Response by Sheth to Letter Regarding Article, “Impact of Initial Imaging Protocol on Likelihood of Endovascular Stroke Therapy”

Background and Purpose: Noncontrast head CT and CT perfusion (CTP) are both used to screen for endovascular stroke therapy (EST), but the impact of imaging strategy on likelihood of EST is undetermined. Here, we examine the influence of CTP utilization on likelihood of EST in patients with large vessel occlusion (LVO). Methods: We identified patients with acute ischemic stroke at 4 comprehensive stroke centers. All 4 hospitals had 24/7 CTP and EST capability and were covered by a single physician group (Neurology, NeuroIntervention, NeuroICU). All centers performed noncontrast head CT and CT angiography in the initial evaluation. One center also performed CTP routinely with high CTP utilization (CTP-H), and the others performed CTP optionally with lower utilization (CTP-L). Primary outcome was likelihood of EST. Multivariable logistic regression was used to determine whether facility type (CTP-H versus CTP-L) was associated with EST adjusting for age, prestroke mRS, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale, Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score, LVO location, time window, and intravenous tPA (tissue-type plasminogen activator). Results: Among 3107 patients with acute ischemic stroke, 715 had LVO, of which 403 (56%) presented to CTP-H and 312 (44%) presented to CTP-L. CTP utilization among LVO patients was greater at CTP-H centers (72% versus 18%, CTP-H versus CTP-L, P <0.01). In univariable analysis, EST rates for patients with LVO were similar between CTP-H versus CTP-L (46% versus 49%). In multivariable analysis, patients with LVO were less likely to undergo EST at CTP-H (odds ratio, 0.59 [0.41–0.85]). This finding was maintained in multiple patient subsets including late time window, anterior circulation LVO, and direct presentation patients. Ninety-day functional independence (odds ratio, 1.04 [0.70–1.54]) was not different, nor were rates of post-EST PH-2 hemorrhage (1% versus 1%). Conclusions: We identified an increased likelihood for undergoing EST in centers with lower CTP utilization, which was not associated with worse clinical outcomes or increased hemorrhage. These findings suggest under-treatment bias with routine CTP.

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Blood Pressure After Endovascular Stroke Therapy-II

Case Medical Research ◽

10.31525/ct1-nct04116112 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Keyword(s):

Blood Pressure ◽

Stroke Therapy ◽

Endovascular Stroke Therapy

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Abstract WP23: Comparison of Suction Thrombectomy, Stentriever, and Combined Approach: Thrombus Size, Fragmentation, and Outcome - A Single Center Analysis

Stroke ◽

10.1161/str.48.suppl_1.wp23 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 48 (suppl_1) ◽

Author(s):

Wolfgang Leesch ◽

Pankajavalli Ramakrishnan ◽

Dean Kostov ◽

O’Brien Gossage ◽

Frank Sanderson

Keyword(s):

Clinical Outcome ◽

Combined Approach ◽

Stroke Therapy ◽

Distal Embolization ◽

Radiographic Images ◽

Single Pass ◽

Size Number ◽

Data Points ◽

Combined Technique ◽

Endovascular Stroke Therapy

Introduction: Few reports have compared the commonly used technical approaches of stentriever, suction thrombectomy, and combined technique, particularly with emphasis on thrombus volume, fragmentation, distal embolization, and clinical outcome. Methods: Medical records and radiographic images of patients undergoing endovascular stroke therapy at our institution between 2014 and 2015 were reviewed for the following data points: Patient age, sex, NIH stroke scale (NIHSS) at presentation, number of passes, presence of distal embolization on angiography, TICI score, and Modified Rankin Scale (MRS) at discharge. When available, photographic images of the retrieved thrombus were analyzed for number of fragments and size of the largest fragment. Parameters were compared for the three thrombectomy techniques of suction (ADAPT technique), stentriever, and the combined approach. Results: Of 63 patients receiving endovascular stroke therapy, 47 (75%) underwent mechanical thrombectomy: Stentriever 17 (36%), Suction 18 (38%), and combined 12 (26%). Average age and presenting NIH stroke scales were similar in the groups. A single pass thrombectomy was more common in the suction group (72%) than in the stentriever (29%) and combined groups (8%). There were more thrombus fragments in the stentriever (2.3) and combined groups (3.4) than in the suction group (1.4), correlating to more frequent distal embolization (suction 22%, stentriever 70%, combined 50%). The retrieved thrombus was largest in the suction group (12.9 mm; stentriever 6.6 mm; combined 10.4 mm). Overall outcome at discharge was better in the suction group (61% MRS 0-2) than in the stentriever (35%) and combined groups (17%). Conclusions: In our patient sample suction thrombectomy outperformed the stentriever and combined techniques in the categories of achieved reperfusion grade, single pass, retrieved thrombus size, number of fragments, distal embolization and clinical outcome. While stent retriever and suction thrombetomy were used as primary approaches, the combined technique was commonly utilized as a rescue attempt once the primary approach had failed, constituting a potential limitation of the analysis in this category.

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