Introduction:
Outcomes after endovascular treatment (EVT) for acute ischemic stroke are highly time dependent, but whether active reduction of time to treatment leads to better outcome has not been demonstrated. We compared data of the two subsequent MR CLEAN Registry cohorts, comprising all patients in the Netherlands who had EVT for acute ischemic stroke from 2014-2017, for a trend in time to treatment and its association with outcome.
Methods:
We compared workflow, successful reperfusion (eTICI 2B-3), NIHSS at 24h, functional outcome (mRS) at 90 days, occurrence of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH) and mortality in patients with ischemic stroke and a proximal intracranial occlusion in the anterior circulation included in the second cohort of the Registry (June 2016-November 2017; n = 1779) to those in patients included in the first cohort (March 2014-June 2016; n = 1526) using logistic regression.
Results:
Baseline NIHSS was 16 in both cohorts. Times from onset-to-groin and onset-to-reperfusion were shorter in the second cohort than in the first (185 versus 210 minutes; p<0.01 and 238 versus 270 minutes; p<0.01, respectively) (Figure 1). Successful reperfusion was achieved more often in the second than in the first cohort (72% versus 58%; p<0.01). Rates of sICH and mortality did not differ (5.9% versus 5.7%; p=0.94 and 29% versus 29%; p=0.60). However, follow-up NIHSS was lower (median 10 versus 11; p<0.001) and more patients achieved functional independence at 90 days (42.6% versus 38.9%; p = 0.012) in the second cohort (Figure 1). In a logistic regression model, the difference in good outcome between the two cohorts (aOR 1.27; 95%CI 1.08-1.50) was reduced after additional adjustment for time to reperfusion (aOR 1.15; 95%CI 0.96-1.36) as well as successful reperfusion (aOR 1.16; 95%CI 0.95-1.41).
Discussion:
Our data show that outcomes after EVT in routine clinical practice are improving, likely attributable to improved workflow and experience.
Informed Consent for Thrombolytic Therapy for Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke Treated in Routine Clinical Practice
