Mechanical Thrombectomy in Medium Vessel Occlusions: Blind Exchange With Mini-Pinning Technique Versus Mini Stent Retriever Alone.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Mechanical thrombectomy techniques for intracranial medium vessel occlusions (MeVOs) have evolved in recent years, although the optimal approach is still unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness and safety of mechanical thrombectomy in MeVOs using mini (0.017 inches microcatheter compatible) stent retrievers combined with low-profile (0.035 inches distal inner diameter) distal aspiration catheters through the blind exchange/mini-pinning (BEMP) technique compared with mini stent retrievers alone. METHODS: Retrospective review of a prospectively maintained database of patients treated with the BEMP technique or mini stent retriever alone for intracranial MeVOs from 2017 to 2020 in a comprehensive stroke center. Both groups were compared about baseline characteristics, occlusion site, clinical presentation, clot cause, procedural outcomes (MeVO first-pass and final expanded Thrombolysis in Cerebral Ischemia score, the mini stent retriever used, number of passes with the front-line approach, and need of rescue therapy), safety outcomes (emboli to unwanted territories and hemorrhagic complications), and clinical outcomes at 90 days. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed with potential predictors of vessel recanalization to find independent variables associated with MeVO first-pass expanded Thrombolysis in Cerebral Ischemia 2c/3 recanalization. RESULTS: We reviewed 102 patients/106 MeVOs treated with the BEMP technique (n=56) or mini stent retriever (n=50). There was a higher rate of MeVO first-pass expanded Thrombolysis in Cerebral Ischemia 2c/3 recanalization (57% versus 34%, P=0.017), lower need of rescue therapy (7.1% versus 22%, P=0.028), and lower rate of emboli to new territory (1.8% versus 12%, P=0.035) and symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (1.9% versus 12.8%, P=0.038) with the BEMP technique. After multivariable analysis, the sole independent factor associated to MeVO first-pass expanded Thrombolysis in Cerebral Ischemia 2c/3 recanalization was the BEMP technique (odds ratio, 2.72 [95% CI, 1.19-6.22]; P=0.018). CONCLUSIONS: In the setting of MeVOs, the BEMP technique may lead to higher rates of the first-pass recanalization and a lower incidence of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage than mini stent retrievers alone.

Emergent Large Vessel Occlusion Screen Is an Ideal Prehospital Scale to Avoid Missing Endovascular Therapy in Acute Stroke.

Background and Purpose- The strong evidence of endovascular therapy in acute ischemic stroke patients with large vessel occlusion (LVO) is revealed. Such patients are required to direct transport to the hospital capable of endovascular therapy. There are several prehospital scales available for paramedics to predict LVO. However, they are time consuming, and several of them include factors caused by other types than LVO. Therefore, we need a fast, simple, and reliable prehospital scale for LVO. Methods- We developed a new prehospital stroke scale, emergent large vessel occlusion (ELVO) screen, for paramedics to predict LVO. The study was prospectively performed by multistroke centers. When paramedics referred to stroke center to accept suspected stroke patients, we obtain the following information over the telephone. ELVO screen was designed focusing on cortical symptoms: 1 observation; presence of eye deviation and 2 questions; paramedics show glasses, what is this? and paramedics show 4 fingers, how many fingers are there? If the presence of eye deviation or ≥1 of the 2 items were incorrect, ELVO screen was identified as positive. We evaluated between results of ELVO screen and presence of LVO on magnetic resonance angiography at hospital arrival. Results- A total of 413 patients (age, 74±13 years; men, 234 [57%]) were enrolled. Diagnosis was ischemic stroke, 271 (66%); brain hemorrhage 73 (18%); subarachnoid hemorrhage, 7 (2%); and not stroke, 62 (15%). One hundred fourteen patients had LVO (internal carotid artery, 33 [29%]; M1, 52 [46%]; M2, 21 [18%]; basilar artery, 5 [4%]; P1, 3 [3%]). Sensitively, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy for ELVO screen to predict LVO were 85%, 72%, 54%, 93% and 76%, respectively. Among 233 patients with negative ELVO screen, only 17 (7%) had LVO, which indicated to be an ideal scale to avoid missing endovascular therapy. Conclusions- The ELVO screen is a simple, fast, and reliable prehospital scale for paramedics to identify stroke patients with LVO for whom endovascular therapy is an effective treatment.

