Academic Stroke Center Research Articles

Enhancing mortality prediction in patients with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage: Radiomics and supervised machine learning on non-contrast computed tomography

PurposeThis study aims to develop a Radiomics-based Supervised Machine-Learning model to predict mortality in patients with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (sICH). MethodsRetrospective analysis of a prospectively collected clinical registry of patients with sICH consecutively admitted at a single academic comprehensive stroke center between January-2016 and April-2018. We conducted an in-depth analysis of 105 radiomic features extracted from 105 patients. Following the identification and handling of missing values, radiomics values were scaled to 0-1 to train different classifiers. The sample was split into 80-20% training-test and validation cohort in a stratified fashion. Random Forest(RF), K-Nearest Neighbor(KNN), and Support Vector Machine(SVM) classifiers were evaluated, along with several feature selection methods and hyperparameter optimization strategies, to classify the binary outcome of mortality or survival during hospital admission. A tenfold stratified cross-validation method was used to train the models, and average metrics were calculated. ResultsRF, KNN, and SVM, with the "DropOut+SelectKBest" feature selection strategy and no hyperparameter optimization, demonstrated the best performances with the least number of radiomic features and the most simplified models, achieving a sensitivity range between 0.90 and 0.95 and AUC range from 0.97 to 1 on the validation dataset. Regarding the confusion matrix, the SVM model did not predict any false negative test (negative predicted value 1). ConclusionRadiomics-based Supervised Machine Learning models can predictmortality during admission in patients with sICH. SVM with the "DropOut+SelectKBest"feature selection strategy and no hyperparameter optimization was the best simplifiedmodel to detect mortality during admission in patients with sICH.

Telemedicine-Enabled Ambulances for Prehospital Acute Stroke Management: A Pilot Study

ObjectiveTo assess the feasibility and potential scalability of telemedicine-enabled ambulances for the prehospital evaluation of patients with suspected acute stroke symptoms. Patients and MethodsA pilot study of telemedicine-enabled ambulances for evaluating patients with suspected acute stroke symptoms en route at 2 tertiary academic comprehensive stroke centers from January 1, 2018, to February 5, 2024. Charts of included patients were reviewed for demographic data, vascular risk factors, final diagnosis, time from arrival to neuroimaging, door-to–needle and door-to-puncture times in patients eligible for acute treatment, and any reported technical challenges during audio-video consultations. ResultsForty-seven patients (mean age, 68.0 years; 62% men) were evaluated via telemedicine-enabled ambulances, of which 35 (74%) where for hospital-to-hospital transferred patients. Mean time from arrival to neuroimaging was 11.8 minutes. Twenty-nine patients (62%) were diagnosed with acute ischemic stroke, and the remainder were diagnosed with intracranial hemorrhage (n=13), seizure (n=2), brain mass (n=1), or other diagnoses (n=3). Four patients (9%) received intravenous thrombolysis with alteplase (mean door to needle, 30.3 minutes), and 15 patients (32%) underwent mechanical thrombectomy (mean door to puncture, 72 minutes). Technical challenges were reported in 15 of the 42 (36%) cases, of which 10 (67%) were related to poor internet connectivity. ConclusionTelemedicine-enabled ambulances in emergency medical services systems are novel, feasible, and potentially scalable options for evaluating patients with suspected acute stroke in the prehospital setting. However, optimization of infrastructure, staffing models, and internet connectivity is necessary, and larger studies evaluating the clinical and cost effectiveness of this approach are needed before widespread implementation.

High prevalence of intracranial arterial stenosis among acute ischemic stroke patients in a Brazilian center: a transcranial color-coded duplex sonography study.

