute basilar artery occlusion. / æ€¥æ€§åŸºåº•åŠ¨è„‰é—­å¡žæ‚£è€ è¡€ç®¡å† æ²»ç–—åŽå‘ç”Ÿæ— æ•ˆå†é€šçš„å½±å“å› ç´ .

OBJECTIVES: To explore the influence factors for futile recanalization following endovascular treatment (EVT) in patients with acute basilar artery occlusion (BAO). METHODS: Clinical data of patients with acute BAO, who underwent endovascular treatment within 24 h of onset from January 2017 to November 2022, were retrospectively analyzed. The futile recanalization was defined as modified thrombolysis in cerebral infarction (mTICI) grade ≥2b or 3 after successful reperfusion, but the modified Rankin Scale score >2 at 3 months after EVT. Binary logistic regression model was used to analyze the influencing factors of futile recanalization. RESULTS: A total of 471 patients with a median age of 68 (57, 74) years were included and 68.9% were males, among whom 298 (63.27%) experienced futile recanalization. Multivariate analysis revealed that concomitant atrial fibrillation (OR=0.456, 95%CI: 0.282-0.737, P<0.01), bridging thrombolysis (OR=0.640, 95%CI: 0.416-0.985, P<0.05), achieving mTICI grade 3 (OR=0.554, 95%CI: 0.334-0.918, P<0.05), arterial occlusive lesion (AOL) grade 3 (OR=0.521, 95%CI: 0.326-0.834, P<0.01), and early postoperative statin therapy (OR=0.509, 95%CI: 0.273-0.948, P<0.05) were protective factors for futile recanalization after EVT in acute BAO patients. High baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score (OR=1.068, 95%CI: 1.049-1.087, P<0.01), coexisting hypertension (OR=1.571, 95%CI: 1.017-2.427, P<0.05), multiple retrieval attempts (OR=1.237, 95%CI: 1.029-1.488, P<0.05) and postoperative hemorrhagic transformation (OR=8.497, 95%CI: 2.879-25.076, P<0.01) were risk factors. For trial of ORG 10172 in acute stroke treatment (TOAST) classification, cardiogenic embolism (OR=0.321, 95%CI: 0.193-0.534, P<0.01) and other types (OR=0.499, 95%CI: 0.260-0.961, P<0.05) were related to lower incidence of futile recanalization. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of futile recanalization after EVT in patients with acute BAO is high. Bridging venous thrombolysis before operation and an early postoperative statin therapy may reduce the incidence of futile recanalization.

Contemporary outcomes of surgical decompression for functional popliteal entrapment syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Functional popliteal entrapment syndrome (FPES) is an under-recognized source of leg pain caused by dynamic compression of the popliteal vessels by surrounding musculature in the absence of anatomic abnormality. Late recognition and difficulty capturing this entity across imaging modalities can lead to significant morbidity in an often young and active patient population. Surgical outcomes and optimal diagnostic strategies remain uncertain. METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort study of all patients undergoing surgical decompression for FPES at an academic medical center between 2018 and 2022. Preoperative symptoms, patient characteristics, imaging, operative details, and follow-up were captured. The primary outcome was symptomatic improvement at last clinic visit. Secondary outcomes included symptomatic improvement at 6 months and postoperative complications. RESULTS: A total of 24 extremities (16 patients) were included. The mean ± standard deviation age was 23.3 ± 6.4 years and 75.0% of patients were female. The median symptom duration before decompression was 27 months (interquartile range, 10.7-74.6 months). Preoperative symptom severity in the affected extremity was as follows: 33.3% limited from peak exercise, 25% unable to exercise, and 41.7% with debilitating symptoms that affected activities of daily living. Preoperative imaging with provocative maneuvers included duplex ultrasound (87.5%), magnetic resonance angiography (100%), and digital subtraction angiography (100%). Using digital subtraction angiography as the gold standard, the sensitivity for detection of FPES was 85.7% for duplex examination and 58.3% for magnetic resonance angiography. The median follow-up was 451 days (interquartile range, 281-635 days). Most patients demonstrated durable improvement in the affected extremity, with 29.2% realizing complete resolution of symptoms and 37.5% reporting symptomatic improvement at last clinic visit for a total of 66.7%; 20.8% had initial improvement, but developed recurrent symptoms and were found to have elevated compartment pressures consistent with chronic exertional compartment syndrome and were treated with formal fasciotomy. Repeat decompression was required in one extremity (4.2%) owing to recurrent symptoms. Two patients (8.3%) had minimal or no improvement in their affected extremity and workup for the cause of continued discomfort was ongoing. CONCLUSIONS: Delays in diagnosis of FPES are common. Provocative maneuvers until replication of symptoms across multiple imaging modalities may be necessary to reliably identify the disease process. Surgical decompression improved or completely resolved symptoms in two-thirds of extremities. Treating physicians should maintain suspicion for comorbid chronic exertional compartment syndrome, especially if symptoms recur or persist after decompression.