Beyond textbook neuroanatomy: The syndrome of malignant PCA infarction.

Given its limited vascular territory, occlusion of the posterior cerebral artery (PCA) usually does not result in malignant infarction. Challenging this concept, we present 3 cases of unilateral PCA infarction with secondary malignant progression, resulting from extension into what would classically be considered the posterior middle cerebral artery (MCA) territory. Interestingly, these were true PCA infarctions, not "MCA plus" strokes, since the underlying occlusive lesion was in the PCA. We hypothesize that congenital and/or acquired variability in the distribution and extent of territory supplied by the PCA may underlie this rare clinical entity. Patients with a PCA infarction should thus be followed closely and offered early surgical decompression in the event of malignant progression.

Combined thrombolysis in posterior circulation stroke caused by bilateral vertebral artery dissection in squash player.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Growing number of vertebral artery dissection has been detected due to higher awareness and improved imaging techniques, even after seemingly minor head turning in young- or middle-aged adults without predisposing risk factors for cerebrovascular disease. Treatment options for this condition at this time are limited and there is a troubling shortage of controlled studies. SUMMARY OF CASE: Our patient suffered a bilateral vertebral artery dissection complicated by posterior circulation stroke. We decided to treat acute stroke with intravenous thrombolytic therapy. Patient's condition worsened despite the treatment so emergency angiography was performed to assess the arterial patency. Additional dose of recombinant tissue plasminogen activator together with mechanical thrombectomy was administered using intraarterial route. The patient recovered well and at 12-month follow-up visit he had only right marginal incomplete hemianopia. CONCLUSIONS: Vertebral artery dissection should be taken into consideration in differential diagnosis of posterior circulation stroke or TIA in young patients with a history of even as subtle precipitating events as forceful head movements. Combined thrombolytic therapy may provide safe and effective treatment of stroke-complicated cases. This case report shows that expanded diagnostic protocol for acute ischemic stroke, including computed tomography perfusion study and angiography of cervical and cranial vessels, assures rapid and correct diagnosis.

Long-term outcomes in adult patients with ischemic-type moyamoya disease involving posterior circulation.

BACKGROUND: The object of this study was to compare the long-term outcomes in adult patients with moyamoya disease (MMD) with posterior circulation involvement (PCi) treated through surgical revascularization with those in adult patients without PCi. METHODS: The records of 32 consecutive adult patients with ischemic-type MMD who were treated with revascularization were reviewed. Twelve of these patients (38 %) had PCi at initial onset. Clinical characteristics of the patients with PCi were compared to those without PCi. Neurological outcomes were assessed using the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) in the preoperative and postoperative follow-up periods. A five-year Kaplan-Meier stroke risk was calculated. RESULTS: The frequency of presenting with infarction was significantly higher among patients with PCi than among those without PCi (p = 0.006). mRS scores in the preoperative period were significantly higher in patients with PCi than in patients without PCi (p = 0.0004). There were no significant differences in mRS scores between the preoperative and postoperative follow-up period in patients with PCi (p = 0.3), nor were there any between the preoperative and postoperative follow-up periods in patients without PCi (p = 0.2). The five-year Kaplan-Meier risk of surgical morbidity and ipsilateral stroke was 14.3 % in surgically treated hemispheres with PCi versus 14.9 % in surgically treated hemispheres without PCi (p = 0.96). CONCLUSIONS: PCi at initial onset was significantly correlated with poor outcome. Revascularization for the middle cerebral artery territory in patients with PCi was effective at preventing recurrent ischemic stroke.

Rescue thrombolysis in the treatment of cardiac shock and acute stroke.

The patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction are primarily managed with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or thrombolysis. It is well accepted that rescue PCI should be implemented in case of unsuccessful thrombolysis. However, the reverse, rescue thrombolysis, that is, administering of thrombolytic therapy in a patient in whom primary PCI fails, is not well defined. There are no available data about rescue thrombolysis so far. We represent a 43-year-old male patient with Buerger disease (thromboangiitis obliterans) who was admitted to our emergency department for cardiac shock related to inferior and right ventricular ST-elevation myocardial infarction. He was found to have occlusion of both right coronary artery and left anterior descending artery and managed with rescue thrombolysis. It was subsequently recognized that he had concurrent stroke caused by posterior cerebral artery (PCA) occlusion and improved with thrombolysis. It is reported for the first time that rescue thrombolysis has been put into practice and yielded great result after unsuccessful primary PCI.

