Abstract WP331: Does Successful Reperfusion Mean Successful Outcome in Elderly Stroke Patients?

Stroke ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 51 (Suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Amber N Ruiz ◽  
Agnelio Cardentey ◽  
WT Longstreth ◽  
David L Tirschwell ◽  
Claire J Creudtzfeldt

Background: Randomized clinical trials (RCTs) suggest a benefit of mechanical thrombectomy (MT) even for individuals ≥ 80 years of age; however, this population has not been consistently included in RCTs, and the eldest (≥85 years) are underrepresented. Small observational studies suggest that elderly patients experience a higher proportion of in-hospital complications, mortality, and poor functional outcome defined as modified Rankin Scale Score (mRS) ≥4. While MT is generally recommended in this population, little is known about how decisions are made to undergo MT or subsequently to withdraw or withhold life-sustaining treatments (WoLST). The goal of this study was to describe a single center experience of elderly patients who underwent MT. Methods: We identified all patients admitted to our comprehensive stroke center from June 2016 - June 2018 who were ≥85 years old and underwent successful MT, defined as TICI 2a to 3. We collected data from the electronic medical record, including WoLST. A good outcome was defined as a mRS of 0-2 at 90 days. Results: We identified a total of 29 patients with successful MT with a mean age of 88.4 years (SD=3.6); 66% were women. Only one patient (3.4%) achieved a good outcome, while 65.5% died (see figure). Among decedents, 47.4% expired during their initial hospitalization, while 15.8% were discharged to hospice. A decision for WoLST was made in 11 patients, 88.9% of in-hospital decedents. Discussion: In our retrospective study of 29 elderly patients who underwent successful MT, only one achieved good functional outcome, and most died in the setting of WoLST. These observations may raise the question about the appropriateness of MT in this cohort, emphasizing the need for further research aimed (1) to identify determinants of outcome and MT success specific to elderly MT candidates and (2) to better understand the process of clinical decision making for this growing, vulnerable population of elderly patients.

Stroke ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 51 (Suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Taha Nisar ◽  
Toluwalase Tofade ◽  
Ava Liberman ◽  
Priyank Khandelwal

Introduction: Elevation of post-stroke systolic blood pressure (SBP) can be a part of a compensatory mechanism to restore cerebral perfusion to the ischemic brain tissue, but comes at a risk of reperfusion injury. The ideal SBP in the 24-hour range post-IV-rtPA has been understudied. We investigated the association of different SBP parameters post-intravenous-alteplase (IV-rtPA) with the functional outcome at discharge at a tertiary care center. Methods: We performed a retrospective chart review of patients with an acute ischemic stroke treated with IV-rtPA at a comprehensive stroke center from July 2014 to March 2018. We excluded patients who underwent mechanical thrombectomy. At the comprehensive stroke center, the BP values are documented according to standard post-IV-rtPA care guidelines. We recorded the SBP values over a period of 24-hours post-IV-rtPA. A binary logistic regression analysis was performed, controlling for age, sex, pre-treatment NIHSS, atrial fibrillation, onset to treatment time, with the SBP parameters as the predictors. The primary outcome was the functional outcome at discharge. Good outcome was defined as a modified rankin scale (mRS) of ≤2 and a poor outcome as mRS of ≥3, upon discharge. Results: 84 patients met our inclusion criteria. 45 (53.57%) patients were male. The mean age was 63.50±15 years. 25 (29.76%) patients had a good outcome (mRS≤2) at discharge. In our cohort, the parameters of higher mean SBP (144.9±14 vs.135.5±18; OR, 1.06; 95% CI, 1.02-1.11; P 0.004), higher maximum SBP (176.56±17 vs.166.7±18; OR, 1.06; 95% CI, 1.02-1.1; P 0.005) and wider pulse pressure (65.5±12 vs.57.8±13; OR,1.08; 95% CI, 1.03-1.14; P 0.007) were significantly associated with a poor outcome at discharge. Parameters of SBP variability like standard deviation SBP (13.5±5 vs.11.5±4; OR, 1.17; 95% CI, 1-1.36; P 0.058), coefficient variation SBP (9.36±4 vs.8.49±3; OR, 1.11; 95% CI, 0.94-1.32; P 0.242), and SBP range (62.22±20 vs.54.68±15; OR, 1.04; 95% CI, 1-1.07; P 0.08) were not significantly associated with a poor outcome at discharge. Conclusions: Our study demonstrates an association between higher mean SBP, higher maximum SBP, and wider pulse pressure over a period of 24-hours post-IV-rtPA, and poor functional outcome upon discharge.