Distal Radial Access for Coronary Procedures in a Large Prospective Multicenter Registry: The KODRA Trial.

BACKGROUND: Distal radial access (DRA) as an alternative access route lacks evidence, despite its recent reputation. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and feasibility of DRA on the basis of daily practice. METHODS: The KODRA (Korean Prospective Registry for Evaluating the Safety and Efficacy of Distal Radial Approach) trial was a prospective multicenter registry conducted at 14 hospitals between September 2019 and September 2021. The primary endpoints were the success rates of coronary angiography (CAG) and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The secondary endpoints included successful distal radial artery puncture, access-site crossover, access site-related complications, bleeding events, and predictors of puncture failure. RESULTS: A total of 4,977 among 5,712 screened patients were recruited after the exclusion of 735 patients. The primary endpoints, the success rates of CAG and PCI via DRA, were 100% and 98.8%, respectively, among successful punctures of the distal radial artery (94.4%). Access-site crossover occurred in 333 patients (6.7%). The rates of distal radial artery occlusion and radial artery occlusion by palpation were 0.8% (36 of 4,340) and 0.8% (33 of 4,340) at 1-month follow-up. DRA-related bleeding events were observed in 3.3% of patients, without serious hematoma. Multilevel logistic regression analysis identified weak pulse (OR: 9.994; 95% CI: 7.252-13.774) and DRA experience <100 cases (OR: 2.187; 95% CI: 1.383-3.456) as predictors of puncture failure. CONCLUSIONS: In this large-scale prospective multicenter registry, DRA demonstrated high success rates of CAG and PCI, with a high rate of puncture success but low rates of distal radial artery occlusion, radial artery occlusion, bleeding events, and procedure-related complications. Weak pulse and DRA experience <100 cases were predictors of puncture failure. (Korean Prospective Registry for Evaluating the Safety and Efficacy of Distal Radial Approach [KODRA]; NCT04080700).

Effects and safety of endovascular recanalization for non-acute symptomatic intracranial vertebral artery occlusion with different risks.

There is no consensus on the optimal treatment for non-acute symptomatic intracranial vertebral artery occlusion, and endovascular recanalization is a challenging procedure. We report our clinical experience of endovascular recanalization in patients with non-acute symptomatic intracranial vertebral artery occlusion to assess the feasibility and safety of endovascular recanalization and determine the candidate patients for this procedure. Ninety-two patients with non-acute symptomatic intracranial vertebral artery occlusion who underwent endovascular recanalization from January 2019 to December 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. we grouped all patients according to imaging examination findings, occlusion length, duration, nature, calcification, and angulation to evaluate the risk of endovascular recanalization. The overall success rate of endovascular recanalization was 83.7% (77/92), and the perioperative complication rate was 10.9% (10/92). Among the 3 classification groups, the recanalization success rate gradually decreased from the low-risk group to the high-risk group (low-risk: 100%, medium-risk: 93.3%, high-risk group: 27.8%, P = .047), while the overall perioperative complication rate showed the opposite trend (0%, 10.0%, 38.9%, respectively, P = .001); the proportion of patients with 90-day modified Rankin Scale scores of 0-2 decreased successively (100%, 83.3%, and 22.2%, respectively, P < .026); 77 patients with successful recanalization were followed; the rate of restenosis/reocclusion increased sequentially (0%, 17.9%, and 80%, respectively, P = .000). Patients in the low- and medium-risk groups showed a good clinical course after endovascular recanalization. Among 88 patients (four patients lost to follow-up), with a median clinical follow-up of 13 months (interquartile range », 7-16), the rate of stroke or death after 30 days was 17.4% (16/92). Endovascular recanalization is safe and feasible for low- and medium-risk patients with non-acute symptomatic intracranial vertebral artery occlusion; it is also an alternative to conservative therapy for the patients.

