scholarly journals Mechanical thrombectomy for reperfusion of acute ischemic stroke in a Stroke Unit in Argentina

2020 ◽  
Vol 78 (1) ◽  
pp. 39-43
Author(s):  
Matías ALET ◽  
Federico Rodríguez LUCCI ◽  
Sebastián AMERISO

Abstract Stroke is an important cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Reperfusion therapy with intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (IV-tPA) was first implemented in 1996. More recently, endovascular reperfusion with mechanical thrombectomy (MT) demonstrated a robust beneficial effect, extending the 4.5 h time window. In our country, there are difficulties to achieve the implementation of both procedures. Objective: Our purpose is to report the early experience of a Comprehensive Stroke Center in the use of MT for acute stroke. Methods: Analysis of consecutive patients from January 2015 to September 2018, who received reperfusion treatment with MT. Demographic data, treatment times, previous use of IV-tPA, site of obstruction, recanalization, outcomes and disability after stroke were assessed. Results: We admitted 891 patients with acute ischemic stroke during this period. Ninety-seven received IV-tPA (11%) and 27 were treated with MT (3%). In the MT group, mean age was 66.0±14.5 years. Median NIHSS before MT was 20 (range:14‒24). The most prevalent etiology was cardioembolic stroke (52%). Prior to MT, 16 of 27 patients (59%) received IV-tPA. Previous tPA treatment did not affect onset to recanalization time or door-to-puncture time. For MT, door-to-puncture time was 104±50 minutes and onset to recanalization was 289±153 minutes. Successful recanalization (mTICI grade 2b/3) was achieved in 21 patients (78%). At three-month follow-up, the median NIHSS was 5 (range:4‒15) and mRS was 0‒2 in 37%, and ≥3 in 63%. Conclusions: With adequate logistics and strict selection criteria, MT can be implemented in our population with results like those reported in large clinical trials.

Stroke ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 47 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Korya ◽  
Mohammad Moussavi ◽  
Siddhart Mehta ◽  
Jaskiran Brar ◽  
Mena Samaan ◽  
...  

Background: The treatment of acute ischemic stroke has evolved over the past several years to utilize neuroimaging in guiding therapy. With regard to IV tPA and thrombectomy, recent endovascular therapy trials have utilized the ASPECT score in determining if intervention should be attempted. We sought to evaluate different regions of interest on the ASPECT score to determine if specific areas of injury should be weighed more heavily during decision making. Methods: We evaluated the pre-intervention CT scans of the head on all patients who received IV tPA and mechanical thrombectomy during the last two years at a community based, university affiliated comprehensive stroke center. All 20 regions of interest (ROIs) of the ASPECT score were compared with each other with regard to initial NIH stroke score, discharge NIHSS, delta NIHSS and modified Rankin Score to determine if one or more regions were associated with worse outcome. SPSS version 22 was used to determine Spearman rho values and paired samples t-test. Results: A total of 864 patients presented with acute ischemic stroke, of which 70 patients received IV tPA followed by mechanical thrombectomy and were included in the study. The 4 ROIs with the greatest correlation with worse outcome as rated by discharge mRS were the right and left M5-M6 [4.2 (p=.001, 95%CI 3.5-4.8); 4.3 (p=.001, 95%CI 3.4-5.1); 4.3 (p=.001, 95%CI 3.4-5.2); 4.2 (p=.001, 95%CI 3.6-4.8), respectively]. Conclusion: Early changes defined as hypodensity in the M5 and M6 ROIs on either side of the pre-intervention head CT were associated with significantly worse outcomes. A modified ASPECT score should be considered to better prognosticate patients and guide the appropriateness of endovascular therapy in select patients. These findings should be validated in a larger population and a longer follow-up period.


Stroke ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 52 (Suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Vivien H Lee ◽  
Paul A Segerstrom ◽  
Ciarán J Powers ◽  
Sharon Heaton ◽  
Shahid M Nimjee ◽  
...  

