Endovascular Therapy vs. Thrombolysis in Pre-stroke Dependent Patients With Large Vessel Occlusions Within the Anterior Circulation

Background: In the past few years, several randomized trials have clearly shown that endovascular treatment (ET) in addition to intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) is superior to IVT alone in patients with proximal cerebral arterial occlusions. However, the effectiveness of ET in pre-stroke dependent patients (modified Rankin Scale ≥3) is uncertain.Methods: Using our prospectively obtained stroke database, we analyzed the impact of pre-stroke dependence on the rates of poor outcome (discharge mRS 5–6), in-hospital death, infarct sizes, and symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (SICH) in patients with distal intracranial carotid artery M1 and M2 occlusions during two time periods.Results: From 1/2008 to 10/2012, a total of 544 patients (455 without and 89 with dependence) were treated with IVT, and from 11/2012 to 12/2019 a total of 1,061 patients (919 without and 142 with dependence) received ET (with or without IVT). Irrespective of the treatment modality, the dependent patients had significantly higher rates of poor outcome (55 vs. 32%, p < 0.001), death (24 vs. 11%; p < 0.001), or SICH (8.2 vs. 3.6%, p < 0.01) than independent patients. In dependent patients, ET significantly reduced the rates of poor outcome (49 vs. 64%, p < 0.01) and led to smaller infarcts, whereas the rates of in-hospital death (25 vs. 22%; p = 0.6) or SICH (8.5 vs. 7.9%, p = 0.9) were comparable between both treatment modalities.Conclusions: Compared with IVT, ET avoids poor outcome and leads to smaller infarcts in dependent patients. However, the overall high rates of poor outcome in this patient population stress the importance to perform decisions based on a case-by-case basis.

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Endovascular therapy versus thrombolysis in patients with large vessel occlusions within the anterior circulation aged ≥80 years

Journal of NeuroInterventional Surgery ◽

10.1136/neurintsurg-2017-013732 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 10 (11) ◽

pp. 1053-1056 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Andreas Kastrup ◽

Freimuth Brunner ◽

Helmut Hildebrandt ◽

Christian Roth ◽

Michael Winterhalter ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Intravenous Thrombolysis ◽

Large Vessel ◽

Hospital Death ◽

Anterior Circulation ◽

Excellent Outcome ◽

Good Outcome ◽

Poor Outcome ◽

Clinical And Radiological Outcome ◽

Stent Retrievers ◽

Symptomatic Intracranial Hemorrhage

Background and purposeIn patients with large vessel occlusions, endovascular treatment (ET) has been shown to be superior to intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) in recent trials. However, the effectiveness of ET in elderly patients is uncertain.MethodsUsing our stroke database, we compared the rates of good outcome (modified Rankin scale (mRS) ≤2), excellent outcome (mRS 0–1), poor outcome (mRS 5–6) at discharge, in-hospital death, infarct size, and symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (SICH) in patients aged ≥80 years with distal intracranial carotid artery, M1 and M2 occlusions during two time periods.ResultsFrom January 2008 to October 2012, 217 patients were treated with IVT and, from November 2012 to October 2017, 209 patients received ET with stent retrievers (with or without IVT). Significantly more patients in the ET group than in the IVT group had a good outcome (25% vs 16%, P<0.05), as well as an excellent outcome (12% vs 4%, P<0.01). Significantly fewer patients in the ET group than in the IVT group died (14% vs 22%, P<0.05) or had a poor outcome (35% vs 52%, P<001). The SICH rates were lower after ET than after IVT (1% vs 6%, P<0.01), and the infarct sizes were smaller after ET than after IVT.ConclusionsCompared with IVT, the routine use of ET significantly improved the early clinical and radiological outcome in patients with anterior circulation large vessel occlusions aged ≥80 years. Nevertheless, poor outcome rates were high so the role of ET needs to be defined further in this population.