Unilateral upper and lower limb ischemia mimics stroke: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Although stroke and acute limb ischemia seem easily distinguishable by anamnesis and physical examination, symptoms may overlap and sometimes mislead the examiner. Such a situation can arise in the occurrence of unilateral neurological symptoms affecting the upper and lower limbs at the same time. As timely diagnosis and a correct therapeutic intervention are crucial to prevent irreversible damage in both diseases, knowledge of the possibility of one disease mimicking the other is essential. We present a unique case of acute unilateral upper and lower limb ischemia mimicking an acute stroke. CASE PRESENTATION: A 69-year-old Caucasian patient with known atherosclerotic risk factors was admitted to the emergency department with a suspected stroke with unilateral paresthesia. After a comprehensive examination of the patient with the need for repeated reevaluation and a negative brain computed tomography scan, acute left-sided upper and lower limb ischemia was eventually diagnosed. The patient underwent surgical revascularization of the upper and lower limbs with a satisfactory result and was discharged from the hospital after a few days. CONCLUSION: It is of utmost importance to always stay alert for stroke mimics, as overlooking can lead to severe complications and delay adequate therapy. Our case shows that persistent diagnostic effort leads to successful treatment of the patient even on rare occasions, as is the acute unilateral upper and lower limb ischemia.

The morphology of occlusion stump for endovascular recanalization in non-acute vertebral ostial occlusion.

PURPOSE: Non-acute vertebral ostial occlusion (VOO) is a debilitating condition with significant mortality and morbidity rates. However, currently, there is no consensus on the optimal treatment strategy for VOO. This study aims to examine the feasibility, effectiveness, and safety of endovascular recanalization in patients with VOO. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of data from 21 consecutive patients with VOO who underwent endovascular recanalization between May 2018 and August 2023. The patients were divided into two groups based on a new angiographic classification proposed by Gao et al. Type I (tapered stump group) included patients with non-acute extracranial vertebral artery ostial occlusion presenting a tapered occlusion stump. Type II (nontapered stump group) consisted of patients with a nontapered occlusion stump. We collected data on recanalization rates, perioperative complications, and follow-up outcomes. RESULTS: Our analysis included data from a total of 21 patients (22 lesions) with a mean age of 64.6 ± 10.6 years. The technical success rate was 66.7 % (14/21), and the rate of periprocedural complications was 14.3 % (3/21). The success rate of transitioning from the tapered stump group to the nontapered stump group was 90.9 % (10/11) and 40 % (4/10), respectively (P = 0.024). The perioperative complication rate for type I and type II patients was 18.2 % (2/11) and 10 % (1/10), respectively. Among these patients, 18 cases underwent endovascular recanalization using transfemoral access, while 3 patients underwent transradial access after failed transfemoral access, with successful outcomes for two patients. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that endovascular recanalization may offer a safe, effective, and feasible treatment option for VOO patients. Additionally, the proposed angiographic classification may serve as a useful guide in selecting suitable candidates for surgery.

