scholarly journals P.190 Choosing Endovascular Treatment or Thrombolysis in Patients with Pre-stroke Comorbidities: UNMASK EVT, a Worldwide Survey

Author(s):  
A Ganesh ◽  
N Kashani ◽  
JM Ospel ◽  
AT Wilson ◽  
MM Foss ◽  
...  

Background: Decisions to treat large-vessel occlusion with endovascular therapy(EVT) or intravenous alteplase depend on how physicians weigh benefits against risks when considering patients’ pre-stroke comorbidities. Methods: In an international survey, experts chose treatment approaches under current resources and under assumed ideal conditions for 10 of 22 randomly assigned case-scenarios. Five included comorbidities(metastatic/non-metastatic cancer, cardiac/respiratory/renal disease, non-disabling/mild cognitive impairment[MCI], physical dependence). We examined scenario/respondent characteristics associated with EVT/alteplase decisions using multivariable logistic regressions. Results: Among 607 physicians(38 countries), EVT was favoured in 1,097/1,379(79.6%) responses for comorbidity-related scenarios under current resources versus 1,510/1,657(91.1%,OR:0.38, 95%CI.0.31-0.47) for six “level-1A” scenarios (assuming ideal conditions:82.7% vs 95.1%,OR:0.25,0.19-0.33). However, this was reversed on including all other scenarios(e.g. under current resources:3,489/4,691[74.4%], OR:1.34,1.17-1.54). Responses favouring alteplase for comorbidity-related(e.g.75.0% under current resources) scenarios were comparable to level-1A scenarios(72.2%) and higher than all others(60.4%). No comorbidity-related factor independently diminished EVT-odds. MCI and dependence carried higher alteplase-odds; cancer and cardiac/respiratory/renal disease had lower odds. Relevant respondent characteristics included performing more EVT cases/year (higher EVT, lower alteplase-odds), practicing in East-Asia (higher EVT-odds), and in interventional neuroradiology(lower alteplase-odds vs neurology). Conclusions: Moderate-to-severe comorbidities did not consistently deter experts from EVT, suggesting equipoise about withholding EVT based on comorbidities. However, alteplase was often foregone when respondents chose EVT.

Author(s):  
Aravind Ganesh ◽  
Nima Kashani ◽  
Johanna M. Ospel ◽  
Alexis T. Wilson ◽  
Mona M. Foss ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT: Objective: Decisions to treat large-vessel occlusion with endovascular therapy (EVT) or intravenous alteplase depend on how physicians weigh benefits against risks when considering patients’ comorbidities. We explored EVT/alteplase decision-making by stroke experts in the setting of comorbidity/disability. Methods: In an international multi-disciplinary survey, experts chose treatment approaches under current resources and under assumed ideal conditions for 10 of 22 randomly assigned case scenarios. Five included comorbidities (cancer, cardiac/respiratory/renal disease, mild cognitive impairment [MCI], physical dependence). We examined scenario/respondent characteristics associated with EVT/alteplase decisions using multivariable logistic regressions. Results: Among 607 physicians (38 countries), EVT was chosen less often in comorbidity-related scenarios (79.6% under current resources, 82.7% assuming ideal conditions) versus six “level-1A” scenarios for which EVT/alteplase was clearly indicated by current guidelines (91.1% and 95.1%, respectively, odds ratio [OR] [current resources]: 0.38, 95% confidence interval 0.31–0.47). However, EVT was chosen more often in comorbidity-related scenarios compared to all other 17 scenarios (79.6% versus 74.4% under current resources, OR: 1.34, 1.17–1.54). Responses favoring alteplase for comorbidity-related scenarios (e.g. 75.0% under current resources) were comparable to level-1A scenarios (72.2%) and higher than all others (60.4%). No comorbidity independently diminished EVT odds when considering all scenarios. MCI and dependence carried higher alteplase odds; cancer and cardiac/respiratory/renal disease had lower odds. Being older/female carried lower EVT odds. Relevant respondent characteristics included performing more EVT cases/year (higher EVT-, lower alteplase odds), practicing in East Asia (higher EVT odds), and in interventional neuroradiology (lower alteplase odds vs neurology). Conclusion: Moderate-to-severe comorbidities did not consistently deter experts from EVT, suggesting equipoise about withholding EVT based on comorbidities. However, alteplase was often foregone when respondents chose EVT. Differences in decision-making by patient age/sex merit further study.


