Challenges in Posterior Circulation Ischemic Stroke

The generalization of perfusion-based, anterior circulation large vessel occlusion selection criteria to posterior circulation stroke is not straightforward due to physiologic delay, which we posit produces physiologic prolongation of the posterior circulation perfusion time-to-maximum (Tmax). To assess normative Tmax distributions, patients undergoing CTA/CTP for suspected ischemic stroke between 1/2018-3/2019 were retrospectively identified. Subjects with any cerebrovascular stenoses, or with follow-up MRI or final clinical diagnosis of stroke were excluded. Posterior circulation anatomic variations were identified. CTP were processed in RAPID and segmented in a custom pipeline permitting manually-enforced arterial input function (AIF) and perfusion estimations constrained to pre-specified vascular territories. Seventy-one subjects (mean 64 ± 19 years) met inclusion. Median Tmax was significantly greater in the cerebellar hemispheres (right: 3.0 s, left: 2.9 s) and PCA territories (right: 2.9 s; left: 3.3 s) than in the anterior circulation (right: 2.4 s; left: 2.3 s, p < 0.001). Fetal PCA disposition eliminated ipsilateral PCA Tmax delays (p = 0.012). Median territorial Tmax was significantly lower with basilar versus any anterior circulation AIF for all vascular territories (p < 0.001). Significant baseline delays in posterior circulation Tmax are observed even without steno-occlusive disease and vary with anatomic variation and AIF selection. The potential for overestimation of at-risk volumes in the posterior circulation merits caution in future trials.

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The anesthetic approach for endovascular recanalization therapy depends on the lesion site in acute ischemic stroke

Neuroradiology ◽

10.1007/s00234-021-02762-3 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Kilian Fröhlich ◽

Gabriela Siedler ◽

Svenja Stoll ◽

Kosmas Macha ◽

Thomas M. Kinfe ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Ischemic Stroke ◽

Middle Cerebral Artery ◽

Acute Ischemic Stroke ◽

Cerebral Artery ◽

Posterior Circulation ◽

Neurological Deficits ◽

Stroke Severity ◽

Lesion Volume ◽

Middle Cerebral Artery Territory ◽

Cerebral Lesion

Abstract Purpose Endovascular therapy (EVT) of large-vessel occlusion in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) may be performed in general anesthesia (GA) or conscious sedation (CS). We intended to determine the contribution of ischemic cerebral lesion sites on the physician’s decision between GA and CS using voxel-based lesion symptom mapping (VLSM). Methods In a prospective local database, we sought patients with documented AIS and EVT. Age, stroke severity, lesion volume, vigilance, and aphasia scores were compared between EVT patients with GA and CS. The ischemic lesions were analyzed on CT or MRI scans and transformed into stereotaxic space. We determined the lesion overlap and assessed whether GA or CS is associated with specific cerebral lesion sites using the voxel-wise Liebermeister test. Results One hundred seventy-nine patients with AIS and EVT were included in the analysis. The VLSM analysis yielded associations between GA and ischemic lesions in the left hemispheric middle cerebral artery territory and posterior circulation areas. Stroke severity and lesion volume were significantly higher in the GA group. The prevalence of aphasia and aphasia severity was significantly higher and parameters of vigilance lower in the GA group. Conclusions The VLSM analysis showed associations between GA and ischemic lesions in the left hemispheric middle cerebral artery territory and posterior circulation areas including the thalamus that are known to cause neurologic deficits, such as aphasia or compromised vigilance, in AIS-patients with EVT. Our data suggest that higher disability, clinical impairment due to neurological deficits like aphasia, or reduced alertness of affected patients may influence the physician’s decision on using GA in EVT.

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Abstract 74: Early Arterial Recanalization After Intra-venous Tissue-Plasminogen-Activator Treatment in the Interventional Management of Stroke-3 Study

Stroke ◽

10.1161/str.45.suppl_1.74 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 45 (suppl_1) ◽

Author(s):

Ruediger Von Kummer ◽

Andrew M Demchuk ◽

Lydia D Foster ◽

Bernard Yan ◽

Wouter J Schonewille ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Ischemic Stroke ◽