White matter hyperintensity burden and collateral circulation in acute ischemic stroke with large artery occlusion.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the association between white matter hyperintensity (WMH) burden and pial collaterals in acute strokes caused by intracranial large artery occlusion treated with mechanical thrombectomy in the anterior circulation, focusing on stroke subtypes. METHODS: Consecutive patients undergoing mechanical thrombectomy between December 2019 and June 2022 were retrospectively screened. The Fazekas scale assessed WMH burden. Pial collaterals were categorized as either poor (0-2) or good (3-4) based on the Higashida score. A multivariable analysis was used to determine the relationship between WMH burden and pial collaterals. Subgroup analyses delved into associations stratified by stroke subtypes, namely cardioembolism (CE), tandem lesions (TLs), and intracranial atherosclerosis (ICAS). RESULTS: Of the 573 patients included, 274 (47.8%) demonstrated poor pial collaterals. Multivariable regression indicated a strong association between extensive WMH burden (Fazekas score of 3-6) and poor collaterals [adjusted OR 3.04, 95% CI 1.70-5.46, P < 0.001]. Additional independent predictors of poor collaterals encompassed ICAS-related occlusion (aOR 0.26, 95% CI 0.09-0.76, P = 0.014), female sex (aOR 0.63, 95% CI 0.41-0.96, P = 0.031), and baseline Alberta Stroke Program Early Computed Tomography scores (aOR 0.80, 95% CI 0.74-0.88, P < 0.001). Notably, an interaction between extensive WMH burden and stroke subtypes was observed in predicting poor collaterals (P = 0.001), being pronounced for CE (adjusted OR 2.30, 95% CI 1.21-4.37) and TLs (adjusted OR 5.09, 95% CI 2.32-11.16), but was absent in ICAS (adjusted OR 1.24, 95% CI 0.65-2.36). CONCLUSIONS: Among patients treated with mechanical thrombectomy for anterior circulation large artery occlusion, extensive WMH burden correlates with poor pial collaterals in embolic occlusion cases (CE and TLs), but not in ICAS-related occlusion.

Case of postoperative mitral and tricuspid valve repair with large vessel occlusion ischaemic stroke: successfully treated with mechanical thrombectomy extracting subocclusive thrombus containing foreign material.

A woman in her 60s with a history of prior ischaemic stroke developed acute onset slurring of speech, left-sided facial droop and left-sided weakness and was found on CT angiography to have a subocclusive thrombus multiple days after undergoing mitral and tricuspid valve repair surgery. A stent retriever and aspiration catheter were used to successfully remove the subocclusive material which was identified as 'foreign material' on histology. Ultimately, the patient demonstrated clinical improvement.Foreign material embolism is a rare but serious complication that can occur during or after mitral and tricuspid valve repair surgery. It can cause ischaemic stroke and prompt recognition and immediate intervention are necessary to prevent serious complications.The case report highlights the successful use of stent retriever-mediated suction thrombectomy to remove a foreign material embolism in a patient. It emphasises the importance of timely intervention to prevent serious complications and shows the potential benefits of this technique.

Real-world safety and efficacy endovascular treatment versus standard medical treatment for basilar artery occlusion: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: We acknowledge that between endovascular treatment (EVT) has emerged as a promising therapeutic approach, with some evidence of benefits observed in clinical trials. However, there remains a significant gap in the evidence regarding the real-world application and effectiveness of EVT.The objective of this study was to comprehensively evaluate the safety and efficacy differences between EVT and standard medical treatment (SMT) in patients with basilar artery occlusion(BAO). METHODS: Real-world studies (RWSs) on patients with BAO who underwent EVT and SMT were identified through searches in EMBASE, PubMed, and Cochrane Library databases. The efficacy outcomes included good clinical outcomes [defined as modified Rankin Scale (mRS) scores of 0-3 at 90 days], excellence clinical outcomes (defined as mRS scores of 0-2 at 90 days), 90-day mortality rate, and reperfusion status. The safety outcome was symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH). Subgroup analysis was conducted based on study type (prospective and retrospective studies). The relationship between EVT and SMT with the prognosis of BAO patients was expressed using odds ratios (OR) with a 95% confidence interval (95% CI). RESULTS: The seven studies involved a total of 2885 patients. After conducting sensitivity analysis and excluding articles with high heterogeneity, EVT demonstrated a significant association with good clinical outcomes at 90 days (OR=4.01, 95% CI: 2.60-6.19) and excellence clinical outcomes at 90 days (OR=5.70, 95% CI: 3.18-10.22) compared to SMT. Additionally, EVT showed a lower correlation with 90-day mortality rate compared to the SMT group (OR=0.35, 95% CI: 0.25-0.47). Subgroup analysis based on study type revealed that EVT had higher rates of successful reperfusion (retrospective study group: OR=7.97, 95% CI: 4.83-13.15; prospective study group: OR=51.57, 95% CI: 29.76-89.38) than the SMT group in both subgroups. The presence of sICH was not statistically significant in the retrospective study group (OR=1.20, 95% CI: 0.58-2.48) and showed high heterogeneity. However, in the prospective study group, EVT exhibited a higher risk of bleeding compared to SMT (OR=11.42, 95% CI: 2.65-49.20). CONCLUSIONS: In summary, our real-world study aligns with the conclusions of recently published randomized controlled trials research. When comparing EVT and SMT in the treatment of BAO, EVT shows a higher correlation with favorable clinical outcomes, higher rates of successful reperfusion, and lower mortality rates. However, it does come with an increased risk of sICH.