Stroke ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 51 (Suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Diogo C Haussen ◽  
Raul G Nogueira ◽  
Nirav Bhatt ◽  
Carol Flemming ◽  
Nicolas Bianchi ◽  
...  

Introduction: FAST-ED scale is a helpful tool to triage stroke patients in the field. However, data on the accuracy of the scale in the pre-hospital setting is lacking. We aim to validate the use of FAST-ED by paramedics in a mobile stroke unit (MSU) covering a metropolis. Methods: As part of standard operating MSU procedures, paramedics clinically evaluated patients. If the event characterized a stroke alert, the FAST-ED score was determined by the paramedic (in-person) upon patient contact, and independently by a vascular neurologist (telemedicine) immediately after the paramedic evaluation. An MSU nurse determined the NIHSS. This will allow testing of the inter-rater agreement of the FAST-ED scoring performance between on-site pre-hospital providers and remotely located vascular neurologists. Results: In the first 13 months of the MSU’s activity 193 stroke-alert patients were evaluated. 103 (53%) patients had a final diagnosis of stroke/TIA (75/28, respectively), 21 (11%) intracranial hemorrhage, and 69 (36%) were considered stroke mimics. 28 (14%) patients received intravenous alteplase. In the first 48 patients, FAST-ED was only scored by the paramedic and in 145 patients by both the physician and paramedic. FAST-ED scores matched perfectly amongst paramedics and physicians in 77 (53%) instances, while there was only 1-point difference in 51 (35%), 2-point difference in 10 (6%) and 3-point difference in two. Correlation between physician and paramedic FAST-ED scores was highly positive (rho 0.898; 2-sided p<0.001), as well as the correlation between physicians FAST-ED score and NIHSS (rho 0.853; 2-sided p<0.001). When the physician recorded FAST-ED score≥3 (n=62), the paramedics also scored FAST-ED≥3 in the vast majority of instances (n=55; 89%). After hospital arrival, cerebrovascular imaging was deemed necessary and performed in 144 patients within 24 hours of arrival. A visible large vessel occlusion was identified in 30 patients; 18 occlusions were identified with a FAST-ED≥3 while 12 were missed (10/12 had NIHSS≤5). Conclusion: The correlation of the FAST-ED scoring between vascular neurologists and paramedics was highly positive, indicating that FAST-ED is accurately and reliably utilized by paramedics in the pre-hospital setting.


2021 ◽  
pp. 159101992110579
Author(s):  
Rosalie McDonough ◽  
Johanna Ospel ◽  
Nima Kashani ◽  
Manon Kappelhof ◽  
Jianmin Liu ◽  
...  

Background Current guidelines recommend that eligible acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients receive intravenous alteplase (IVT) prior to endovascular treatment (EVT). Six randomized controlled trials recently sought to determine the risks of administering IVT prior to EVT, five of which have been published/presented. It is unclear whether and how the results of these trials will change guidelines. With the DEBATE survey, we assessed the influence of the recent trials on physicians’ IVT treatment strategies in the setting of EVT for large vessel occlusion (LVO) stroke. Methods Participants were provided with 15 direct-to-mothership case-scenarios of LVO stroke patients and asked whether they would treat with IVT  +  EVT or EVT alone, a) before publication/presentation of the direct-to-EVT trials, and b) now (knowing the trial results). Logistic regression clustered by respondent was performed to assess factors influencing the decision to adopt an EVT-alone paradigm after publication/presentation of the trial results. Results 289 participants from 37 countries provided 4335 responses, of which 13.5% (584/4335) changed from an IVT  +  EVT strategy to EVT alone after knowing the trial results. Very few switched from EVT alone to IVT  +  EVT (8/4335, 0.18%). Scenarios involving a long thrombus (RR 1.88, 95%CI:1.56–2.26), cerebral micro-hemorrhages (RR 1.78, 95%CI:1.43–2.23), and an expected short time to recanalization (RR 1.46 95%CI:1.19–1.78) had the highest chance of participants switching to an EVT-only strategy. Conclusion In light of the recent direct-to-EVT trials, a sizeable proportion of stroke physicians appears to be rethinking IVT treatment strategies of EVT-eligible mothership patients with AIS due to LVO in specific situations.


