Revisiting the NIH Stroke Scale as a screening tool for proximal vessel occlusion: can advanced imaging be targeted in acute stroke?

2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (12) ◽  
pp. 1208-1210 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryan D Moore ◽  
John C Jackson ◽  
Sheila L Venkatesh ◽  
Steven D Quarfordt ◽  
Blaise W Baxter

Background and purposeMost patients with stroke-like symptoms screened by advanced imaging for proximal occlusion will not have a thrombus accessible by neurointerventional techniques. Development of a sensitive clinical scoring system for rapidly identifying patients with an emergent large vessel occlusion could help target limited resources and reduce exposure to unnecessary imaging.MethodsThis historical cohort study included patients who underwent non-contrast CT and CT angiography in the emergency department for stroke-like symptoms. NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS) criteria were extended to include resolved symptoms and dichotomized as present or absent. Combinations of NIHSS criteria were considered as tests for proximal occlusion.ResultsProximal cerebral vascular occlusion was present in 19.2% (100/522) of the population and, of these, 13% (13/100) had an NIHSS score of 0. The presence on examination or history of diminished consciousness with inability to answer questions, leg weakness, dysarthria, or gaze deviation had 96% sensitivity and 39% specificity for proximal occlusion. If implemented in this population, the use of CT angiography would have been decreased by 32.4% (169/522 patients) while missing 0.76% with proximal occlusions (4/522). Half of those missed (2/4) would have been identified as large vessel infarcts on non-contrast CT, while the remainder (2/4) were transient ischemic attacks associated with carotid stenosis.ConclusionsIn this cohort, specific NIHSS criteria were highly sensitive for emergent large vessel occlusion and, if validated, may allow for clinical screening prior to advanced imaging with CT angiography.

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kiyoshi Takemoto ◽  
Masaaki Sakuraya ◽  
Michitaka Nakamura ◽  
Hidetsugu Maekawa ◽  
Kazuo Yamanaka ◽  
...  

Stroke ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 47 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
David S Liebeskind ◽  
Karin Ernstrom ◽  
Karen Rapp ◽  
Sachin Agarwal ◽  
Mauricio Concha ◽  
...  

Background: Therapeutic hypothermia for acute ischemic stroke is most likely to benefit patients with large vessel occlusion that require reperfusion. Until the recent success of endovascular trials with advanced imaging selection, noncontrast CT prior to intravenous (IV) thrombolysis has been the mainstay. We analyzed the ICTUS 2 trial CT findings before and after thrombolysis to disclose the impact of large vessel occlusion and subsequent edema formation. Methods: Noncontrast CT findings at baseline and 36 hours after enrollment were analyzed by imaging variables linked with large vessel occlusion. Presence of hyperdensity artery sign (HAS) and ischemic changes were analyzed in hypothermia and normothermia arms of the randomized safety and efficacy trial. Data were presented using descriptive statistics and Fisher’s exact test for comparisons between treatment arms. Results: 120 patients (median age 69±IQR 15 years; 51 (43%) women; median NIHSS 14±8 IQR) with acute stroke treated with IV thrombolysis were enrolled in ICTUS 2, including 63 randomized to hypothermia (H) and 57 to normothermia (N). CT abnormalities were balanced (68% H vs. 61% N, p=NS) across treatment arms, including hyperdense arteries (HAS) (33% H vs. 37% N, p=NS). At 36 hours, the vast majority of patients had CT abnormalities (92% H vs. 84% N, p=NS), including edema (52% H vs. 44% N, p=NS), hemorrhagic transformation (13% H vs. 19% N, p=NS) and HAS (22% H vs. 15% N, p=NS). Topography of ischemic changes at 36 hours was similar between arms, involving the insular cortex in 60%, frontal lobe 65%, parietal lobe 59% and temporal lobe 52%. Large vessel atherosclerosis was identified as cause of stroke in 29% of hypothermia and 19% normothermia subjects, p=NS. Serial CT changes from baseline to 36 hours based on topography were similar between arms. No interactions could be discerned between imaging findings, treatment allocation and 90-day mRS clinical outcomes. Conclusions: ICTUS 2 selection criteria based on NIHSS yielded a substantial proportion of large vessel strokes. The relatively high rate of persistent hyperdense arteries and extensive ischemic changes suggest more effective reperfusion strategies than IV thrombolysis may be warranted and enhanced by advanced imaging surveillance.