Transient Hemichorea-hemiballism Induced by a Combination of Postprandial Hypotension and Severe Stenosis of the Innominate Artery Concomitant with Left Carotid Occlusion.

Hemichorea-hemiballism (HCHB) due to transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) is rare. An 83-year-old woman had repeated episodes of right-sided HCHB for 3 months. Magnetic resonance (MR) angiography demonstrated occlusion of the left carotid and middle cerebral arteries and severe stenosis of the innominate artery, and 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring showed a blood pressure decrease of >20 mmHg after each meal. We speculated that HCHB developed as TIAs due to hemodynamic failure in the left cerebral hemisphere, caused by a combination of severe stenosis of the innominate artery concomitant with occlusion of the left carotid and middle cerebral arteries as well as postprandial hypotension.

Revascularization of arterial occlusions in posterior circulation acute ischemic stroke.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This review highlights the latest advancements achieved in the revascularization of arterial occlusions associated with an acute ischemic stroke affecting the posterior circulation. It delves into the frequency and outcomes based on specific arterial segments and presents current evidence supporting revascularization treatments, including intravenous thrombolysis and endovascular thrombectomy. RECENT FINDINGS: Comprehensive evidence for treatment across major arterial segments of the posterior circulation -- vertebral artery, basilar artery, posterior cerebral artery, cerebellar arteries, and multilevel posterior occlusions -- is provided. Additionally, the latest findings from randomized clinical trials on basilar artery occlusion are explored alongside results from extensive retrospective analyses of isolated vertebral and posterior cerebral artery occlusions. SUMMARY: Current research supports the treatment decision in acute ischemic strokes of the posterior circulation using both intravenous thrombolysis and endovascular thrombectomy. This review also emphasizes existing knowledge gaps in the management of these strokes and advocates for more randomized clinical trials, notably concerning the posterior cerebral artery (currently ongoing), isolated vertebral artery, and multilevel posterior circulation occlusions.

Endovascular Treatment in Precommunicating Segment Aneurysms of Posterior Cerebral Artery.

BACKGROUND: Precommunicating (P1) segment aneurysms of the posterior cerebral artery are rare, with few studies reported to date. Herein, we address the clinical and radiologic outcomes of their endovascular treatment. METHODS: For this study, we retrieved prospectively collected data on 35 consecutive patients with 37 P1 aneurysms, analyzing the clinical ramifications and morphologic outcomes of treatment. All subjects received endovascular interventions between January 2001 and October 2021. RESULTS: There were 16 aneurysms (43.2%) of P1 segment sidewalls and 21 (56.8%) at P1/posterior communicating artery junctions. Five (13.5%) were fusiform, and 14 (37.8%) were ruptured. In 14 patients (40%), 16 aneurysms (43%) were associated with intracranial arterial occlusive disease of the anterior circulation. Selective coiling was undertaken in 34 aneurysms (91.9%), using single (n = 24) or double (n = 4) microcatheters, microcatheter protection (n = 2), or stents (n = 4); and trapping was done in 3 (8.1%). No procedure-related morbidity or mortality resulted. Excluding the trapped lesions, angiographic follow-up of 29 aneurysms obtained >6 months after embolization (mean, 12.4 month) revealed stable occlusion in 21 (72.4%), with some recanalization in the other 8 (minor: 3/29, 10.4%; major: 5/29, 17.2%). CONCLUSIONS: Aneurysms of P1 segment (vs. other locations) are strongly associated with intracranial arterial occlusive disease of the anterior circulation and thus are likely flow related. Endovascular treatment of such lesions seems safe and efficacious, despite the array of technical strategies that their distinctive anatomic configurations impose.