Stroke ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 46 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yukiko Enomoto ◽  
Shinichi Yoshimura ◽  
Yusuke Egashira ◽  
Hiroshi Yamagami ◽  
Nobuyuki Sakai ◽  
...  

Objective: Recanalization therapy, such as intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (IVT) or endovascular treatment (EVT), is known to improve outcomes in acute ischemic stroke; however, such maneuver carries the risk of intracranial hemorrhage (ICH). The present study assessed the predictive factors of ICH in the patients with acute large vessel occlusion. Methods: The Recovery by Endovascular Salvage for Cerebral Ultra-acute Embolism (RESCUE)-Japan registry prospectively registered 1,442 stroke patients with major vessel occlusion who were admitted to 84 Japanese stroke centers within 24 hours after onset from July 2010 to June 2011. We analyzed the incidence and predictive factor of ICH within 24 hours after onset among the 1,436 patients except 6 patients who underwent bypass surgery. Results: Any ICH was observed in 283 (19.7%) patients, and symptomatic (with neurological deterioration defined as National Institute of Health Stroke Scale score ≥4) ICH was observed in 47 (3.3%) patients. Comparing patients without ICH, we find statistical significance in the rate of favorable outcome (any ICH; 18.3% vs. 35.0%, p<0.001, symptomatic ICH; 4.3% vs. 32.6%, p<0.001). On multivariate analyses, any recanalization therapy (IVT and/or EVT)(OR, 1.94; 95% CI, 1.09-3.44)and reperfusion of the affected artery on MR angiography at 24 hours after onset (OR, 1.90; 95% CI, 1.31-2.75) significantly related to any ICH. Significant related factor of symptomatic ICH was only recanalization therapy (OR, 2.45; 95% CI; 1.30-4.16), but not EVT (OR; 1.26; 95% CI, 0.50-3.16). Moreover, warfarin-, antiplatelet-, heparin- or thrombolytic agents-use was not an independent predictor of ICH risk. Conclusions: Among the patients with acute large vessel occlusion, ICH was associated with recanalization therapy (IVT or EVT), but not the use of antithrombotic agents.


Stroke ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu Zhou ◽  
Pengfei Xing ◽  
Zifu Li ◽  
Xiaoxi Zhang ◽  
Lei Zhang ◽  
...  

Background and Purpose: Recent trials showed thrombectomy alone was comparable to bridging therapy in patients with anterior circulation large vessel occlusion eligible for both intravenous alteplase and endovascular thrombectomy. We performed this study to examine whether occlusion site modifies the effect of intravenous alteplase before thrombectomy. Methods: This is a prespecified subgroup analysis of a randomized trial evaluating risk and benefit of intravenous alteplase before thrombectomy (DIRECT-MT [Direct Intra-Arterial Thrombectomy in Order to Revascularize AIS Patients With Large Vessel Occlusion Efficiently in Chinese Tertiary Hospitals]). Among 658 randomized patients, 640 with baseline occlusion site information were included. The primary outcome was the score on the modified Rankin Scale at 90 days. Multivariable ordinal logistic regression analysis with an interaction term was used to estimate treatment effect modification by occlusion location (internal carotid artery versus M1 versus M2). We report the adjusted common odds ratio for a shift toward better outcome on the modified Rankin Scale after thrombectomy alone compared with combination treatment adjusted for age, the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score at baseline, the time from stroke onset to randomization, the modified Rankin Scale score before stroke onset, and collateral score per the DIRECT-MT statistical analysis plan. Results: The overall adjusted common odds ratio was 1.08 (95% CI, 0.82–1.43) with thrombectomy alone compared with combination treatment, and there was no significant treatment-by-occlusion site interaction ( P =0.47). In subgroups based on occlusion location, we found the following adjusted common odds ratios: 0.99 (95% CI, 0.62–1.59) for internal carotid artery occlusions, 1.12 (95% CI, 0.77–1.64) for M1 occlusions, and 1.22 (95% CI, 0.53–2.79) for M2 occlusions. No treatment-by-occlusion site interactions were observed for dichotomized modified Rankin Scale distributions and successful reperfusion (extended thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction score ≥2b) before thrombectomy. Differences in symptomatic hemorrhage rate were not significant between occlusion locations (internal carotid artery occlusion: 7.02% in bridging therapy versus 7.14% for thrombectomy alone, P =0.97; M1 occlusion: 5.06% versus 2.48%, P =0.22; M2 occlusion: 9.09% versus 4.76%; P =0.78). Conclusions: In this prespecified subgroup of a randomized trial, we found no evidence that occlusion location can inform intravenous alteplase decisions in endovascular treatment eligible patients directly presenting at endovascular treatment capable centers. Future studies are needed to confirm our findings. REGISTRATION: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov ; Unique identifier: NCT03469206.