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Analysis of 565 thrombectomies for anterior circulation stroke: A Brazilian registry

Interventional Neuroradiology ◽

10.1177/15910199211026995 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 159101992110269

Author(s):

Vitor Rodrigues Fornazari ◽

Luís Henrique de Castro-Afonso ◽

Guilherme Seizem Nakiri ◽

Thiago Giansante Abud ◽

Lucas Moretti Monsignore ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Randomized Trials ◽

Mechanical Thrombectomy ◽

Real Life ◽

Intravenous Thrombolysis ◽

Developed Countries ◽

Anterior Circulation ◽

Symptomatic Intracranial Hemorrhage ◽

The Mean ◽

Poor Outcomes ◽

Mean Time

Introduction The benefits of mechanical thrombectomy in the treatment of patients with acute stroke due to large vessel occlusions (LVOs) have been extensively demonstrated by randomized trials and registries in developed countries. However, data on thrombectomy outside controlled trials are scarce in developing countries. The aim of this study was to assess the safety and efficacy, and to investigate the predictors for good and poor outcomes of thrombectomy for treatment of AIS due to anterior circulation LVOs in Brazil. Materials and Methods This was a single center registry of thrombectomy in the treatment of stroke caused by anterior circulation LVOs. Between 2011 and 2019, a total of 565 patients were included. Results the mean baseline NIHSS score on admission was 17.2. The average baseline ASPECTS was 8, and 91.0% of patients scored ≥6. Half of the patients received intravenous thrombolysis. The mean time from symptom onset to arterial puncture was 296.4 minutes. The mean procedure time was 61.4 minutes. The rates of the main outcomes were recanalization (TICI 2b-3) 85.6%, symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH) 8,1%, good clinical outcome (mRS=0-2) 43,5%, and mortality 22.1% at three months. Conclusions This study demonstrates the efficacy and safety of mechanical thrombectomy for treatment of patients with AIS of the anterior circulation in real-life conditions under limited facilities and resources. The results of the present study were relatively similar to those of large trials and population registers of developed countries.

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Acute Management Should Be Optimized in Patients with Less Specific Stroke Symptoms: Findings from a Retrospective Observational Study

Journal of Clinical Medicine ◽

10.3390/jcm10051143 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (5) ◽

pp. 1143

Author(s):

Simona Halúsková ◽

Roman Herzig ◽

Dagmar Krajíčková ◽

Abduljabar Hamza ◽

Antonín Krajina ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Wide Spectrum ◽

Intravenous Thrombolysis ◽

National Institutes Of Health ◽

Vascular Territory ◽

Anterior Circulation ◽

Point Increase ◽

Single Center Study ◽

Mouth Corner ◽

Specific Symptoms ◽

The Impact

Anterior circulation stroke (ACS) is associated with typical symptoms, while posterior circulation stroke (PCS) may cause a wide spectrum of less specific symptoms. We aim to assess the correlation between the initial presentation of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) symptoms and the treatment timeline. Using a retrospective, observational, single-center study, the set consists of 809 AIS patients treated with intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) and/or endovascular treatment (EVT). We investigate the impact of baseline clinical AIS symptoms and the affected vascular territory on recanalization times in patients treated with IVT only and EVT (±IVT). Regarding the IVT-only group, increasing the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score on admission and speech difficulties are associated with shorter (by 1.59 ± 0.76 min per every one-point increase; p = 0.036, and by 24.56 ± 8.42 min; p = 0.004, respectively) and nausea/vomiting with longer (by 43.72 ± 13.13 min; p = 0.001) onset-to-needle times, and vertigo with longer (by 8.58 ± 3.84 min; p = 0.026) door-to-needle times (DNT). Regarding the EVT (±IVT) group, coma is associated with longer (by 22.68 ± 6.05 min; p = 0.0002) DNT, anterior circulation stroke with shorter (by 47.32 ± 16.89 min; p = 0.005) onset-to-groin time, and drooping of the mouth corner with shorter (by 20.79 ± 6.02 min; p = 0.0006) door-to-groin time. Our results demonstrate that treatment is initiated later in strokes with less specific symptoms than in strokes with typical symptoms.

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Abstract WMP6: Delayed Device Access to the Occluded Target Vessel Predicts Worse Recanalization Rates and Poor Outcomes in Endovascular Therapy for Acute Stroke

Stroke ◽

10.1161/str.44.suppl_1.awmp6 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 44 (suppl_1) ◽

Author(s):

Marc Ribo ◽

Brian Jankowitz ◽

Syed Zaidi ◽

Mouhammad Jumaa ◽

Jennifer Oakley ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Acute Stroke ◽