Introduction: Acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients who present to a spoke Emergency Room (ER) and require transfer to a comprehensive stroke center (CSC) hub face potential delays Methods: We performed a retrospective review of 269 suspected AIS patients who received intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) from July 2016 to October 2017 in our academic telestroke network. During this period, nearly all tPA patients were transferred to the CSC hub. Data was collected on patient demographics, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), door to needle time (DTN), and distance to CSC. ER-to-CSC was defined as the time from patient arrival at Spoke ER to arrival at CSC. Top volume ER status was assigned to the 4 Spoke ERs with the highest volume of tPA. Results: Among 269 AIS patients who received tPA at spoke ERs, the mean age was 65.4 years (range, 21 to 95), 49% were female, and 91.8% were white. The initial median NIHSS was 6 (range, 0 to 30) and the mean DTN was 73.1 minutes (range, 14 to 234). The mean distance from Spoke ER to CSC was 55.2 miles (range 5.8 to 125) and the mean ER-to-CSC was 2.6 hours (range 0.62 to 6.3) (Figure 1). In univariate analysis, the following factors were significantly associated with ER-to-CSC: distance (p < 0.0001), DTN (p < 0.0001), NIHSS (p 0.0007), and top volume ER status (p 0.0034). Patient sex, age, race, SBP, weight, initial NIHSS, daytime shift, and weekend status were not significantly associated with ER-to-CSC. Significant variables from the univariate analysis were included in multivariate linear regression model in which DTN (P < 0.0001), distance (P < 0.0001), and NIHSS (P 0.024) association with ER-to-CSC remained significant. Conclusions: In our series of AIS tPA patients transferred to CSC, the mean time from spoke ER arrival to CSC arrival was 2.6 hours. Factors associated with CSC arrival time include markers of ER performance (DTN), severity (NIHSS), and distance. Further study is warranted to improve transfer time in AIS.


2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 69-82
Author(s):  
Mohammad El-Ghanem ◽  
Francisco E. Gomez ◽  
Prateeka Koul ◽  
Rolla Nuoman ◽  
Justin G. Santarelli ◽  
...  

Background: Traditionally, patients undergoing acute ischemic strokes were candidates for mechanical thrombectomy if they were within the 6-h window from onset of symptoms. This timeframe would exclude many patient populations, such as wake-up strokes. However, the most recent clinical trials, DAWN and DEFUSE3, have expanded the window of endovascular treatment for acute ischemic stroke patients to within 24 h from symptom onset. This expanded window increases the number of potential candidates for endovascular intervention for emergent large vessel occlusions and raises the question of how to efficiently screen and triage this increase of patients. Summary: Abbreviated pre-hospital stroke scales can be used to guide EMS personnel in quickly deciding if a patient is undergoing a stroke. Telestroke networks connect remote hospitals to stroke specialists to improve the transportation time of the patient to a comprehensive stroke center for the appropriate level of care. Mobile stroke units, mobile interventional units, and helistroke reverse the traditional hub-and-spoke model by bringing imaging, tPA, and expertise to the patient. Smartphone applications and social media aid in educating patients and the public regarding acute and long-term stroke care. Key Messages: The DAWN and DEFUSE3 trials have expanded the treatment window for certain acute ischemic stroke patients with mechanical thrombectomy and subsequently have increased the number of potential candidates for endovascular intervention. This expansion brings patient screening and triaging to greater importance, as reducing the time from symptom onset to decision-to-treat and groin puncture can better stroke patient outcomes. Several strategies have been employed to address this issue by reducing the time of symptom onset to decision-to-treat time.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Soichiro Abe ◽  
Kanta Tanaka ◽  
Hiroshi Yamagami ◽  
Kazutaka Sonoda ◽  
Hiroya Hayashi ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Simultaneous cerebral and myocardial infarction is called cardiocerebral infarction (CCI), and is rarely encountered. Because of the narrow time window and complex pathophysiology, CCI is challenging to immediately diagnose and treat. Case presentation A 73-year-old woman suddenly developed right hemiplegia and severe aphasia. Twelve-lead electrocardiography showed tachycardic atrial fibrillation without any significant ST-T change. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a proximal middle cerebral artery occlusion. She was immediately treated with alteplase at the dosage approved for ischemic stroke followed by mechanical thrombectomy, and complete recanalization was achieved. Aphasia improved and she began to complain of chest pain, and reported that she had experienced chest discomfort just prior to right limb weakness. Coronary angiography showed a partial filling defect in the right coronary artery with rapid and adequate distal flow, for which percutaneous coronary intervention was not required. Alteplase was suggested to have effectively resolved the coronary emboli. The occlusions of the cerebral and coronary arteries were assumed to have occurred nearly simultaneously and cardiogenic embolism due to atrial fibrillation was considered as the most likely etiology. Conclusions As seen in the present case, CCI may benefit from immediate treatment with intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (IV-tPA). Although which of percutaneous coronary intervention or cerebral thrombectomy should be performed first remains unclear, we must decide to rescue the brain or heart first in each patient within a limited window of time. In this era with both IV-tPA and mechanical thrombectomy robustly established as effective intervention for acute ischemic stroke, close cooperation between stroke physicians and cardiologists is becoming more important.