Stroke ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 51 (Suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Pierre Seners ◽  
Claire Perrin ◽  
Guillaume Turc

Introduction: Whether thrombectomy added on intravenous thrombolysis (IVT), as compared to IVT alone, is beneficial in minor strokes with large vessel occlusion (LVO) is unknown. To identify predictors of early neurological deterioration (END) following IVT alone may help to select the best candidates for additional thrombectomy. Methods: MINOR-STROKE was a multicentric retrospective registry collecting data of IVT-treated minor strokes (NIHSS≤5) with LVO (internal carotid artery [ICA], M1, M2 or basilar artery; with central reading) treated with or without additional thrombectomy in 45 French stroke units. The patients initially intended for IVT alone, including those who eventually received thrombectomy due to END, were included in the present analysis. END was defined as a ≥4 points on NIHSS within 24hrs following admission. Thrombus length was measured centrally either on T2*-MRI, CT (hyperdense middle cerebral artery) or CT-angiography. Results: Overall, 799 patients were included: mean age 69 years, median NIHSS 3, occlusion located in ICA±M1/M2, proximal M1, distal M1, M2, or basilar artery in 20%, 7%, 19%, 50% and 4% of patients, respectively. Thrombus was visible in 78% of patients (median length 9mm, IQR 6-12mm). END occurred in 15% of patients and was associated with poor 3-month functional outcome (mRS>2: 55% vs. 12% of patients with and without END, respectively). Only 15% of ENDs were due to intracranial haemorrhage. In multivariable analysis, a more proximal occlusion site (M2 [reference], distal M1: OR 2.1 [IC95% 1.1-4.1], proximal M1: OR 3.8 [1.6-9.1], ICA±M1/M2: OR 5.0 [2.6-9.6], basilar artery: OR 4.9 [1.1-4.1]; P <0.001) and a longer thrombus (<6mm [reference], [6-9mm[: OR 1.3 [IC95% 0.6-2.9], [9-12mm[: OR 1.8 [0.8-3.9] and ≥12mm: OR 2.7 [1.3-5.6]; P =0.036) were independently associated with END. END occurred in 33%, 19%, 14%, 7% and 27% of patients with ICA±M1/M2, M1 proximal, M1 distal, M2 and basilar artery, respectively, and in 8%, 10%, 14% et 23% of patients with thrombus length of <6, [6-9[, [9-12[ and ≥12mm, respectively. Conclusion: Our study suggests that thrombus location and length are strong predictors of END in minor strokes with LVO. This may help to select the best candidates for additional endovascular therapy.


Stroke ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 44 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dolora Wisco ◽  
KEN UCHINO ◽  
ESTEBAN CHENG CHING ◽  
Shazia Alam ◽  
SHUMEI MAN ◽  
...  

INTRODUCTION: In-hospital stroke (IHS) presents a different treatment challenge than out of hospital stroke. IHS often has contraindication to IV tPA, such as such as recent surgery, MI, and use of anticoagulation. Intra-arterial therapy (IAT) with tPA and/or mechanical thrombectomy is an option for large vessel acute IHS with contraindications to or fail to recanalize with IV tPA, to restore cerebral perfusion. Objective: To assess the characteristics and outcomes of patients with in-hospital strokes large vessel occlusion who receive IAT. Methods: From our database of patients from 1/1/2008 to 12/31/2011 who had IAT for an acute stroke due to large vessel occlusion, in hospital strokes and out of hospital strokes were identified. Patient characteristics, imaging, and outcomes were retrospectively collected. Statistical analysis was performed on JMP 9.0. Result: 151 patients were included, 23 (15%) were in-hospital strokes (IHS) and 128 (85%) were out of hospital strokes (OHS). Initial median NIHSS of 17 and 16 respectively (p=0.3). IHS were frequently in the cardiology/CTS service (14, 60%) for CHF and cardiac valve repair (12, 52%). Other comorbidities present were atrial fibrillation (68%), hypertension (68%), and hyperlipidemia (56%). Seven (30%) were on warfarin prior to admission, but all had subtherapeutic INR. Three (13%) IHS received IV tPA. The time from last known well (LKW) to non-contrast CT brain was 80 min, and to CTA was 113 min in IHS, and 147 min and 229 min respectively in OHS (p = 0.0003). 20 (87%) had lesion in the anterior circulation. LKW to IAT recanalization was 248 min in IHS, compared to 375 min in OHS. Recanalization rate was 68% for IHS and 81% for OHS (p=0.2). Nine (39%) IHS had favorable mRS of 1 to 3 at 90 days, compared to 44 (34%) OHS, (p = 0.6). Despite faster recanalization time, there was no difference in the 90 day mortality of IHS v OHS (48% vs 30%, p = 0.1), and IHS had greater 1 year mortality (65% vs 30%, p = 0.005). Discussion: In-hospital strokes have higher mortality than out of hospital strokes. There is a role for IAT In carefully selected IHS with large vessel occlusion. A multicenter study is needed to reveal the characteristics of IHS patients who may benefit from IAT.