Infarct Volume ◽

Univariate Analysis ◽

Favorable Outcome ◽

Anterior Circulation ◽

Poor Outcome ◽

Improved Outcomes ◽

Poor Outcomes ◽

Left Hemisphere Stroke ◽

The Impact

During embolectomy for acute stroke, transfemoral access to occluded vessel may be technically difficult. We aim to study the impact of difficult catheter access to target artery. Methods: Single center review of anterior circulation stroke patients enrolled in prospective trials/registries (MR Rescue, MERCI, DEFUSE) requiring recording of time from groin puncture to first device deployment(Tdep). Patients were divided according to Tdep quartiles (Q): patients in Q4 were considered as difficult access. We recorded recanalization (TICI≥2a), complete recanalization (TICI≥2b), infarct volume(24h DWI), day 5 NIHSS, and favorable outcome (3 months mRS≤2). Results: We included 196 patients, mean age 66±14, median NIHSS 16(IQR:12-21). Overall outcomes were: median Tdep 52 min (36-77), recanalization 89.1%, complete recanalization 59.4%, favorable outcome 43.8%. We observed a positive correlation between Tdep and day 5 NIHSS (r=0.27; p=0.01) or 3 months mRS (r=0.26; p<0.01). Patients with difficult access (Q4: Tdep>77 min) had similar baseline NIHSS (16 Vs 17 p=0.58), time from symptom to procedure start (433 Vs 371min; p=0.28) and occlusion location (ICA/M1/M2: 46.7/42.2/11.1% Vs 39.1/54.3/6.5%; p=0.31). However, patients in Q4 had: longer IA procedures (153 vs 112 min;p<0.01), lower complete recanalization (41% Vs 66%;p<0.01), larger infarcts (87 Vs 53cc; p<0.01), higher day 5 NIHSS (15 Vs 9;p<0.01), and less favorable outcome (29.2% Vs 49%; p=0.02). After adjusting by age and time to reperfusion, a regression model identified admission NIHSS (OR% 1.12: 95%CI 1.02-1.21; p<0.01), age (OR% 1.03: 95%CI 1.01-1.06; p=0.01) and Tdep (OR% 1.02 95%CI 1.01-1.03; p=0.01) as independent predictors of poor outcome. In univariate analysis age>69, male gender and left hemisphere stroke were associated with difficult access. The combined presence of the 3 factors increased by 3.5 fold the likelihood of difficult access (OR:3.55 95%CI 1.5-8.6: p<0.01) Conclusion: Delayed device access to target occluded artery independently predicts poor outcome. Identification of difficult access using clinical scores or imaging may lead to alternative strategies; brachial, radial or cervical approaches that could result in shortened procedural times and improved outcomes

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Thrombolysis Improves Reperfusion and the Clinical Outcome in Tandem Occlusion Stroke Related to Cervical Dissection: TITAN and ETIS Pooled Analysis

Journal of Stroke ◽

10.5853/jos.2020.04889 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 23 (3) ◽

pp. 411-419

Author(s):

Gaultier Marnat ◽

Igor Sibon ◽

Romain Bourcier ◽

Mohammad Anadani ◽

Florent Gariel ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Clinical Outcome ◽

Odds Ratio ◽

Intravenous Thrombolysis ◽

Pooled Analysis ◽

Anterior Circulation ◽

Vessel Occlusion ◽

Excellent Outcome ◽

Shift Analysis ◽

Tandem Occlusion ◽

Symptomatic Intracranial Hemorrhage

Background and Purpose Despite the widespread adoption of mechanical thrombectomy (MT) for the treatment of large vessel occlusion stroke (LVOS) in the anterior circulation, the optimal strategy for the treatment tandem occlusion related to cervical internal carotid artery (ICA) dissection is still debated. This individual patient pooled analysis investigated the safety and efficacy of prior intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) in anterior circulation tandem occlusion related to cervical ICA dissection treated with MT.Methods We performed a retrospective analysis of two merged prospective multicenter international real-world observational registries: Endovascular Treatment in Ischemic Stroke (ETIS) and Thrombectomy In TANdem occlusions (TITAN) registries. Data from MT performed in the treatment of tandem LVOS related to cervical ICA dissection between January 2012 and December 2019 at 24 comprehensive stroke centers were analyzed. The primary endpoint was a favorable outcome defined as 90-day modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score of 0–2.Results The study included 144 patients with tandem occlusion LVOS due to cervical ICA dissection, of whom 94 (65.3%) received IVT before MT. Prior IVT was significantly associated with a better clinical outcome considering the mRS shift analysis (common odds ratio, 2.59; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.35 to 4.93; P=0.004 for a 1-point improvement) and excellent outcome (90-day mRS 0–1) (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 4.23; 95% CI, 1.60 to 11.18). IVT was also associated with a higher rate of intracranial successful reperfusion (83.0% vs. 64.0%; aOR, 2.70; 95% CI, 1.21 to 6.03) and a lower rate of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (4.3% vs. 14.8%; aOR, 0.21; 95% CI, 0.05 to 0.80).Conclusions Prior IVT before MT for the treatment of tandem occlusion related to cervical ICA dissection was safe and associated with an improved 90-day functional outcome.