Decompressive craniectomy in childhood posterior circulation stroke: a case series and review of the literature.

Few reports address the role of decompressive craniectomy in children with space-occupying cerebral edema attributable to severe ischemic infarction of the posterior cerebral arterial circulation. We describe four children with posterior circulation arterial ischemic stroke who required decompressive craniectomy. These children accounted for 11% of all cases of posterior circulation ischemic stroke at our institution from 2002-2010. Three manifested large, cerebellar hemispheric infarcts, and one manifested a large, temporo-occipital posterior cerebral artery infarct. Deterioration occurred within 72 hours of stroke onset. Two patients demonstrated minimal functional deficits at follow-up, and two demonstrated moderate deficits with functional limitations. Because decompressive craniectomy can be lifesaving in children with severe posterior circulation arterial ischemic stroke, early neurosurgical referral should be considered.

Advanced imaging assessment of posterior circulation stroke before and after endovascular intervention.

BACKGROUND: Perfusion-computed tomography (CTP) is a relatively new technique that allows rapid semiquantitative noninvasive evaluation of cerebral perfusion aiding in the diagnosis of cerebral ischemia and infarction. There is a paucity of data on its application within the posterior circulation, especially, the brainstem. We describe a case of basilar artery thrombosis with cerebellar and brainstem CTP mismatch and discuss possible future applications of CTP for acute posterior fossa circulation and infarction. METHODS: Case report. RESULTS: Successful use of CTP to aid in decision to proceed with neurointervention in acute basilar artery occlusion and confirm its resolution after mechanical clot retrieval. CONCLUSION: Perfusion-computed tomography can successfully be used to define cerebral ischemia and infarction within the posterior fossa and aid in decisions to proceed with neurointervention.

Bilateral diffuse intracerebral hemorrhagic infarction after cranioplasty with autologous bone graft.

We present the first case of a bilateral diffuse intracerebral hemorrhagic infarction following cranioplasty using an autologous bone graft. The case is that of a 63-year-old man who had undergone previous decompressive craniectomy due to right middle cerebral artery and posterior cerebral artery territory infarction. In order to avoid this extremely rare complication, the possible pathogenic mechanism underlying the deleterious cascade following cranioplasty is discussed.

Neurology case studies: cerebrovascular disease.

Data from randomized therapeutic trials often provide little relevant evidence for therapeutic decisions physicians make daily. By illustrating the nuances of these four complex cases involving cerebrovascular disease, the authors stress the importance of more time spent by specialists at the bed-side, exploring patients' symptoms and learning their thoughts, fears, biases, and wishes.

Construction of a new posterior communicating artery in a patient with poor posterior fossa circulation: technical case report.

OBJECTIVE AND IMPORTANCE: The carotid and the vertebrobasilar circulation were connected, effectively creating a new posterior communicating artery (PComA). The excimer laser-assisted nonocclusive anastomosis technique is a new anastomosis technique whereby formerly untreatable patients may be treated with an intracranial artery-to-intracranial artery bypass procedure. This report is the first one in which an angiographically proved patent internal carotid artery-posterior cerebral artery segment P1 bypass is presented. CLINICAL PRESENTATION: Our patient presented with repeated episodes of vertebrobasilar ischemia because of vertebral artery occlusion and stenosis. INTERVENTION: An internal carotid artery-posterior cerebral artery segment P1 bypass procedure was performed. Because the patient experienced transient ischemia in the left cerebral hemisphere at the end of postoperative angiography procedure, no radiological intervention was performed, and the patient refused to undergo a new radiological intervention at a later stage. TECHNIQUES: Both anastomoses were made using the excimer laser-assisted nonocclusive anastomosis technique. CONCLUSION: Intraoperative flowmetry was performed using an ultrasound flowmeter, which disclosed blood flow of 35 ml/min through the bypass. We hope that this new PComA suffices to protect the patient from infarction in the territory of the vertebrobasilar circulation.