Abstract WP124: Dual Energy Head CT Immediately Following Mechanical Thrombectomy Rarely Leads to Changes in Clinical Management

Abstract

Introduction: No guidelines exist regarding imaging after mechanical thrombectomy (MT) for acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Dual Energy Head CT (DECT) can differentiate between contrast staining and intracranial hemorrhage (ICH). We obtained routine DECT for AIS patients immediately following MT. We aimed to understand the impact of DECT on clinical management. Methods: We conducted a single-center retrospective study of AIS patients who underwent MT and immediate post-procedure DECT between March 2021 and February 2023. Patients were grouped by whether or not DECT results changed management, compared to our standard post-thrombectomy protocol and as documented in clinical notes. Continuous variables were compared using Wilcoxon Rank-Sum tests, and categorical variables were compared using Chi-square tests. Results: Of 173 patients who met inclusion criteria, 13 (7.5%) had documented changes in management following DECT. Management changes included delayed anti-thrombotic administration, lowered systolic blood pressure goals, and serial imaging. There were no statistically significant differences in age, gender, initial NIHSS, ischemic core size pre-MT, or treated vessel between patients with and without a change in management. Patients with management changes were more likely to have had procedural complications, contrast staining, any ICH, and symptomatic ICH (Table). While 34 patients had ICH on DECT, this only led to a documented change in management for 11 (32.4%) patients. Conclusion: Routine DECT immediately after MT rarely changed clinical management. Immediate DECT may be reserved for patients with intraprocedural complications or those with clinical suspicion of ICH.