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Microbleeds, Cerebral Hemorrhage, and Functional Outcome after Endovascular Thrombectomy

Neurology ◽

10.1212/wnl.0000000000011566 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 10.1212/WNL.0000000000011566

Author(s):

Imad DERRAZ ◽

Federico CAGNAZZO ◽

Nicolas GAILLARD ◽

Riccardo MORGANTI ◽

Cyril DARGAZANLI ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Clinical Outcome ◽

Functional Outcome ◽

Intravenous Thrombolysis ◽

Stroke Severity ◽

Confounding Factors ◽

Poor Functional Outcome ◽

Anterior Circulation ◽

Endovascular Thrombectomy ◽

Poor Outcome ◽

Increased Risk

Objective—To determine whether pre-treatment cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) presence and burden are correlated with an increased risk of intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) or poor functional outcome following endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) for acute ischemic stroke (AIS).Methods—Consecutive patients treated by EVT for anterior circulation AIS were retrospectively analyzed. Experienced neuroradiologists blinded to functional outcomes rated CMBs on T2*-MRI using a validated scale. We investigated associations of CMB presence and burden with ICH and poor clinical outcome at 3 months (modified Rankin score >2).Results—Among 513 patients, 281 (54.8%) had a poor outcome and 89 (17.3%) had ≥1 CMBs. A total of 190 (37%) patients experienced ICH, in which 66 (12.9%) were symptomatic. CMB burden was associated with poor outcome in a univariable analysis (odds ratio [OR], 1.18; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.03–1.36 per 1-CMB increase; P=0.02), but significance was lost after adjustment for sex, age, stroke severity, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, atrial fibrillation, prior antithrombotic medication, intravenous thrombolysis, and reperfusion status (OR, 1.05; 95% CI, 0.92–1.20 per 1-CMB increase; P=0.50). Results remained nonsignificant when taking into account CMB location or presumed underlying pathogenesis. CMB presence, burden, location, nor presumed pathogenesis was independently correlated with ICH.Conclusions—Poor functional outcome or ICH were not correlated with CMB presence or burden on pre–EVT MRI after adjustment for confounding factors. Excluding such patients from reperfusion therapies is unwarranted.Classification of Evidence—This study provides Class II evidence that in patients with AIS undergoing EVT, after adjustment for confounding factors, the presence of CMBs is not significantly associated with clinical outcome or the risk of ICH.

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Abstract P480: Impact of Intravenous Thrombolysis on Reperfusion Status in Stroke Thrombectomy

Stroke ◽

10.1161/str.52.suppl_1.p480 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 52 (Suppl_1) ◽

Author(s):

Helio P Carvalho ◽

Aaron Wessell ◽

Gregory Cannarsa ◽

Timothy R Miller ◽

Dheeraj Gandhi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Logistic Regression ◽

