Abstract 170: Impact of Eloquent Motor Cortex-Tissue Reperfusion Beyond the Traditional TICI Scoring After Thrombectomy

Abstract

Background: Targeted eloquence-based tissue reperfusion within the primary motor cortex may have differential effect on disability as compared to the traditional volume-based (TICI) reperfusion after endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) in setting of acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Methods: We explored the impact of eloquent reperfusion (ER) within primary motor cortex (PMC) on clinical outcome (mRS) in AIS patients undergoing EVT. ER was defined as presence of flow on final digital subtraction angiography (DSA) within four main cortical branches, supplying the PMC (MCA - precentral, central, anterior parietal; ACA- pericallosal) and graded as absent (0), partial (1), and complete (2). Prospectively collected data from two centers were analyzed. Multivariable analysis was conducted to assess the impact of ER on 90-day disability (mRS) among patients with anterior circulation occlusion who achieved partial reperfusion (TICI 2 a and b). Results: Among the 125 patients who met study criteria, median age was 73, median NIHSS was 16, median ASPECTS was 7, 48% (60/125) were female, and 36.8% achieved functional independence (mRS 0-2) at 90 days. ER 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 was substantially higher in those patients (p<0.001). In multivariate analysis, in addition to age and sICH, ER had a profound independent impact on 90-day disability (OR 6.10, p=0.001 for ER 1 vs 0; and OR 9.87, p<0.001 for ER 2 vs 0). In contrast, extent of total partial reperfusion (TICI 2b vs 2a) was not related to 90-day disability. Conclusions: Our findings support that eloquent PMC-tissue reperfusion is a major determinant of functional outcome, more impactful than volume-based degree of partial reperfusion. More aggressive, PMC-targeted revascularization among patients with non-eloquent partial reperfusion may further improve post-stroke disability after EVT.