Clinical Safety and Efficacy of Rotational Atherectomy in Japanese Patients with Peripheral Arterial Disease Presenting Femoropopliteal Lesions: The J-SUPREME and J-SUPREME II Trials

Purpose: The purpose of the J-SUPREME (J-S) and J-SUPREME II (J-SII) trials was to evaluate the performance of the Jetstream Atherectomy System for the treatment of Japanese patients with symptomatic occlusive atherosclerotic lesions in the superficial femoral and popliteal arteries. Materials and Methods: The J-S and J-SII trials were both prospective, multicenter, single-arm clinical trials. Patients in J-S underwent Jetstream atherectomy followed by percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA), whereas those in J-SII had adjunctive drug-coated balloon (DCB) treatment following atherectomy. Patients were adults with Rutherford category 2, 3, or 4 and had stenotic, restenotic, or occlusive lesion(s) with a degree of stenosis ≥70 in the superficial femoral artery and/or proximal popliteal artery. In J-S, lesions were required to be calcified, and in J-SII lesions were required to be severely calcified. Results: A total of 50 patients were enrolled in J-S (mean age 72.3±8.7 years, lesion length 82.0±41.5 mm, 36% calcification PACSS Grade 3, 22% Grade 4) and 31 patients in J-SII (mean age 72.5±7.7 years, lesion length 122.6±55.6 mm, 19.4% calcification PACSS Grade 3, 77.4% Grade 4). No bailout stenting or bypass conversions were required. No major adverse events (MAEs) were reported for either trial through 1 month. The 6-month primary patency for J-S, with PTA alone following atherectomy, was 40.4% (19/47). The 6-month primary patency for J-SII, with DCB treatment following atherectomy, was 96.7% (29/30). At 6-month post-procedure, 79.2% (38/48) of patients in J-S, and 100% (30/30) of patients in J-SII had improved by at least 1 Rutherford category. Conclusion: J-SUPREME trial results demonstrate procedural safety and efficacy of the Jetstream Atherectomy System and J-SII showed sustained patency through 6 months following combination treatment with Jetstream atherectomy and DCB.

Staged strategy using a transcarotid approach for acute tandem occlusions with left common carotid artery origin steno-occlusive lesion

Background: Endovascular treatment for acute tandem occlusion (ATO) of the combination of an ipsilateral extracranial internal carotid artery (ICA) steno-occlusive lesion with concurrent intracranial artery occlusion is challenging. Whether extracranial lesions, especially in cases of the left common carotid artery (LCCA) origin steno-occlusive lesions, should be treated after recanalization of an occluded intracranial artery by mechanical thrombectomy simultaneously in the same session has not been established. We report two cases of successful ATO with LCCA origin steno-occlusive lesions treated by staged retrograde transcarotid LCCA stenting followed emergent mechanical thrombectomy in two sessions because of the tortuous aortic arch. Case Description: A 61-year-old man with left ICA occlusion and an 82-year-old woman with left middle cerebral artery occlusion underwent emergent mechanical thrombectomy for ATO with LCCA origin stenoocclusive lesions. We achieved recanalization of large vessels, but severe stenosis of LCCAs remained. Because of the tortuous aortic arch, we decided to treat LCCA origin steno-occlusive lesions with staged stenting in the other session followed emergent mechanical thrombectomy. Postoperative courses were uneventful, and their symptoms improved. We performed stenting using a transcarotid approach through CCA cut down for LCCA steno-occlusive lesions without any complications. Conclusion: The staged strategy leaving LCCA origin stenosis seems to offer a better strategy than the simultaneous strategy for ATO with LCCA origin steno-occlusive lesions. A retrograde transcarotid approach through CCA cut down is recommended for LCCA stenting.