2019 ◽  
pp. 174749301988452 ◽  
Author(s):  
Akiko Kada ◽  
Kuniaki Ogasawara ◽  
Takanari Kitazono ◽  
Kunihiro Nishimura ◽  
Nobuyuki Sakai ◽  
...  

Background Limited national-level information on temporal trends in comprehensive stroke center capabilities and their effects on acute ischemic stroke patients exists. Aims To examine trends in in-hospital outcomes of acute ischemic stroke patients and the prognostic influence of temporal changes in comprehensive stroke center capabilities in Japan. Methods This retrospective study used the J-ASPECT Diagnosis Procedure Combination database and identified 372,978 acute ischemic stroke patients hospitalized in 650 institutions between 2010 and 2016. Temporal trends in patient outcomes and recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) and mechanical thrombectomy usage were examined. Facility comprehensive stroke center capabilities were assessed using a validated scoring system (comprehensive stroke center score: 1–25 points) in 2010 and 2014. The prognostic influence of temporal comprehensive stroke center score changes on in-hospital mortality and poor outcomes (modified Rankin Scale: 3–6) at discharge were examined using hierarchical logistic regression models. Results Over time, stroke severity at admission decreased, whereas median age, sex ratio, and comorbidities remained stable. The median comprehensive stroke center score increased from 16 to 17 points. After adjusting for age, sex, comorbidities, consciousness level, and facility comprehensive stroke center score, proportion of in-hospital mortality and poor outcomes at discharge decreased (from 7.6% to 5.0%, and from 48.7% to 43.1%, respectively). The preceding comprehensive stroke center score increase (in 2010–2014) was independently associated with reduced in-hospital mortality and poor outcomes, and increased rt-PA and mechanical thrombectomy use (odds ratio (95% confidence interval): 0.97 (0.95–0.99), 0.97 (0.95–0.998), 1.07 (1.04–1.10), and 1.21 (1.14–1.28), respectively). Conclusions This nationwide study revealed six-year trends in better patient outcomes and increased use of rt-PA and mechanical thrombectomy in acute ischemic stroke. In addition to lesser stroke severity, preceding improvement of comprehensive stroke center capabilities was an independent factor associated with such trends, suggesting importance of comprehensive stroke center capabilities as a prognostic indicator of acute stroke care.


Stroke ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 51 (Suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kunakorn Atchaneeyasakul ◽  
Shashvat Desai ◽  
Jay Dolia ◽  
Kavit Shah ◽  
Merritt Brown ◽  
...  

Background: The current 2018 AHA/ASA Guidelines for early stroke management recommend use of IV tPA in all eligible acute ischemic stroke patients within 4.5 hours of onset while being considered for mechanical thrombectomy (MT). Whether or not tPA administration is beneficial prior to thrombectomy is still an ongoing debate. Potential delay of MT initiation due to tPA start is a major concern but has not been well-delineated in empirical studies. Methods: In a prospective large volume comprehensive stroke center registry, we analyzed all patients with acute ischemic stroke due to large vessel occlusion (AIS-LVO) treated with thrombectomy between 2012-2017, who arrived directly from field to ED within 4.5h of last known well. Patients without contraindication to IV-tPA are given bolus dose in the scanner suite and the remainder of the 1h infusion en route to and in the angio-suite to prevent delay. Results: Among 777 thrombectomy patients identified in the database, 237 arrived directly within 4.5 hours from onset, including 65.8% (156) not treated with IV-tPA and 34.2% (81) receiving IV-tPA, both well-matched in age and NIHSS. Overall, the door-to-needle (DTN) time was 40m (IQR31-56), surpassing the Target Stroke national targets (60m and 45m) active during the study period. However, median door-to-puncture (DTP) time was 22m longer in the IV-tPA group, 74 vs 52m (p<0.001). IV-tPA was not independently associated with better recanalization rate (TICI 2B-3 95.9% vs 92.9%) or functional independent outcome (modified Rankin score 0-2) at 90 days, 37.3% vs 39.4%. Conclusion: IV-tPA administration in AIS-LVO was associated with delayed door-to-puncture times in a comprehensive stroke center with efficient DTN times surpassing advanced national targets, without change in recanalization rate or outcomes. Randomized trials are needed to determine the net positive, neutral, or negative effect of IV-tPA in this population.