Safety and efficacy of kidney transplantation in patients with aortoiliac stenosis: a retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: The impact of aortoiliac occlusive disease on kidney transplantation remains unclear. This study aims to investigate the clinical outcomes of kidney transplant patients with aortoiliac atherosclerotic stenosis. METHODS: Retrospective data from our transplant center were used to identify patients undergoing kidney transplantation between January 2010 and December 2020. Aortoiliac atherosclerotic stenosis was screened and stratified by the Trans-Atlantic Inter-Society Consensus (TASC) II classification. The primary outcome was patient survival. Secondary outcomes were 90-day mortality, death-censored graft survival, graft function, and arterial complications. Propensity score matching was used to match all patients in the stenosis group with patients without stenosis sharing similar characteristics. RESULTS: The analysis included 655 patients, 524 without stenosis and 131 with aortoiliac stenosis (95 with TASC A/B stenosis and 36 with TASC C/D stenosis). Recipient age [median (IQR), 66 (60-70) vs. 66 (59-71) years; P =0.47], sex [male: 87 (66%) vs. 355 (68%), P =0.85], and comorbidities were comparable between the stenosis and no-stenosis groups. Forty-six (35%) patients with stenosis were symptomatic. Patient survival was significantly lower in the stenosis group compared with the no-stenosis group (TASC A/B: 30.6% vs. no-stenosis: 44.1%, P =0.013; TASC C/D: 11.4% vs. no-stenosis: 44.1%, P <0.001). The incidence rates of artery dissection, lower extremity ischemia, and acute thrombosis were significantly higher in the stenosis group ( P <0.001). However, death-censored graft survival (TASC A/B: 73.6% vs. no-stenosis: 72.9%, P =0.62; TASC C/D: 58.1% vs. no-stenosis: 72.9%, P =0.16) and graft function were comparable between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Aortoiliac atherosclerotic stenosis significantly impacts patient survival but not graft survival. Our analyses suggest that patients with TASC A/B stenosis have prolonged survival and enhanced quality of life through kidney transplantation. However, for patients with TASC C/D stenosis, kidney transplantation improves quality of life without bringing survival benefits.

Evaluation of mechanical thrombectomy in acute ischemic stroke related to a distal arterial occlusion: A randomized controlled trial.

RATIONALE: Mechanical thrombectomy (MT) associated with the best medical treatment (BMT) has recently shown efficacy for the management of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) secondary to a large vessel occlusion. However, evidence is lacking regarding the benefit of MT for more distal occlusions. AIM: To evaluate the efficacy in terms of good clinical outcome at 3 months of MT associated with the BMT over the BMT alone in AIS related to a distal occlusion. METHODS: The DISCOUNT trial is a multicenter open-label randomized controlled trial involving French University hospitals. Adult patients (⩾18 years) with an AIS involving the anterior or posterior circulation secondary to a distal vessel occlusion within 6 h of symptom onset or within 24 h if no hyperintense signal on fluid attenuation inversion recovery acquisition will be randomized 1:1 to receive either MT associated with the BMT (experimental group) or BMT alone (control group). The number of patients to be included is 488. STUDY OUTCOMES: The primary outcome is the rate of good clinical outcome at 3 months defined as a modified Rankin scale (mRS) ⩽2 and evaluated by an independent assessor blinded to the intervention arm. Secondary outcomes include recanalization of the occluded vessel within 48 h, angiographic reperfusion in the experimental group, 3-month excellent clinical outcome (mRS ⩽ 1), all adverse events, and death. A cost utility analysis will estimate the incremental cost per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) gained. DISCUSSION: If positive, this study will open new insights in the management of AISs. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT05030142 registered on 1 September 2021.

Clinical outcome after thrombectomy in patients with MeVO stroke: importance of clinical and technical factors.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Whereas high-level evidence has been proven for safety and efficacy of endovascular treatment (EVT) in large vessel occlusion (LVO) stroke, the evidence for EVT in medium vessel occlusion (MeVO) in both sexes and different age groupremains to be answered. The aim of this study was to evaluate the importance of clinical and technical parameters, focusing on sex, age and EVT procedural factors, on functional outcome in primary MeVO (pMeVO) strokes. METHODS: 144 patients with pMeVO in the MCA territory from the Oslo Acute Reperfusion Stroke Study (OSCAR) were included. Clinical and radiological data were collected including 90-day mRS follow-up. RESULTS: Successful reperfusion with modified thrombolysis in cerebral infarction (mTICI) ≥ 2b was achieved in 123 patients (84%). Good functional outcome (mRS ≤ 2) at 90-day follow-up was achieved in 84 patients (61.8%). Two or more passes with stent retriever was associated with increased risk of SAH, poor mTICI and poor functional outcome. In average, women had 62 min longer ictus to recanalization time compared to men. Age over 80 years was significantly associated with poor outcome and death. CONCLUSION: In pMeVO patients, TICI score and number of passes with stent retriever were the main technical factors predicting mRS ≤ 2. Good clinical outcome occurred almost twice as often in patients under 80 years of age compared to patients over 80 years. Women with MeVO strokes had significant longer time from ictus to recanalization; however, this did not affect the clinical outcome.