Clinical Outcome ◽

Acute Ischemic Stroke ◽

Internal Carotid ◽

Arterial Occlusion ◽

Posterior Circulation ◽

Stroke Patients ◽

Vessel Occlusion ◽

Tissue Plasminogen ◽

Arterial Recanalization

Background: Data on arterial recanalization after IV t-PA treatment are rare. IMS-3 allows the study of variables affecting arterial recanalization after IV t-PA in acute ischemic stroke patients with CTA-proved major artery occlusions. Methods: Of 656 acute ischemic stroke patients in IMS-3, 306 were examined with baseline CTA and randomized either to IV t-PA (N=95) or to IV t-PA followed by digital subtraction angiography (DSA) and endovascular therapy (EVT) (N=211). Comparison of baseline CTA to DSA within 5 hours of stroke onset assessed early arterial recanalization after IV t-PA. A central core lab categorized DSA vessel occlusion as “no, partial, or complete”. We studied the association between arterial occlusion sites on baseline CTA with early recanalization for the endovascular group and analyzed its impact on clinical outcome at 90 days. Results: In the EVT group, 22 patients (10.4%) had no CTA intracranial occlusions, but 1 extracranial occlusion; 42 patients (19.9%) had occlusions of intracranial internal carotid artery (ic-ICA); 10 patients (4.7%) had tandem occlusions of the cervical ICA and middle cerebral artery (MCA); 95 patients (45.0%) had MCA-trunk (M1) occlusions, 33 patients (15.6%) had M2 occlusions, 3 patients (1.4%) had M3/4 occlusions, and 6 patients (2.8%) occlusions within posterior circulation. Partial or complete recanalization occurred in 28.6% of patients before DSA and was marginally associated with occlusion site (p=0.0525) (8 patients (19.0%) with ic-ICA occlusion, 0 patients with tandem ICA/MCA occlusions, 34 patients (35.8%) with M1 occlusions, 11 patients (33.3%) with M2 occlusions, 0 patients with M3/4 occlusions, and 1 patient (16.7%) with occlusion within posterior circulation). Three CTA negative patients had intracranial occlusions on DSA. Thirty-two patients (59.3%) with early recanalization achieved mRS of 0-2 at 90 days compared to 51 patients (38.4%) without early recanalization (p=0.0099). There was no relationship between early recanalization and time to IV t-PA or mean t-PA dose. Conclusion: Before EVT, IV rt-PA may facilitate arterial recanalization and better clinical outcome in about one third of patients.

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Abstract TP144: Mechanisms And Prognosis Of Acute Ischemic Stroke Related To Acute Aortic Dissection

Stroke ◽

10.1161/str.44.suppl_1.atp144 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 44 (suppl_1) ◽

Author(s):

Seung-Jae Lee ◽

Dong-Suk Shim ◽

Si-Ryung Han

Keyword(s):

Ischemic Stroke ◽

Aortic Dissection ◽

Early Onset ◽

Acute Aortic Dissection ◽

Type A ◽

Posterior Circulation ◽

Type B ◽

Delayed Onset ◽

Bilateral Carotid ◽

Type B Dissection

Background: Acute aortic dissection (AD) is one of the lethal cardiac diseases involving the aorta. Although pain is a typical symptom, stroke may not rarely occur with the occlusive dissection of aortic branches or hypotension under the condition of AD. We attempted to explores the clinical features, possible mechanisms and prognosis of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) related to AD Method: Medical records of 278 consecutive patients with AD (165 with type A and 113 with type B dissection) over 11.5 years were retrospectively analyzed for clinical history, CT or MRI findings and outcome. AIS were categorized into early- or delayed-onset stroke. Early-onset stroke was defined as an AIS presented at admission, and delayed-onset stroke was an AIS which were developed during the two months after the first admission. Results: 26 (9.4%) patients experienced an ischemic stroke, which included 22 with type A and 4 with type B dissection. 8 patients (2.9%) including a case of TIA had an early-onset stroke, whereas delayed-onset stroke occurred in 18 patients (6.5%) postoperatively or under medical treatment. Early-onset stroke was all referable to the anterior circulation, predominantly right-sided (87.5%). One or more main branches of the aortic arch were involved in 6 out of 8 patients (75%) with early-onset stroke. Innominate artery was most frequently involved (75.0%). In contrast, delayed-onset stroke affected similarly bilateral carotid territories, and also included lesions in bilateral carotid, posterior-circulation and anterior/posterior-circulation territories. Among the 26 patients, 8 patients (30.8%) expired within 6 months of the disease onset (3 cases from hemispheric stroke with brain herniation, 2 cases from aortic rupture, 2 cases from sepsis with multiple organ failure and a case from mesentery ischemia and renal failure). Additionally, 9 patients (34.6%) remained functionally dependent six months later. Conclusion: AD not infrequently causes AIS with grave prognosis, especially in patients with type A dissection. The presumed mechanisms were aortic branch dissection causing luminal occlusion and emboli from thrombosed vascular lumen and hypotension under the condition of AD.