There is limited data available regarding the prevalence of intracranial arterial stenosis (ICAS) among acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients in Brazil and Latin America. The present study sought to investigate the frequency and predictors of ICAS among patients with AIS or transient ischemic attack (TIA) in a Brazilian center, with transcranial color-coded duplex sonography (TCCS) technique. Consecutive AIS and TIA patients, admitted to an academic public comprehensive stroke center in Brazil from February to December 2014, evaluated by TCCS were prospectively selected. Vascular narrowings > 50% were considered as ICAS, based on ultrasound criteria previously defined in the literature. We assessed 170 consecutive patients with AIS or TIA, of whom 27 (15.9%) were excluded due to an inadequate transtemporal acoustic bone window. We confirmed ICAS in 55 patients (38.5%). The most common location was the proximal segment of the middle cerebral artery (28.2%), followed by the vertebral (15.4%), posterior cerebral (13.6%), terminal internal carotid (9.1%) and basilar (8.2%) arteries. On multivariate models adjusting for potential confounders, systolic blood pressure (OR: 1.03, 95%CI: 1.01-1.04; p = 0.008) was independently associated with ICAS. We found significant ICAS in approximately ⅓ of patients admitted with symptoms of AIS or TIA in a public tertiary academic stroke center in Brazil. The TCCS is an accessible and noninvasive technique that can be used to investigate the presence of moderate and severe ICAS, especially in patients who cannot be exposed to more invasive exams, such as the use of intravenous contrast agents.

Abstract TP66: Decreased Order to Administration Times Following Transition to Tenecteplase for Acute Ischemic Stroke

Introduction: Alteplase was the first approved tissue plasminogen activator and standard of care for acute ischemic stroke (AIS). The utilization of Tenecteplase as a thrombolytic agent in AIS has offered many organizations several advantages over Alteplase, including ease of preparation and administration. Both thrombolytic agents require a Physician's order and reconstitution by a certified Pharmacist or Registered Nurse prior to administration. Our academic comprehensive stroke center transitioned from Alteplase to Tenecteplase as standard thrombolysis for acute ischemic stroke in November 2022. Treatment times were monitored to explore the benefits of a single bolus administration. Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted at a single academic comprehensive stroke center. Patients were included if they received thrombolytic therapy in the Emergency Department for a diagnosis of AIS. Patients prior to November 2022 received Alteplase, and those after November 2022 received Tenecteplase. We evaluated the time frame for the medication bolus order for Alteplase and Tenecteplase to the administration time. Results: Of 140 patients screened, 108 were included in the study, with 51 in the alteplase group and 57 in the Tenecteplase group. Mean order to administration times were 10.9 minutes in the alteplase group and 7.37 minutes in the Tenecteplase group, with statistical significance (P=0.0052). There was no significant difference in mean door-to-needle time (59.27 Alteplase vs 53.09 Tenecteplase, P= 0.1803). Conclusions: In a single CSC, the transition from Alteplase to Tenecteplase reduced the order to administration time by 3.53 minutes. The decreased administration time highlights one of Tenecteplase’s potential advantages. Further review is necessary to evaluate additional stroke metrics and clinical outcomes.

Abstract WP60: On vs. Off-Hours Arrival to Groin Time: Identifying Gaps in a Comprehensive Stroke Center

Introduction: Timeliness of treatment for patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) directly correlates with outcomes. The most current AHA guidelines standard of care for patients having a large vessel occlusion (LVO) stroke is endovascular mechanical thrombectomy (MT). Earlier treatment is associated with better outcomes at 90 days. Parallel processing is paramount when executing an expedited transition from the emergency department (ED) to the MT suite. At a large academic comprehensive stroke center (CSC), as we receive a high volume of direct ED cases, we examined whether there was a difference in daytime vs. off-hour LVO cases. Methods: The MT database maintained by the CSC was queried for all cases from July 2022- July 2023. Inclusion criteria included all AIS with LVO and receiving MT that were transported by EMS directly to the CSC ED. Data was further stratified by time of day and day of the week. Cases were designated as day if they arrived Monday through Friday between 7am-5pm. Cases were considered night/weekend if they arrived 5pm-7am or anytime Saturday or Sunday. Times between groups were compared with t-test. Results: There were a total of 37 cases in the day group and 43 cases in the night/weekend group. Patients arriving during the day had a median arrival-to-groin time of 89 minutes and a mean of 93 minutes. The night/weekend group had a median of 116 minutes and a mean of 125 minutes, and the difference was statistically significant (p=0.0009). Upon further analysis, mean ED arrival to suite time was significantly longer for night/weekends, 105 vs. 76 minutes, p=0.008, but mean suite to groin puncture time was not significantly different, 18 vs. 16 minutes, p=0.24. Conclusion: There is a statistically significant difference in arrival to suite/groin times between the day and night/weekend groups, therefore putting patients with LVO arriving off hours at higher risk for poor outcomes. Historically some cardiac cath labs have utilized nursing bridge teams to help with parallel processing, and we theorize that using such a team to facilitate preparation of the patient and suite, we can reduce treatment times for off-hour’s ED MT cases and potentially improve outcomes.