2021 ◽  
pp. 174749302098526
Author(s):  
Juliane Herm ◽  
Ludwig Schlemm ◽  
Eberhard Siebert ◽  
Georg Bohner ◽  
Anna C Alegiani ◽  
...  

Background Functional outcome post-stroke depends on time to recanalization. Effect of in-hospital delay may differ in patients directly admitted to a comprehensive stroke center and patients transferred via a primary stroke center. We analyzed the current door-to-groin time in Germany and explored its effect on functional outcome in a real-world setting. Methods Data were collected in 25 stroke centers in the German Stroke Registry-Endovascular Treatment a prospective, multicenter, observational registry study including stroke patients with large vessel occlusion. Functional outcome was assessed at three months by modified Rankin Scale. Association of door-to-groin time with outcome was calculated using binary logistic regression models. Results Out of 4340 patients, 56% were treated primarily in a comprehensive stroke center and 44% in a primary stroke center and then transferred to a comprehensive stroke center (“drip-and-ship” concept). Median onset-to-arrival at comprehensive stroke center time and door-to-groin time were 103 and 79 min in comprehensive stroke center patients and 225 and 44 min in primary stroke center patients. The odds ratio for poor functional outcome per hour of onset-to-arrival-at comprehensive stroke center time was 1.03 (95%CI 1.01–1.05) in comprehensive stroke center patients and 1.06 (95%CI 1.03–1.09) in primary stroke center patients. The odds ratio for poor functional outcome per hour of door-to-groin time was 1.30 (95%CI 1.16–1.46) in comprehensive stroke center patients and 1.04 (95%CI 0.89–1.21) in primary stroke center patients. Longer door-to-groin time in comprehensive stroke center patients was associated with admission on weekends (odds ratio 1.61; 95%CI 1.37–1.97) and during night time (odds ratio 1.52; 95%CI 1.27–1.82) and use of intravenous thrombolysis (odds ratio 1.28; 95%CI 1.08–1.50). Conclusion Door-to-groin time was especially relevant for outcome of comprehensive stroke center patients, whereas door-to-groin time was much shorter in primary stroke center patients. Clinical Trial Registration: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03356392 . Unique identifier NCT03356392


2020 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
pp. 117954682095341 ◽  
Author(s):  
Todd C Villines ◽  
Mark J Cziraky ◽  
Alpesh N Amin

Real-world evidence (RWE) provides a potential rich source of additional information to the body of data available from randomized clinical trials (RCTs), but there is a need to understand the strengths and limitations of RWE before it can be applied to clinical practice. To gain insight into current thinking in clinical decision making and utility of different data sources, a representative sampling of US cardiologists selected from the current, active Fellows of the American College of Cardiology (ACC) were surveyed to evaluate their perceptions of findings from RCTs and RWE studies and their application in clinical practice. The survey was conducted online via the ACC web portal between 12 July and 11 August 2017. Of the 548 active ACC Fellows invited as panel members, 173 completed the survey (32% response), most of whom were board certified in general cardiology (n = 119, 69%) or interventional cardiology (n = 40, 23%). The survey results indicated a wide range of familiarity with and utilization of RWE amongst cardiologists. Most cardiologists were familiar with RWE and considered RWE in clinical practice at least some of the time. However, a significant minority of survey respondents had rarely or never applied RWE learnings in their clinical practice, and many did not feel confident in the results of RWE other than registry data. These survey findings suggest that additional education on how to assess and interpret RWE could help physicians to integrate data and learnings from RCTs and RWE to best guide clinical decision making.


BMJ Open ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. e018101 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karis Kin-Fong Cheng ◽  
Ethel Yee-Ting Lim ◽  
Ravindran Kanesvaran