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Abstract TP400: The Differences of Vessel Wall Features Between the Anterior and Posterior Brain Arteries Detected by High Resolution Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke

Stroke ◽

10.1161/str.51.suppl_1.tp400 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 51 (Suppl_1) ◽

Author(s):

Xiangyan Chen ◽

Lu Zheng ◽

Jia LI ◽

Wenjie Yang

Keyword(s):

Magnetic Resonance Imaging ◽

Ischemic Stroke ◽

Magnetic Resonance ◽

High Resolution ◽

Acute Ischemic Stroke ◽

Vessel Wall ◽

Posterior Circulation ◽

Intraplaque Hemorrhage ◽

Resonance Imaging ◽

Anterior Circulation

Backgrounds: The purpose of this study was to investigate vessel wall features visualization by high resolution magnetic resonance imaging (HRMRI) in a series of ischemic stroke patients and to identify differences between lesions in the anterior and posterior circulation. Methods: We consecutively recruited Chinese patients with acute ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack from 2016 to 2018. All patients were scanned at 3T magnetic resonance imaging. We evaluated pre-and post-contrast cross-sectional views of M1 and M2 segments of middle cerebral arteries (MCAs), basilar arteries (BA) and V4 segments of vertebral arteries (VAs). Results: A total of 74 patients (males 52.3%; median age 62 years old) were included in this study, among which, 234 lesions were identified on HRMRI, including 117 MCA lesions, 26 BA lesions, and 91 VA lesions. The sensitivity and specificity of MRA for diagnosing stenosis in anterior circulation were 89.3% (95% CI, 81.8%- 94.2%) and 50.0 (95% CI, 9.2%- 90.8%). The sensitivity and specificity of MRA for diagnosing stenosis in posterior circulation were 73.2% (95% CI, 63.9%- 80.9%) and 40.0 (95% CI, 7.3%- 83.0%). VA had a significantly higher contrast enhancement index (43.71± 7.74, p <0.016) than MCA (23.32± 2.46) or BA (22.69± 5.31) . Anterior circulation plaques had higher degree of stenosis (anterior versus posterior: 68.5% vs. 62.9%, p =0.036), more eccentric distribution (anterior versus posterior: 70.1% versus 53.8%, p =0.015) and higher rate of intraplaque hemorrhage (anterior versus posterior: 17.1% versus 7.7%, p =0.046). The plaques in posterior circulation had a thicker lesion wall (posterior versus anterior 16.58± 8.25 mm 2 vs. 9.10± 4.07 mm 2 , p <0.001) and higher enhancement index (posterior versus anterior 39.04± 8.50 vs. 23.32± 2.46, p <0.001) than the plaques in anterior circulation. Conclusions: The lesions in posterior circulations could be obscure on MRA. The area stenosis, intraplaque hemorrhage and enhancement index differed between circulations.

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Abstract TP361: Recreational Drug Use and Arterial Ischemic Stroke in a Pediatric Cohort

Stroke ◽

10.1161/str.51.suppl_1.tp361 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 51 (Suppl_1) ◽

Author(s):

Ishvinder Bhathal ◽

Tazeen Qureshi ◽

Mahendranath Moharir ◽

Daune MacGregor ◽

Elizabeth Pulcine ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Ischemic Stroke ◽

Drug Use ◽

Tertiary Care ◽

Case Series ◽

Posterior Circulation ◽

Recreational Drug ◽

Arterial Ischemic Stroke ◽

Anterior Circulation ◽

Recreational Drug Use ◽

The Impact

Background: Existing literature reports an association between recreational drug use and arterial ischemic stroke (AIS) in adults. Due to recent trends in legalization and concerns regarding the impact of drugs on the developing brain, there is an urgent need for increased awareness of recreational drug use as a risk factor for AIS in childhood. Purpose: To increase awareness of an association between AIS and recreational drug use in a pediatric cohort. Methods: We conducted a retrospective chart review of a consecutive cohort of patients at a tertiary care pediatric center diagnosed with AIS in the context of recreational drug use between 2008-2017. Drug use was confirmed using toxicology testing and clinical history. Demographic, clinical and radiological data were collected. Pediatric Stroke Outcome Measure scores (PSOM) were obtained from an institutional Stroke Registry. Results: Three males and one female were included in the study. Mean age at stroke presentation was 16.3 years (range 16-17 years). Three children presented with focal neurologic deficit and one with new onset seizure. Drug use for each patient was described as follows: Patient A - Marijuana; Patient B - Oxybutynin, Fluoxetine and unidentified compound; Patient C - Marijuana and Amphetamine; Patient D - Marijuana and alcohol. MRI demonstrated diffusion restriction in the anterior circulation in two children, anterior and posterior circulation in one child, and bilateral posterior circulation in one child also found to have a remote AIS. Vascular findings included: Patient A - normal; Patient B and C - right anterior circulation arteriopathy; Patient D - posterior circulation arteriopathy and bilateral vessel wall enhancement. ECHO and pro-thrombotic results were non-contributory. However, one patient required PFO closure. PSOM scores indicated mild-moderate disability initially and moderate disability at follow-up for three of four patients. Conclusions: This case series describes an association between recreational drug use and AIS in adolescents. We are unable to comment on the incidence of AIS related to drug use from our cohort. However, our data highlights a need for public health strategies that acknowledge AIS as a potential consequence of recreational drug use in adolescents.