Abstract WMP30: Real World Experience With Tenecteplase on a Mobile Stroke Unit

Background: Tenecteplase (TNK) administered on a mobile stroke unit (MSU) has demonstrated superior rates of early reperfusion compared to alteplase. Current guidelines include TNK as a second-tier option for large vessel occlusions as TNK has many benefits, including rapid IV administration and ease of dosing. The objective of this study was to describe real world utilization of TNK on a MSU. Methods: This was a retrospective observational study of patients receiving TNK as compared to alteplase between February 2021 and April 2023 at a large academic comprehensive stroke center. Baseline demographics, GCS, NIHSS, as well as time of initial imaging were collected. Primary endpoint was time from MSU door to thrombolytic administration. Secondary endpoints included: MSU door to imaging interpretation, dispatch to thrombolytic administration, and provider decision time to thrombolytic administration. Safety endpoints included symptomatic ICH within 24 hours. Results: During the studied time period 40 patients received alteplase and 32 patients received TNK on the MSU. The median age was 65.7 years and median NIHSS score was 9. There was no difference in time from MSU door to thrombolytic administration (15 vs 17.5, p=0.30). There was also no difference in time from MSU door to imaging interpretation, dispatch to thrombolytic administration, or provider decision time to thrombolytic administration. No hemorrhagic conversion occurred. Conclusion: This is the largest series to date describing real-world utilization of TNK administration in a MSU. There were no significant differences in time to therapy in any of the time points evaluated. This data is promising for the treatment of ischemic stroke in which time to administration of thrombolytic therapy is paramount and TNK is administered as a rapid IV injection as compared to alteplase infusion.

Abstract TP117: Improving Thrombolysis Door-to-Needle Time With a Multi-Pronged Approach

Introduction: Reducing door-to-needle (DTN) times lead to improved patient outcomes in acute ischemic stroke. We sought to use innovative methods to continuously reduce the DTN time, with the specific goal of consistently achieving a median DTN time < 30 minutes. Methods: At an academic Comprehensive Stroke Center, we implemented these strategies to reduce the DTN time: 1) Addition of a virtual DTN timer in the Electronic Medical Record (EMR) to display elapsed time since arrival.2) Creation of a multidisciplinary Thrombolysis Focus Group to analyze data and improve processes. Additional monthly quality improvement meetings were held to discuss all thrombolysis cases with times over our median. 3) Reduction of EMR barriers to recognize metric exclusion criteria and document accordingly. 4) Review of each thrombolysis case with direct provider feedback and an opportunity to appropriately document and clarify delays. 5) Addition of Specialized Neurovascular APPs responding to every Code Stroke with Neurology resident physicians.6) Creation of a “Golden Needle” award to recognize providers who achieved the fastest DTN time in the year. Results: The median DTN time steadily decreased over 3 academic years. The median DTN time was 40 minutes in 2020, 39 in 2021, 38 in 2022 and 36 in year-to-date 2023. Additionally, the percentage of thrombolysis cases meeting the institutional goal of < 30 minutes improved from 21.5% in 2020, to 31.9% in 2021, to 59.6% in 2022, to 88.6% in year-to-date 2023 (figure). Conclusion: Novel multifaceted measures surrounding acute stroke thrombolysis can positively impact both the door-to-needle time and percent of cases within the institutional DTN time goal. Figure: Percentage of Thrombolysis Cases with DTN < 30 Minutes

Abstract WP110: DEVIATING: Determining Variability in Antiplatelet Timing in Stroke by Gender