ObjectivesThe measurement of quality of life (QoL) in elderly cancer population is increasingly being recognised as an important element of clinical decision-making and the evaluation of treatment outcome. This systematic review aimed to summarise the evidence of QoL during and after adjuvant therapy in elderly patients with cancer.MethodsA systematic search was conducted of studies published in CINAHL plus, CENTRAL, PubMed, PsycINFO and Web of Science from the inception of these databases to December 2016. Eligible studies included RCTs and non-RCTs in which QoL was measured in elderly patients (aged 65 years or above) with stage I–III solid tumours who were undergoing adjuvant chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy. Because of the heterogeneity and the insufficient data among the included studies, the results were synthesised narratively.ResultsWe included 4 RCTs and 14 non-RCTs on 1785 participants. In all four RCTs, the risk of bias was low or unclear for most items but high for detection. Of the 14 non-RCTs, 5 studies were judged to have a low or moderate risk of bias for all domains, and the other 9 studies had a serious risk of bias in at least one domain. The bias was observed mainly in the confounding and in the selection of participants for the study. For most elderly patients with breast cancer, the non-significant negative change in the QoL was transient. A significant increase in the QoL during the course of temozolomide in elderly patients with glioblastoma but a decreasing trend in QoL after radiotherapy was shown. This review also shows a uniform trend of stable or improved QoL during adjuvant therapy and at follow-up evaluations across the studies with prostate, colon or cervical cancer population.ConclusionsThis review suggests that adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy may not have detrimental effects on QoL in most elderly patients with solid tumours.


2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 34 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dhinu J. Jayaseelan ◽  
John J. Mischke ◽  
Raymond L. Strazzulla

Background: Achilles tendinopathy is a common health condition encountered in the orthopedic and sports medicine settings. Eccentric exercise is a common intervention in the management of pain and limited function for this patient population, although contemporary evidence suggests additional exercise methods may be effective as well. Study design: Narrative review: Methods: A literature review was performed using the electronic databases Pubmed and PEDRO for articles through February 2019. Randomized clinical trials integrating eccentric exercise, with or without co-interventions, were evaluated. Outcomes related to pain and/or function were considered. A patient case is provided to highlight decision making processes related to clinical prescription of eccentrics for Achilles tendinopathy. Results: After screening titles and abstracts, seven studies were included for full review. Two articles compared eccentric exercise to a control group, four compared eccentrics to the use of modalities, while one used eccentric exercise as part of a multimodal intervention. In each case, eccentric exercise was effective in reducing pain and improving function. In comparison to other forms of exercise or additional interventions, eccentric exercise was frequently not more effective than other options. Discussion: Eccentric exercise has been associated with clinical benefit in improving pain and function for patients with Achilles tendinopathy. Despite the available evidence reporting effectiveness of eccentrics, other options may be equally useful. Appropriate load modification and exercise prescription for patients with Achilles tendinopathy requires systematic clinical reasoning and incorporation of patient values to optimize outcomes.


1998 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 333-339 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ishwer L. Bharwani ◽  
Charles O. Hershey

Objective: Older patients have a high prevalence of neurological and psychiatric disorders. They also have a baseline prevalence of late latent syphilis or positive syphilis serology. Thus the clinical question arises as to whether a neuropsychiatric disorder in a geriatric patient is neurosyphilis or if the positive serology is incidental. Method: An illustrative case example is used to illustrate this dilemma. The relevant literature is reviewed. Results: The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) protein is an important indicator of inflammatory activity in the central nervous system and is used as a clinical guide in the diagnosis. Elderly patients have higher values of normal CSF protein than younger patients. Conclusions: Given the importance of CSF protein in the diagnosis of neurosyphilis, physicians must include this knowledge, that elderly patients have higher CSF protein values, in their clinical decision making in the differentiation between neurosyphilis and late latent syphilis in the elderly patient.


Neurology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 97 (20 Supplement 2) ◽  
pp. S25-S33
Author(s):  
Anna Ramos ◽  
Waldo R. Guerrero ◽  
Natalia Pérez de la Ossa

Purpose of the ReviewThis article reviews prehospital organization in the treatment of acute stroke. Rapid access to an endovascular therapy (EVT) capable center and prehospital assessment of large vessel occlusion (LVO) are 2 important challenges in acute stroke therapy. This article emphasizes the use of transfer protocols to assure the prompt access of patients with an LVO to a comprehensive stroke center where EVT can be offered. Available prehospital clinical tools and novel technologies to identify LVO are also discussed. Moreover, different routing paradigms like first attention at a local stroke center (“drip and ship”), direct transfer of the patient to an endovascular center (“mothership”), transfer of the neurointerventional team to a local primary center (“drip and drive”), mobile stroke units, and prehospital management communication tools all aimed to improve connection and coordination between care levels are reviewed.Recent FindingsLocal observational data and mathematical models suggest that implementing triage tools and bypass protocols may be an efficient solution. Ongoing randomized clinical trials comparing drip and ship vs mothership will elucidate which is the more effective routing protocol.SummaryPrehospital organization is critical in realizing maximum benefit from available therapies in acute stroke. The optimal transfer protocols directed to accelerate EVT are under study, and more accurate prehospital triage tools are needed. To improve care in the prehospital setting, efficient tools based on patient factors, local geography, and hospital capability are needed. These tools would optimally lead to individualized real-time decision-making.