2021 ◽  
pp. neurintsurg-2021-017819
Author(s):  
Robert W Regenhardt ◽  
Joseph A Rosenthal ◽  
Amine Awad ◽  
Juan Carlos Martinez-Gutierrez ◽  
Neal M Nolan ◽  
...  

BackgroundRandomized trials have not demonstrated benefit from intravenous thrombolysis among patients undergoing endovascular thrombectomy (EVT). However, these trials included primarily patients presenting directly to an EVT capable hub center. We sought to study outcomes for EVT candidates who presented to spoke hospitals and were subsequently transferred for EVT consideration, comparing those administered alteplase at spokes (i.e., ‘drip-and-ship’ model) versus those not.MethodsConsecutive EVT candidates presenting to 25 spokes from 2018 to 2020 with pre-transfer CT angiography defined emergent large vessel occlusion and Alberta Stroke Program CT score ≥6 were identified from a prospectively maintained Telestroke database. Outcomes of interest included adequate reperfusion (Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction (TICI) 2b–3), intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), discharge functional independence (modified Rankin Scale (mRS) ≤2), and 90 day functional independence.ResultsAmong 258 patients, median age was 70 years (IQR 60–81), median National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score was 13 (6-19), and 50% were women. Ninety-eight (38%) were treated with alteplase at spokes and 113 (44%) underwent EVT at the hub. Spoke alteplase use independently increased the odds of discharge mRS ≤2 (adjusted OR 2.43, 95% CI 1.08 to 5.46, p=0.03) and 90 day mRS ≤2 (adjusted OR 3.45, 95% CI 1.65 to 7.22, p=0.001), even when controlling for last known well, NIHSS, and EVT; it was not associated with an increased risk of ICH (OR 1.04, 95% CI 0.39 to 2.78, p=0.94), and there was a trend toward association with greater TICI 2b–3 (OR 3.59, 95% CI 0.94 to 13.70, p=0.06).ConclusionsIntravenous alteplase at spoke hospitals may improve discharge and 90 day mRS and should not be withheld from EVT eligible patients who first present at alteplase capable spoke hospitals that do not perform EVT. Additional studies are warranted to confirm and further explore these benefits.


Stroke ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 52 (1) ◽  
pp. 304-307
Author(s):  
Johanna M. Ospel ◽  
Nishita Singh ◽  
Mohammed A. Almekhlafi ◽  
Bijoy K. Menon ◽  
Asif Butt ◽  
...  

Background and Purpose: Quantitating the effect of intravenous alteplase on the technical outcome of early recanalization of large vessel occlusions aids understanding. We report the prevalence of early recanalization in patients with stroke because of large vessel occlusion treated with and without intravenous alteplase and endovascular thrombectomy, and its association with clinical outcome. Methods: Patients with acute ischemic stroke with large vessel occlusion from the ESCAPE trial (Endovascular Treatment for Small Core and Anterior Circulation Proximal Occlusion With Emphasis on Minimizing CT to Recanalization Times Trial) were included in this post hoc analysis. Outcomes of interest were the prevalence of early recanalization (1) and good outcome (2), defined as modified Rankin Scale score of 0 to 2 at 90 days. Results: Among 147 patients who did not receive endovascular thrombectomy, early recanalization occurred in 4/30 (13.3%) patients without and 48/117 (41.0%) patients with intravenous alteplase (adjusted risk ratios, 3.2 [95% CI, 1.2–8.1]). Good outcome was achieved by 34/116 (29.3%) of patients who received intravenous alteplase versus 10/29 (34.5%) who did not receive alteplase (adjusted risk ratios, 1.0 [95% CI, 0.6–1.5) and by 20/52 (38.5%) patients with versus 24/93 (25.8%) without early recanalization (adjusted risk ratios, 1.9 [95% CI, 1.2–2.9]). Conclusions: Early recanalization was confirmed as a strong predictor of good outcome in patients who did not undergo endovascular thrombectomy and was improved with intravenous alteplase, yet a majority of patients (59.0%) did not achieve early reperfusion. Registration: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov . Unique identifier: NCT01778335.