Background: Antiplatelet administration within 48 hours of acute stroke presentation is standardized as it reduces mortality and recurrent ischemic stroke rate. Gender disparities have been noted in acute stroke care, including IV tPA and thrombectomy. Limited data exists for gender disparities in antiplatelet administration by day 2 of hospitalization. Methods: In an IRB-approved analysis, we retrospectively assessed patients admitted with acute ischemic strokes from the prospectively collected UC San Diego Stroke Registry from 2013 to 2023. We reviewed baseline demographics, whether an antiplatelet agent was initiated by hospital day 2, and choice of antiplatelet agent. We grouped patients based on their gender identification: male versus female. Patients who transitioned to comfort care, had an embolic source, were treated with a therapeutic dose of anticoagulation, had hemorrhagic conversion of infarct, or had a contraindication to antiplatelet use were excluded. Chi-squared, Kruskal-Wallis and Fisher tests were utilized. Results: 471 patients were included in this analysis (179 female, 292 male). We found no significant differences in medical history except diabetes (60 female, 69 male, p = 0.03). We found a significant difference in age (female 69.3 years, male 64.3 years, p < 0.01). We found a significant difference in patient race (p = 0.01). There was no significant difference in antiplatelet administration by hospital day 2 (171 female, 287 male, p = 0.14) or choice of antiplatelet (aspirin p = 0.29, clopidogrel p = 0.12, ticagrelor p = 0.67, dual antiplatelet p = 0.22). Conclusions: These findings suggest equality of care in antiplatelet administration for acute ischemic stroke between genders, which is reassuring. This data was collected at an academic comprehensive stroke center. Further studies should be completing including patients who were treated at various levels of stroke centers.

Abstract WP165: Meth Use and Intracerebral Hemorrhage: Really "Breaking Bad"

Background: Unlike other stimulants, methamphetamine (meth) is highly addictive and can be injected, snorted, smoked, or ingested orally. Due to increased access, its use has increased globally. Recent studies have shown that there was no significant difference in hospital outcomes between ICH positive patients who utilize meth versus those who do not. However, there has not been a comprehensive evaluation of methamphetamine related ICH in recent times. Our objective is to determine if meth use impacts ICU length of stay/need for sedating agents, and if meth use varies by ethnicity in the ICH population. Methods: This is an IRB approved retrospective review of all patients with acute ICH at a large academic stroke center from 2017 to 2023. Data collected and analyzed include demographics, ICH score/size, intraventricular hemorrhage, location of hematoma, surgical intervention, GCS/NIHSS scores, ICU length of stay (LOS), and discharge destiny. Statistics used include Pearson’s Chi-squared test and Wilcoxon rank sum test. Results: Of 70 ICH patients with all data elements, 32 (46%) were meth users, with an average age of meth positive patients at 59. In our Hispanic population, significant meth use was seen (41% v 13%, p = 0.009). ICH patients had significant NICU LOS (10.1 v 6.1 days, p < 0.001), with longer hospital mean LOS (12.4 v 7.8 days, p = 0.007). They also required more sedatives (63% v 37%, p = 0.032). Meth use was not associated with larger ICH size (15.7 v 29.2, p = 0.406), but was associated with higher discharge mRS (4.7 v 4.3, p = 0.788). Conclusions: Our study demonstrates that in ICH positive patients, meth-use was associated with increased use of sedatives and increased length of stay, as well as higher discharge mRS. However, it was not associated with larger ICH size. Hispanic ethnicity and ICH also appear to have a relationship, although that relationship needs to be further elucidated. Discussion: Methamphetamine is easily and relatively inexpensive to make, with over-the-counter ingredients such as pseudoephedrine. With over 35 million people using meth worldwide, our data found that the average user was older than previously thought. As ICH is one of the major complications of meth use, ICH has a major impact on complexity of care and health economics.

Predictors of futile recanalization after endovascular treatment in acute ischemic stroke: a multi-center study

Background and objectivesEndovascular thrombectomy (EVT) improves long-term outcomes and decreases mortality in ischemic stroke patients. However, a significant proportion of patients do not benefit from EVT recanalization, a phenomenon known as futile recanalization or reperfusion without functional independence (RFI). In this study, we aim to identify the major stroke risk factors and patient characteristics associated with RFI.MethodsThis is a retrospective cohort study of 297 consecutive patients with ischemic stroke who received EVT at three academic stroke centers in China from March 2019 to March 2022. Patient age, sex, modified Rankin Scale (mRS), National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), Alberta stroke program early CT score (ASPECTS), time to treatment, risk factors and comorbidities associated with cerebrovascular diseases were collected, and potential associations with futile recanalization were assessed. RFI was successful reperfusion defined as modified thrombolysis in cerebral infarction (mTICI) ≥ 2b without functional independence at 90 days (mRS ≥ 3).ResultsOf the 297 initial patients assessed, 231 were included in the final analyses after the application of the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Patients were divided by those who had RFI (n = 124) versus no RFI (n = 107). Older age (OR 1.041, 95% CI 1.004 to 1.073; p = 0.010), chronic kidney disease (OR 4.399, 0.904–21.412; p = 0.067), and higher 24-h NIHSS (OR 1.284, 1.201–1.373; p < 0.001) were independent predictors of RFI. Conversely, an mTICI score of 3 was associated with a reduced likelihood of RFI (OR 0.402, 0.178–0.909; p = 0.029).ConclusionIn conclusion, increased age, higher 24-h NIHSS and lack of an mTICI score of 3 were independently associated with RFI and have potential prognostic values in predicting patients that are less likely to respond to EVT recanalization therapy.