Endovascular Treatment for Acute Isolated Internal Carotid Artery Occlusion : A Propensity Score Matched Multicenter Study.

PURPOSE: The benefit of endovascular treatment (EVT) in patients with acute symptomatic isolated occlusion of the internal carotid artery (ICA) without involvement of the middle and anterior cerebral arteries is unclear. We aimed to compare clinical and safety outcomes of best medical treatment (BMT) versus EVT + BMT in patients with stroke due to isolated ICA occlusion. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective multicenter study involving patients with isolated ICA occlusion between January 2016 and December 2020. We stratified patients by BMT versus EVT and matched the groups using propensity score matching (PSM). We assessed the effect of treatment strategy on favorable outcome (modified Rankin scale ≤ 2) 90 days after treatment and compared reduction in NIHSS score at discharge, rates of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH) and 3­month mortality. RESULTS: In total, we included 149 patients with isolated ICA occlusion. To address imbalances, we matched 45 patients from each group using PSM. The rate of favorable outcomes at 90 days was 56% for EVT and 38% for BMT (odds ratio, OR 1.89, 95% confidence interval, CI 0.84-4.24; p = 0.12). Patients treated with EVT showed a median reduction in NIHSS score at discharge of 6 points compared to 1 point for BMT patients (p = 0.02). Rates of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (7% vs. 4%; p = 0.66) and 3­month mortality (11% vs. 13%; p = 0.74) did not differ between treatment groups. Periprocedural complications of EVT with early neurological deterioration occurred in 7% of cases. CONCLUSION: Although the benefit on functional outcome did not reach statistical significance, the results for NIHSS score improvement, and safety support the use of EVT in patients with stroke due to isolated ICA occlusion.

Pretreatment parameters associated with hemorrhagic transformation among successfully recanalized medium vessel occlusions.

Although pretreatment radiographic biomarkers are well established for hemorrhagic transformation (HT) following successful mechanical thrombectomy (MT) in large vessel occlusion (LVO) strokes, they are yet to be explored for medium vessel occlusion (MeVO) acute ischemic strokes. We aim to investigate pretreatment imaging biomarkers representative of collateral status, namely the hypoperfusion intensity ratio (HIR) and cerebral blood volume (CBV) index, and their association with HT in successfully recanalized MeVOs. A prospectively collected registry of acute ischemic stroke patients with MeVOs successfully recanalized with MT between 2019 and 2023 was retrospectively reviewed. A multivariate logistic regression for HT of any subtype was derived by combining significant univariate predictors into a forward stepwise regression with minimization of Akaike information criterion. Of 60 MeVO patients successfully recanalized with MT, HT occurred in 28.3% of patients. Independent factors for HT included: diabetes mellitus history (p = 0.0005), CBV index (p = 0.0071), and proximal versus distal occlusion location (p = 0.0062). A multivariate model with these factors had strong diagnostic performance for predicting HT (area under curve [AUC] 0.93, p < 0.001). Lower CBV indexes, distal occlusion location, and diabetes history are significantly associated with HT in MeVOs successfully recanalized with MT. Of note, HIR was not found to be significantly associated with HT.