To the issue of degree of removal of gliomas of supratentorial localization

Objective ‒ to assess the possibility of increasing the time of surgical restoration of blood flow in the acute period of ischemic stroke due to occlusive lesion of the internal carotid artery (ICA).Materials and methods. Among the patients who were admitted for treatmentat in the Regional Odessa Hospital with acute ischemic stroke in the carotid region a group of 6 patients was identified in whom the cause of stroke was occlusion of the ICA by an atherosclerotic plaque. Age of patients ‒ from 54 to 71 years. Patients were hospitalized later 6 hours from the onset of stroke. The survey was carried out according to the established protocol. Neurological deficits are mild to moderate. In order to eliminate the occlusion of the ICA, all patients underwent endarterectomy.Results. Carotidendarterectomy was performed from 2 to 11 days after onset of stroke. Retrograde blood flow through the ICA was obtained in three (50 %) patients in whom surgical interventions were performed up to 4 days after the disease. In the postoperativeperiod a typical therapy was carried out. In cases with the obtained retrograde blood flowon control carotid angiograms demonstrated revascularization of the ICA basin according to mTICI-3. On the control CT of the brain in postoperative period in one case the point subarachnoid hemorrhages was determined. In the other two cases there was no evidence hemorrhagic transformation. Operated patients showed positive dynamics: a decrease hemiparesis by 1 poin and regression of mental disorders. The patients were discharged withm RS 1‒2. During the follow-up examination 90 days the neurological condition of the patients improved to mRS 1‒0.Conclusions. Results obtained in increasing the “therapeutic window” for revascularization of the occluded ICA allow to continue research in the indicated direction and improve the quality of surgical care for patients with acute stroke.

Comparison of different techniques for the management of venous steno-occlusive lesions during placement of peripherally inserted central catheter

The purpose of this study is to investigate strategies for peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) placement in patients with venous steno-occlusive lesion (VSOL). We performed a retrospective cohort study in adults with central or peripheral VSOL who underwent PICC placement procedures from January 2015 to December 2018. Four different strategies [selecting alternative pathway/over the wire (SAP/OTW), percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA), re-puncture in ipsilateral arm (RIA), and catheter placement in the contralateral arm (CICA)] were analyzed and we compared the clinical outcomes by strategy and compared the strategy between central and peripheral VSOLs. During 4 years, 258 PICC procedures performed in patients with VSOLs, 100 PICC were included in the analysis. The overall technical success rate of initial attempt with SAP/OTW was 32.2%. As a second-line technique, PTA was most frequently used in both central (100%) and peripheral (68.2%) VSOL groups. The clinical success rates within 2 months of SAP/OTW, PTA, RIA, CICA were 55.2%, 43.2%, 14.3%, and 33.3%, respectively (P = 0.24). In conclusion, when the SAP/OTW failed, the PTA can be preferred as a second-line technique for both central and peripheral VSOLs. When guidewire passage fails, the operator could adopt the RIA or CICA technique as an alternative method.

Impact of SARS-CoV-2 on reperfusion therapies for acute ischemic stroke in Lombardy, Italy. The STROKOVID network

Whether and how SARS-CoV-2 outbreak affected in-hospital acute stroke care system is still matter of debate. In the setting of the STROKOVID network, a collaborative project between the 10 centers designed as hubs for the treatment of acute stroke during SARS-CoV-2 outbreak in Lombardy, Italy, we retrospectively compared clinical features and process measures of patients with confirmed infection (COVID-19) and non-infected patients (non-COVID-19) who underwent reperfusion therapies for acute ischemic stroke. Between March 8 and April 30, 2020, 296 consecutive patients (median age, 74 [interquartile range (IQR), 62–80.75] years; males, 154 [52.0%]; 34 [11.5%] COVID-19) qualified for the analysis. Time from symptoms onset to treatment was longer in the COVID-19 group (230 [IQR, 200.5–270] minutes vs 190 [IQR, 150–245] minutes; p=0.007), especially in the first half of the study period. Patients with COVID-19 who underwent endovascular thrombectomy had more frequently absent collaterals or collaterals filling ≤50% of the occluded territory (50.0% vs 16.6%; OR, 5.05; 95% CI, 1.82–13.80) and a lower rate of good/complete recanalization of the primary arterial occlusive lesion (55.6% vs 81.0%; OR, 0.29; 95% CI, 0.10–0.80). Post-procedural intracranial hemorrhages were more frequent (35.3% vs 19.5%; OR, 2.24; 95% CI, 1.04-4.83) and outcome was worse among COVID-19 patients (in-hospital death, 38.2% vs 8.8%; OR, 6.43; 95% CI, 2.85-14.50). Our findings showed longer delays in the intra-hospital management of acute ischemic stroke in COVID-19 patients, especially in the early phase of the outbreak, that likely impacted patients outcome and should be the target of future interventions.