Author(s):  
D Doherty ◽  
M Morrissette ◽  
E Spinos ◽  
TK Mattingly

Background: Stroke alerts are used to triage patients with acute neurologic change for rapid imaging evaluation. CTA has been advocated to rapidly triage stroke patients for endovascular therapy. However, the yield of this approach is not well established. We evaluated the stroke alert yield in a non-teaching hospital system. Methods: A retrospective review of radiology reports for stroke alerts using PACS archive. Cases were then followed for 72 hours to determine the types of advanced imaging obtained and the findings of those studies. Results: From January to March 2014, 269 stroke alert head CTs were performed. Subsequent imaging included 128 MRIs (48%), 25 CTAs (9%) and 2 angiograms (0.7%). There were 58 (22%) tissue-defined strokes and 16 were non-lacunar (6% stroke alerts). 61% of stroke alert head CTs were negative or reported microvascular change. Other findings included large vessel occlusion (5%), intracranial stenosis (1.5%), extracranial stenosis(1.5 %), intracranial hemorrhage (9%) and masses (13%). Conclusions: Most stroke alerts were negative for tissue-defined stroke. Based on this data, universal use of CTA in the ER to triage patients with acute neurologic symptoms may not be appropriate. An updated triage system to facilitate endovascular rescue is being analyzed for changes to advanced imaging utilization and yield.


2019 ◽  
Vol 74 (9) ◽  
pp. 731.e21-731.e25 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Griffin ◽  
D. Herlihy ◽  
R. Hayden ◽  
M. Murphy ◽  
J. Walsh ◽  
...  

2018 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 109-114 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anderson Chun On Tsang ◽  
Stephanie Lenck ◽  
Christopher Hilditch ◽  
Patrick Nicholson ◽  
Waleed Brinjikji ◽  
...  

Stroke ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 52 (Suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Seena Dehkharghani ◽  
Maarten G Lansberg ◽  
Chitra Venkatsubramanian ◽  
carlo W cereda ◽  
Fabricio O Lima ◽  
...  

Background: Identification of large vessel occlusion (LVO) is paramount in the urgent evaluation of acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Emergent interpretation of large and high-complexity data sets, however, may impose strains upon imaging and clinical workflows, motivating development of fast and accurate computer-aided approaches to facilitate LVO detection in the emergency setting. This study investigates the performance of a fully automated LVO detection platform in a mixed cohort of stroke subjects with and without LVO on head and neck CT angiography (CTA). Methods: CTA from two cerebrovascular trials were enriched with cases from eleven global sites. Imaging and clinical variables were balanced between populations including in LVO positivity and across demographic and imaging environments to the extent achievable. Independent and fully blinded review for intracranial ICA or MCA M1 LVO was performed by two subspecialty neuroradiologists. A novel, user-independent imaging analysis application ( RAPID-LVO , iSchemaview inc) was used to predict LVO presence, location, and overall performance relative to reader consensus. Any discordance between readers was adjudicated by a blinded tertiary reader with subspecialty training. Sensitivity, specificity, and receiver-operating characteristics were determined by an independent statistician. Performance thresholds were set a priori, including a lower bound of the 95% CI of sensitivity and specificity of ≥0.8 at mean times-to-notification <3.5 minutes. Results: 217 CTA (median age 65.5, 53% male, 109 LVO(+)) were included. Lower confidence limits of sensitivity and specificity exceeded 90% (sensitivity 0.963, 95% CI 0.909-0.986; specificity 0.981, 95% CI 0.935-0.995), surpassing pre-specified performance benchmarks. Subgroup analyses revealed no decrement in performance relative to subject age or sex, vendor systems, or location of the examination within or outside the United States. The area under the receiver operating characteristics curve was 0.99 (95% CI: 0.971-0.999) and average time-to-notification was 3.18 minutes. Conclusion: RAPID-LVO offers fast, highly accurate, and fully user-independent large vessel occlusion detection across all tested clinical and imaging environments.


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