Combined Technique for Internal Carotid Artery Terminus or Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusions in the ASTER2 Trial.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to report the results of a subgroup analysis of the ASTER2 trial (Effect of Thrombectomy With Combined Contact Aspiration and Stent Retriever vs Stent Retriever Alone on Revascularization in Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke and Large Vessel Occlusion) comparing the safety and efficacy of the combined technique (CoT) and stent retriever as a first-line approach in internal carotid artery (ICA) terminus±M1-middle cerebral artery (M1-MCA) and isolated M1-MCA occlusions. METHODS: Patients enrolled in the ASTER2 trial with ICA terminus±M1-MCA and isolated M1-MCA occlusions were included in this subgroup analysis. The effect of first-line CoT versus stent retriever according to the occlusion site was assessed on angiographic (first-pass effect, expanded Treatment in Cerebral Infarction score ≥2b50, and expanded Treatment in Cerebral Infarction score ≥2c grades at the end of the first-line strategy and at the end of the procedure) and clinicoradiological outcomes (24-hour National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale, ECASS-III [European Cooperative Acute Stroke Study] grades, and 3-month modified Rankin Scale). RESULTS: Three hundred sixty-two patients were included in the postsubgroup analysis according to the occlusion site: 299 were treated for isolated M1-MCA occlusion (150 with first-line CoT) and 63 were treated for ICA terminus±M1-MCA occlusion (30 with first-line CoT). Expanded Treatment in Cerebral Infarction score ≥2b50 (odds ratio, 11.83 [95% CI, 2.32-60.12]) and expanded Treatment in Cerebral Infarction score ≥2c (odds ratio, 4.09 [95% CI, 1.39-11.94]) were significantly higher in first-line CoT compared with first-line stent retriever in patients with ICA terminus±M1-MCA occlusion but not in patients with isolated M1-MCA. CONCLUSIONS: First-line CoT was associated with higher reperfusion grades in patients with ICA terminus±M1-MCA at the end of the procedure. REGISTRATION: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT03290885.

Role of temporary arterial occlusion in subarachnoid hemorrhage outcomes: a prospective cohort study.

PURPOSE: Temporary arterial occlusion (TAO) is a widespread practice in the surgical treatment of intracranial aneurysms. This study aimed to investigate TAO's role during ruptured aneurysm clipping as an independent prognostic factor on short- and long-term outcomes. METHODS: This prospective cohort included 180 patients with ruptured intracranial aneurysms and an indication of microsurgical treatment. Patients who died in the first 12 hours after admission were excluded. RESULTS: TAO was associated with intraoperative rupture (IOR) (odds ratio - OR = 10.54; 95% confidence interval - 95%CI 4.72-23.55; p < 0.001) and surgical complications (OR = 2.14; 95%CI 1.11-4.07; p = 0.01). The group with TAO and IOR had no significant difference in clinical (p = 0.06) and surgical (p = 0.94) complications compared to the group that had TAO, but no IOR. Among the 111 patients followed six months after treatment, IOR, number of occlusions, and total time of occlusion were not associated with Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) in the follow-up (respectively, p = 0.18, p = 0.30, and p = 0.73). Among patients who underwent TAO, IOR was also not associated with GOS in the follow-up (p = 0.29). CONCLUSIONS: TAO was associated with IOR and surgical complications, being the latter independent of IOR occurrence. In long-term analysis, neither TAO nor IOR were associated with poor clinical outcomes.

Sudden bilateral deafness in a patient with vertebrobasilar artery occlusion: A case report.

RATIONALE: Sudden bilateral deafness is often associated with serious systematic conditions such as neoplasms, vascular events, autoimmune diseases, infections, and iatrogenic injury, but very rarely to cerebrovascular disease. This is a rare case of sudden bilateral deafness in a patient with the vertebrobasilar artery occlusion. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 46-year-old man was admitted to a local hospital for sudden bilateral deafness, the patient suffered inarticulate speech and walking unsteadily 6 days later. DIAGNOSES: Difusion-weighted magnetic resonance imagin demonstrated acute cerebral infarction in the pons and bilateral cerebellum; Magnetic resonance angiography showed vertebrobasilar artery occlusion. INTERVENTIONS: Aspirin and clopidogrel were given for antiplatelet therapy, revascularization was obtained by endovascular treatment. OUTCOMES: The symptoms of dysarthria, ataxia and weakness gradually improved and were discharged 14 days after admission revascularization. After 3 months telephone followed-up the patient was self-cared. LESSONS: Deafness sometimes can be an early warning sign of impending vertebrobasilar ischemic stroke. Early recognition of deafness with acute ischemic stroke should allow special management, and misdiagnosis may result in significant morbidity, or even mortality.