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Abstract TP32: Endovascular Therapy for Acute Ischemic Stroke Beyond the 6 Hour Window

Stroke ◽

10.1161/str.48.suppl_1.tp32 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 48 (suppl_1) ◽

Author(s):

Yi Mao ◽

Sameer Sharma ◽

Hesham Masoud ◽

Julius G Latorre

Keyword(s):

Ischemic Stroke ◽

Acute Ischemic Stroke ◽

Endovascular Therapy ◽

Current Data ◽

Posterior Circulation ◽

Published Data ◽

Advanced Imaging ◽

Poor Outcomes ◽

Mr Clean ◽

Insight Into

Background: Recent randomized trials demonstrated the efficacy of endovascular therapy (EVT) in managing acute ischemic stroke (AIS), though EVT was initiated <6 hours from time last seen well in nearly all patients, and posterior circulation strokes were excluded. Current data is limited for patients receiving EVT >6 hours, and more so for those with posterior circulation strokes. We aim to assess safety and clinical outcome of EVT in patients presenting >6 hours, with anterior or posterior circulation strokes. Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of patients with AIS receiving EVT >6 hours between 2012-2015, including those with unknown time of onset and wake-up strokes. Outcomes observed include mRS at ≥90 days, rates of recanalization (TICI 2b-3), sICH and mortality. Results: A total of 34 patients were identified presenting with AIS and receiving EVT >6 hours, including 25 anterior and 9 posterior circulation strokes. See Table 1 for comparison with published data from recent EVT trials. Conclusion: Our results are not significantly different from some of the recent trials. MR CLEAN, the only trial that did not employ advanced imaging in patient selection, had similar outcomes. The IV-tPA only groups of recent trials (where data is available) also produced comparable results. It should be noted that the patients in our study all have large vessel occlusions and high NIHSS, are mostly ineligible for tPA, and thus would be expected to have very poor outcomes without treatment. Our data supports the possibility of expanding the EVT window to >6 hours, and with advanced imaging screening, better rates of functional outcome/mortality may still be achieved. DAWN and DEFUSE3 trials currently underway should provide further insight into this subject.

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Characteristics and Outcome in Children With Craniectomy Following Acute Ischemic Stroke in the International Pediatric Stroke Study

Journal of Child Neurology ◽

10.1177/0883073819855534 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 34 (12) ◽

pp. 765-769 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Laura L. Lehman ◽

Gabrielle DeVeber ◽

Paola Pergami ◽

Kristin P. Guilliams ◽

Melissa Chung ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Ischemic Stroke ◽

Middle Cerebral Artery ◽

Acute Ischemic Stroke ◽

Cerebral Artery ◽

Posterior Circulation ◽

Pediatric Stroke ◽

Posterior Decompression ◽

Posterior Circulation Stroke ◽

Stroke Study ◽

International Pediatric

The outcome of children with acute ischemic stroke treated with craniectomy has not been thoroughly examined. In adults, hemicraniectomy after middle cerebral artery territory stroke and posterior decompression after posterior circulation stroke has been shown to improve outcome. Pediatric cases of hemicraniectomy for middle cerebral artery stroke and posterior decompression following posterior circulation stroke suggest relatively good outcome. There are no published data in adults or children with craniectomy after cerebral sinovenous thrombosis. Our aim was to determine the outcome of children with acute ischemic stroke treated with craniectomy in the International Pediatric Stroke Study (IPSS). We included children enrolled who had a craniectomy following stroke presentation. Of 4294 patients in IPSS, 38 children (1%) were found to have craniectomy following an ischemic stroke. Of 38 craniectomy cases, 29 had anterior circulation strokes, 5 had posterior circulation strokes, and 4 had cerebral sinovenous thromboses. The mortality rate was 8%. Overall, children who have craniectomies have significant neurologic deficits. Prospective studies are needed to examine long-term morbidity following craniectomy.

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