Author(s):  
Julian Carrion‐Penagos ◽  
Julian Carrion‐Penagos ◽  
Sonam Thind ◽  
Elisheva Coleman ◽  
James R Brorson ◽  
...  

Introduction : The importance of early mechanical thrombectomy (MT) has shown to improve functional outcomes for patients with acute large vessel occlusion (LVO). As well, prior studies have shown that earlier MT resulted in reduced hospital stay, more home‐time, and more desirable living situation in the 90 days after stroke. We hypothesized that delay in MT in patients with LVO would result in worse clinical outcome and increased mortality. Methods : We performed a retrospective analysis of consecutive patients who underwent MT for LVO in a large academic comprehensive stroke center between 01/2018 and 05/2021. We compared outcomes including in‐hospital mortality and 90‐day modified Rankin Scale (mRS) based on time from door‐to‐puncture and door‐to‐reperfusion, adjusting for relevant covariates using logistic regression. Results : Patients that had shorter door‐to‐puncture time were found to have higher probability of a lower modified Rankin Scale (mRS 0–2) at discharge (p = 0.03). Patients with door‐to‐puncture less than 60 minutes had a probability of 50% of achieving a good outcome. Longer door‐to‐puncture times were associated with lower probability of achieving mRS 0–2 at discharge. A similar finding was seen in patients that had shorter times to reperfusion (p = 0.05). Adjusting for age, baseline NIHSS score, and final TICI score, delayed door‐to‐reperfusion time in minutes was an independent predictor of increased mortality at 90 days of 9% for every 10 minutes delay (OR 1.009, 95% CI 1.003‐1.016, p = 0.006). Every 10 minutes delay in door‐to‐reperfusion time had 7% higher chance of poor functional outcome at 90 days (OR 1.007, 95% CI 1.004‐1.019, p = 0.015). Conclusions : Shorter times to MT and reperfusion impact functional outcome and mortality in LVO stroke patients. This indicates that an adequate hospital protocol and continuous education may lead to faster and more efficient stroke activations leading to a shorter time to MT and eventual reperfusion. Goals of door‐to‐puncture must be established in order to achieve better outcomes.


Stroke ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 52 (Suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica Kobsa ◽  
Ayush Prasad ◽  
Alexandria Soto ◽  
Sreeja Kodali ◽  
Cindy Khanh Nguyen ◽  
...  

Introduction: Decreases in blood pressure (BP) during thrombectomy are associated with infarct progression and worse outcomes. Many patients present first to a primary stroke center (PSC) and are later transferred to a comprehensive stroke center (CSC) to undergo thrombectomy. During this period, important BP variations might occur. We evaluated the association of BP reductions with neurological worsening and functional outcomes. Methods: We prospectively collected hemodynamic, clinical, and radiographic data on consecutive patients with LVO ischemic stroke who were transferred from a PSC for possible thrombectomy between 2018 and 2020. We assessed systolic BP (SBP) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) at five time points: earliest recorded, average pre-PSC, PSC admission, average PSC, and CSC admission. We measured neurologic worsening as a change in NIHSS (ΔNIHSS) from PSC to CSC >3 and functional outcome using the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) at discharge and 90 days. Relationships between variables of interest were evaluated using linear regression. Results: Of 91 patients (mean age 70±16 years, mean NIHSS 12) included, 13 (14%) experienced early neurologic deterioration (ΔNIHSS>3), and 34 (37%) achieved a good outcome at discharge (mRS<3). We found that patients with good outcome had significantly lower SBP at all five assessed time points compared to patients with poor outcome (Figure 1, p<0.05). Percent change in MAP from initial presentation to CSC arrival was independently associated with ΔNIHSS after adjusting for age, sex, and transfer time (p=0.03, β=0.27). Conclusions: Patients with poor outcomes have higher BP throughout the pre-CSC period, possibly reflecting an augmented hypertensive response. Reductions in SBP and MAP before arrival at the CSC are associated with neurologic worsening. These results suggest that BP management strategies in the pre-CSC period to avoid large reductions in BP may improve outcomes in patients affected by LVO stroke.


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