Intracranial Hemorrhage ◽

Mechanical Thrombectomy ◽

Intravenous Thrombolysis ◽

Procedure Time ◽

Multivariate Logistic Regression ◽

Poor Outcome ◽

Number Of Patients ◽

The Impact ◽

Number Of Passes

Introduction: It remains unclear whether use of intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) with intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) provides additional benefit to patients with emergent large vessel occlusion (ELVO) stroke undergoing mechanical thrombectomy (MT). We sought to determine the impact of IVT on procedure time, number of passes, and successful reperfusion (SR) during MT. Method: We retrospectively analyzed all patients who underwent anterior circulation mechanical thrombectomy for treatment of ELVO stroke at our institution from April 2012 to November 2019. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyzes were used to determine independent predictors of poor functional outcome at 90 days,and independent predictors of >2 thrombectomy passes in patients with successful revascularization (SR: TICI 2B, 2C and 3). Results: A total of 400 patients were eligible for analysis. 189 patients received IVT before thrombectomy. Last known well time-to-endovascular therapy was shorter in the IVT group (290.0 min vs 452.75 min; P=<0.001). The IVT group had a trend towards better outcomes at 90 days (mRS 0—2: 44% vs 35%; P=0.076). The number of passes and revascularization status did not significantly differ between IVT and non-IVT patients. The number of patients with any intracranial hemorrhage was higher in the IVT group than non- IVT group [10% vs 4%; p=0.038].Multivariate logistic regression demonstrated ICA occlusion site was an independent predictors of >2 passes relative to M1 occlusion in patients with successful revascularization. Multivariate logistic regression revealed that age (OR 1.05, 95% CI 1.03-1.07; p<0.001), NIHSS (OR 1.11, 95% CI 1.06-1.17; p<0.001), ≥3 thrombectomy passes (OR 2.47, 95% CI 1.23-5.00; p=0.011) and intracranial hemorrhage (OR 5.50, 95% CI 1.45-20.84; p=0.012)were independently associated with an increased odds of poor outcome. TICI 2C/3 was associated with reduced odds of poor outcome (OR 0.16, 95% CI 0.07-0.35; p<0,001). Conclusion: IVT pretreatment did not increase rates of SR and did not shorten MT procedure time nor number of passes needed to achieve SR during MT in our patient population. Randomized controlled trials are required for further evaluation of the impact of IVT on reperfusion status during MT.

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Is bridging therapy still required in stroke due to carotid artery terminus occlusions?

Journal of NeuroInterventional Surgery ◽

10.1136/neurintsurg-2017-013398 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 10 (7) ◽

pp. 625-628 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Romain Bourcier ◽

Pierre-Louis Alexandre ◽

François Eugène ◽

Béatrice Delasalle-Guyomarch ◽

Benoit Guillon ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Carotid Artery ◽

Clinical Outcomes ◽

Demographic Data ◽

Intravenous Thrombolysis ◽

Median Number ◽

Treatment Modalities ◽

Bridging Therapy ◽

Stroke Treatment ◽

Significant Difference ◽

The Impact

IntroductionStudies comparing endovascular stroke treatment using mechanical thrombectomy (MT) with or without prior IV tissue plasminogen activator (tPa) have included only 30% of internal carotid artery terminus occlusions (ICA-O), a known predictor of recanalization failure with IV tPa.ObjectiveTo carry out a retrospective multicenter analysis of prospectively collected data of consecutive patients to investigate the impact of intravenous thrombolysis on ICA-O by comparing patients treated with MT alone or bridging therapy (BT).Material and methodsPatients with ICA-O treated with MT alone or BT were retrospectively examined and compared. Demographic data, vascular risk factors, treatment modalities, complications, technical and clinical outcomes were recorded. A propensity score (PS) analysis was used to compare modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score at 3 months and intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) between groups.Results141 consecutive patients (60% BT/40% MT) were included between January 2014 and June 2016. Baseline characteristics did not differ between the groups. There was no significant difference in the rate of Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction 2b/3, distal emboli, and median number of passes between the groups. There was a significant difference between BT and MT groups in the median time between imaging and groin puncture (median 97 min vs 75, p=0.007), the rate of ICH (44% vs 27%, p=0.05), but not for symptomatic ICH (18% vs 13%, p=0.49). With PS, there was a trend towards a higher rate of ICH (OR=2.3, 95% CI 0.9 to 5.9, p=0.09) in the BT group compared with the MT alone group, with no difference in mRS score ≤2 at 3 months (OR=1.6, 95% CI 0.7 to 3.7, p=0.29).ConclusionThere was no significant difference in clinical outcomes between patients receiving bridging therapy versus direct thrombectomy. Bridging therapy delayed time to groin puncture and increased ICH rate.

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Endovascular thrombectomy without versus with intravenous thrombolysis in acute ischemic stroke: a non-inferiority meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials

Journal of NeuroInterventional Surgery ◽

10.1136/neurintsurg-2021-017667 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. neurintsurg-2021-017667

Author(s):

Chun-Hsien Lin ◽

Jeffrey L Saver ◽

Bruce Ovbiagele ◽

Wen-Yi Huang ◽

Meng Lee

Keyword(s):

Ischemic Stroke ◽

Acute Ischemic Stroke ◽

Randomized Trials ◽

Randomized Clinical Trials ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Intravenous Thrombolysis ◽