Unfavorable Vascular Anatomy during Endovascular Treatment of Stroke: Challenges and Bailout Strategies

The benefit of mechanical thrombectomy (MT) in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) due to large vessel intracranial occlusions is directly related to the technical success of the procedures in achieving fast and complete reperfusion. While a precise definition of refractoriness is lacking in the literature, it may be considered when there is reperfusion failure, long procedural times, or high number of passes with the MT devices. Detailed knowledge about the causes for refractory MT in AIS is limited; however, it is most likely a multifaceted problem including factors related to the vascular anatomy and the underlying nature of the occlusive lesion amongst other factors. We aim to review the impact of several key unfavorable anatomical factors that may be encountered during endovascular AIS treatment and discuss potential bail-out strategies to these challenging situations.

Hybrid surgery in treatment of patients with obliterating atherosclerosis of lower extremities (review)

The literature review presents the possibilities and current trends in the use of hybrid surgery in patients with multilevel multifocal lesions of the arterial bed of the lower extremities with obliterating lesions. Methods of open bypass surgery for chronic atherosclerosis of the arteries have long been developed, put into practice and can be considered individually for each patient. However, given the frequent complicated atherosclerotic history in patients with multifocal lesions of various arterial pools, most patients can be recommended more gentle endovascular methods of blood flow correction — balloon angioplasty or stenting. But given certain technical and general parameters (prolonged occlusion, severe calcification, kidney disease, an allergic reaction to a contrast drug, etc.), it is not yet possible to use intravascular correction in absolutely all patients, as a result of which the method of simultaneous or phased hybrid surgery seems to be very relevant and can be used even in patients at extremely high risk. The review describes the possible uses of hybrid technology depending on the level of steno-occlusive lesion and the general prolongation of narrowing of the arterial bed. Also considered are some features of the use of simultaneous or multi-stage hybrid operations. On the basis of modern literature data, the advantage of using a combination of open surgeries and endovascular interventions in comparison with any one revascularization method is shown.

Emergent carotid artery stenting in patients with acute ischemic stroke due to cervical internal carotid artery steno-occlusive lesion: Comparison of tandem intracranial occlusion and isolated cervical internal carotid artery occlusion

Purpose Acute ischemic strokes caused by steno-occlusive lesion of the cervical internal carotid artery are associated with poor clinical outcome. We evaluated the clinical efficacy of emergent carotid artery stenting for the management of these lesions. We compared the clinical outcomes regarding the intracranial lesion, namely tandem occlusions versus isolated cervical internal carotid artery occlusion. Materials and methods We retrospectively reviewed patients with acute ischemic stroke who underwent carotid artery stenting for cervical internal carotid artery steno-occlusive lesion between 2011 and 2018. After dividing the patients into two groups according to the presence or absence of intracranial lesions (tandem group and isolated cervical group), we analyzed demographic data, angiographic findings, and clinical outcomes. A modified Rankin Scale score ≤2 was defined as a favorable clinical outcome. Results Of 75 patients, 46 patients (61.3%) had tandem lesions, and the remaining 29 had only cervical internal carotid artery steno-occlusive lesion. Successful stenting was performed in all patients with favorable clinical outcomes (64.0%). Successful reperfusion score (thrombolysis in cerebral infarction ≥2 b) was 84.0%; tandem group (76.1%) versus isolated cervical group (96.6%) of cases. Mean modified Rankin Scale score at 90-days was 2.09. The rate of favorable clinical outcome showed no statistically significant difference between the two groups ( p = 0.454). Conclusions Endovascular treatment in patients with acute ischemic stroke due to cervical internal carotid artery steno-occlusive lesion is a technically feasible and clinically effective intervention regardless of intracranial occlusion. Therefore, we recommend endovascular treatment regardless of the presence of concomitant intracranial artery occlusion for patients with acute ischemic stroke caused by cervical internal carotid artery steno-occlusive lesion.