2022 ◽  
pp. neurintsurg-2021-018275
Author(s):  
Pengfei Xing ◽  
Xiaoxi Zhang ◽  
Hongjian Shen ◽  
Fang Shen ◽  
Lei Zhang ◽  
...  

BackgroundStroke etiology might influence the clinical outcomes in patients with large vessel occlusion receiving endovascular treatment (EVT) with or without thrombolysis.ObjectiveTo examine whether stroke etiology resulted in different efficacy and safety in patients treated with EVT-alone or EVT preceded by intravenous alteplase (combined therapy).MethodsWe assessed the efficacy and safety of treatment strategy based on prespecified stroke etiology, cardioembolism (CE), large-artery atherosclerosis (LAA), and undetermined cause (UC) for patients enrolled in the DIRECT-MT trial. The primary outcome was the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score at 90 days. Multivariate ordinal logistic regression analysis was used to calculate the adjusted common OR for a shift of better mRS score for EVT-alone versus combined therapy. A term was entered to test for interaction.ResultsIn this study, 656 patients were grouped into three prespecified stroke etiologic subgroups. The adjusted common ORs for improvement in the 90-day ordinal mRS score with EVT-alone were 1.2 (95% CI 0.8 to 1.8) for CE, 1.6 (95% CI 0.8 to 3.3) for LAA, and 0.8 (95% CI 0.5 to 1.3) for UC. Compared with CE, EVT-alone was more likely to result in an mRS score of 0–1 (pinteraction=0.047) and extended Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction ≥2b (pinteraction=0.041) in the LAA group. The differences in mortality and symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage within 90 days were not significant between the subgroups (p>0.05).ConclusionsThe results did not support the hypothesis that a specific treatment strategy based on stroke etiology should be used for patients with large vessel occlusion (NCT03469206).


2021 ◽  
pp. neurintsurg-2021-017943
Author(s):  
Maxim Mokin ◽  
Muhammad Waqas ◽  
Johanna T Fifi ◽  
Reade De Leacy ◽  
David Fiorella ◽  
...  

BackgroundThere is conflicting evidence on the utility of intravenous (IV) alteplase in patients with emergent large vessel occlusion (ELVO) treated with mechanical thrombectomy (MT).MethodsThis was a post hoc analysis of the COMPASS: a trial of aspiration thrombectomy versus stent retriever thrombectomy as first-line approach for large vessel occlusion. We compared clinical, procedural and angiographic outcomes of patients with and without prior IV alteplase administration.ResultsIn the COMPASS trial, 235 patients had presented to the hospital within the first 4 hours of stroke symptom onset and were eligible for analysis. On univariate analysis, administration of IV alteplase prior to MT was found to be significantly associated with favorable outcomes (modified Rankin scale (mRS) 0–2 at 3 months; 55.6% vs 40.0% in the MT-only group, P=0.037). However, on multivariate analysis, only baseline (pre-stroke) mRS, admission National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score and age were identified as independent predictors of favorable outcomes at 3 months. We found higher final thrombolysis in cerebral infarction (TICI) 2b/3 rates in patients without the use of alteplase prior to the aspiration first approach (100.0% vs 87.9% in IV altepase +aspiration first MT, P=0.03). In the stent retriever first group, final TICI 2b/3 rates were identical in patients with and without IV alteplase administration (87.5% and 87.5%, P=1.0).ConclusionsPrior administration of IV alteplase may adversely affect the efficacy of aspiration, but does not seem to influence the stent retriever first approach to MT in patients with anterior circulation ELVO.


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