2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 246-251 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wagih Ben Hassen ◽  
Nicolas Raynaud ◽  
Nicolas Bricout ◽  
Gregoire Boulouis ◽  
Laurence Legrand ◽  
...  

ObjectivesThe MRI-DRAGON score includes clinical and MRI parameters and demonstrates a high specificity in predicting 3 month outcome in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) treated with intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (IV tPA). The aim of this study was to adapt this score to mechanical thrombectomy (MT) in a large multicenter cohort.MethodsConsecutive cases of AIS treated by MT between January 2015 and December 2017 from three stroke centers were reviewed (n=1077). We derived the MT-DRAGON score by keeping all variables of the MRI-DRAGON score (age, initial National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score, glucose level, pre-stroke modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score, diffusion weighted imaging-Alberta Stroke Program Early CT score ≤5) and considering the following variables: time to groin puncture instead of onset to IV tPA time and occlusion site. Unfavorable 3 month outcome was defined as a mRS score >2. Score performance was evaluated by c statistics and an external validation was performed.ResultsAmong 679 included patients (derivation and validation cohorts, n=431 and 248, respectively), an unfavorable outcome was similar between the derivation (51.5%) and validation (58.1%, P=0.7) cohorts, and was significantly associated with all MT-DRAGON parameters in the multivariable analysis. The c statistics for unfavorable outcome prediction was 0.83 (95%CI 0.79 to 0.88) in the derivation and 0.8 (95%CI 0.75 to 0.86) in the validation cohort. All patients (n=55) with an MT-DRAGONscore ≥11 had an unfavorable outcome and 60/63 (95%) patients with an MT-DRAGON score ≤2 points had a favorable outcome.ConclusionThe MT-DRAGON score is a simple tool, combining admission clinical and radiological parameters that can reliably predict 3 month outcome after MT.


Stroke ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 44 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marija Lum ◽  
Jon Schrock

Background: Target stroke guidelines recommend a door-to-needle time (DNT) ≤60 minutes for acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients treated with tissue plasminogen activator (tPA). Research has shown that <30% of patients achieve this goal. It is unclear how the timing of chest radiography (CXR) and electrocardiography (EKG) affect DNT. We studied all steps involved in the evaluation and treatment of AIS with IV tPA to look for causes of delay. Methods: A retrospective review of all AIS patients treated in the ED with IV tPA over a four year period was performed. Transferred patients were excluded. Times comparing intervals from door to head CT, CT result, EKG, CXR, and IV tPA treatment, were evaluated. Demographic data and length of symptom onset were recorded. Non-modifiable delays in treatment were recorded. Data are presented in minutes (min) as medians with interquartile range and χ 2 testing was used as appropriate. Results: A total of 79 AIS patients met inclusion criteria, with 22 (28%) receiving IV tPA ≤60 minutes. Treatment with tPA in ≤60 minutes was significantly greater if symptom onset was >90 minutes (p<0.05) and if the EKG was done after the head CT (p<0.05). There was a change in median CT times with those who received EKG before CT and those who did not, 23 min (15-36 min) and 17 min (10-24min), respectively. Patients who received a CXR before CT had a median CT time of 32 min (21-38min) compared to 19 min (13-27min) for patients who did not. Unavoidable delays related to trauma, intubation, or delayed familial consent occurred in 7 (9%) patients. Post-tPA hemorrhage occurred in 13 (16%) patients. Eight (10%) patients expired. Conclusion: Non-critical studies performed prior to head CT increase DNT. An EKG performed before the head CT is completed increased CT time by 6 minutes and a CXR obtained before the head CT increased CT time by 13 minutes. Physician urgency is also a critical factor in DNT and is diminished in patients who arrive soon after symptom onset. DNT ≤60 minutes for AIS patients are affected by the level of urgency and order of diagnostic studies. Current primary stroke center recommendations of an EKG and CXR within 45 minutes may result in delayed treatment if these studies are performed before the head CT.


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