Functional Independence ◽

Risk Difference ◽

Endovascular Thrombectomy ◽

Symptomatic Intracranial Hemorrhage

ObjectiveTo conduct a meta-analysis of randomized trials to comprehensively compare the effect of endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) versus intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) plus EVT on functional independence (modified Rankin Scale (mRS) 0–2) after acute ischemic stroke due to large vessel occlusions (AIS-LVO).MethodsWe searched Pubmed, EMBASE, CENTRAL, and clinicaltrials.gov from January 2000 to February 2021 and abstracts presented at the International Stroke Conference in March 2021 to identify trials comparing EVT alone versus IVT plus EVT in AIS-LVO. Five non-inferiority margins established in the literature were assessed: −15%, −10%, −6.5%, −5%, and −1.3% for the risk difference for functional independence at 90 days.ResultsFour trials met the selection criteria, enrolling 1633 individuals, with 817 participants randomly assigned to EVT alone and 816 to IVT plus EVT. Crude cumulative rates of 90-day functional independence were 46.0% with EVT alone versus 45.5% with IVT plus EVT. Pooled results showed the risk difference of functional independence was 1% (95% CI −4% to 5%) between EVT alone versus IVT plus EVT. The lower 95% CI bound of −4% fell within the non-inferiority margins of −15%, −10%, −6.5%, and −5%, but not −1.3%. Pooled results also showed the risk difference between EVT alone versus IVT plus EVT was 1% (95% CI −3% to 5%) for mRS 0–1, and 1% (95% CI −1% to 3%) for symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage.ConclusionsThis meta-analysis suggests that EVT alone is non-inferior to IVT plus EVT for several, but not the most stringent, non-inferiority margins.

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Impact of eloquent motor cortex-tissue reperfusion beyond the traditional thrombolysis in cerebral infarction (TICI) scoring after thrombectomy

Journal of NeuroInterventional Surgery ◽

10.1136/neurintsurg-2020-016834 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. neurintsurg-2020-016834

Author(s):

Radoslav Raychev ◽

Hamidreza Saber ◽

Jeffrey L Saver ◽

Jason D Hinman ◽

Scott Brown ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Multivariate Analysis ◽

Motor Cortex ◽

Cerebral Infarction ◽

Cerebral Artery ◽

Primary Motor Cortex ◽

Anterior Circulation ◽

Endovascular Thrombectomy ◽

Stroke Disability ◽

Symptomatic Intracranial Hemorrhage ◽

The Impact

BackgroundTargeted eloquence-based tissue reperfusion within the primary motor cortex may have a differential effect on disability as compared with traditional volume-based (thrombolysis in cerebral infarction, TICI) reperfusion after endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) in the setting of acute ischemic stroke (AIS).MethodsWe explored the impact of eloquent reperfusion (ER) within primary motor cortex (PMC) on clinical outcome (modified Rankin Scale, mRS) in AIS patients undergoing EVT. ER-PMC was defined as presence of flow on final digital subtraction angiography (DSA) within four main cortical branches, supplying the PMC (middle cerebral artery (MCA) – precentral, central, postcentral; anterior cerebral artery (ACA) – medial frontal branch arising from callosomarginal or pericallosal arteries) and graded as absent (0), partial (1), and complete (2). Prospectively collected data from two centers were analyzed. Multivariate analysis was conducted to assess the impact of ER-PMC on 90-day disability (mRS) among patients with anterior circulation occlusion who achieved partial reperfusion (TICI 2a and 2b).ResultsAmong the 125 patients who met the study criteria, ER-PMC distribution was: absent (0) in 19/125 (15.2%); partial (1) in 52/125 (41.6%), and complete (2) in 54/125 (43.2%). TICI 2b was achieved in 102/125 (81.6%) and ER-PMC was substantially higher in those patients (P<0.001). In multivariate analysis, in addition to age and symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage, ER-PMC had a profound independent impact on 90-day disability (OR 6.10, P=0.001 for ER-PMC 1 vs 0 and OR 9.87, P<0.001 for ER-PMC 2 vs 0), while the extent of total partial reperfusion (TICI 2b vs 2a) was not related to 90-day mRS.ConclusionsEloquent PMC-tissue reperfusion is a key determinant of functional outcome, with a greater impact than volume-based (TICI) degree of partial reperfusion alone. PMC-targeted revascularization among patients with partial reperfusion may further diminish post-stroke disability after EVT.

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