Abstract 053: Reduced‐Dose Ticagrelor Versus Full‐Dose Ticagrelor Versus Clopidogrel In Acute Stroke Management: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Introduction Ticagrelor use has become more prominent in acute ischemic stroke management in the presence of clopidogrel resistance(1‐2). This study compares the effectiveness of aspirin plus ticagrelor at different doses versus clopidogrel in reducing the risk of recurrent stroke and other thrombotic events without increasing the risk of bleeding. Methods We performed a retrospective chart review of patients diagnosed with acute ischemic stroke at a large academic comprehensive stroke center from September 1, 2020, to July 1, 2022. A total of 3 separate groups, low‐dose ticagrelor (45 mg or 60 mg twice a day), full‐dose ticagrelor (90 mg twice a day) and clopidogrel (75 mg daily) were created. We compared baseline characteristics and completed a one‐way ANOVA to analyze for outcome measures such as in‐hospital mortality, 90‐day mortality, favorable functional outcome defined as modified Rankin Score (mRS) of 0‐2, at 90 days, symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH) and asymptomatic hemorrhage (aICH) between groups. All data was analyzed via IBM SPSS v28.0. Results A total of 445 patients were included in our study. The mean age was 66.1 ± 12.8 years and the majority of patients were female (52.9%). The most common ethnicity was African American (82.9%). Sixty patients were discharged on low‐dose ticagrelor, 39 on full dose ticagrelor and 351 on clopidogrel. A total of 162/433 (36.0%) had a presumed stroke etiology of intracranial atherosclerotic disease (ICAD). Only 24 patients received intravenous thrombolytics (5.3%) and 47 had stent placement (10.4%). Out of 445 patients, 288 were on aspirin 81 mg at time of discharge. Of that group, 228 were on both aspirin and clopidogrel, 60 were on aspirin and low‐dose ticagrelor and 39 were on aspirin and full‐dose ticagrelor. There was no statistical significance for new or recurrent ischemic stroke between groups (low‐dose vs full‐dose vs clopidogrel) determined by one‐way ANOVA (10.0% vs. 17.9% vs. 7.8%, F(2,103) = 0.01, p=0.99). Symptomatic ICH was also similar between the groups (3.3% vs. 2.6% vs. 1.1%, F(2,101) = 0.68, p=0.51). There was no significance for favorable functional outcomes and mortality as well (26.7% vs. 23.1% vs. 24.2%, F(2,173) = 0.62, p=0.54; 80.0% vs. 79.5% vs. 81.5%, F(2,150) = 1.5, p=0.22). Conclusion These findings suggest that a lower dose of ticagrelor may be a safe and effective alternative to full dose ticagrelor or clopidogrel for the prevention of recurrent ischemic stroke without increasing hemorrhagic complications. Larger randomized trials are necessary to further evaluate these findings.

Abstract 214: Predictors of Mechanical Thrombectomy Success and Failure: A Preliminary Analysis

Introduction Mechanical thrombectomy (MT) is now the standard of care in treatment of large vessel occlusion (LVO) in acute ischemic stroke (AIS). However, a significant minority of patients do not achieve successful recanalization. Previous case series’ have reported failed recanalization at a rate of approximately 12% (1). In the present study, we investigated clinical and procedural characteristics predictive of MT success and failure. Methods We conducted a retrospective analysis of MT patients with LVO presenting to our academic comprehensive stroke center from 2015‐2020. Recanalization failure was defined as TICI 0‐2a and success as TICI 2b‐3. We compared all 49 consecutive failure cases to a random selection of 85 successful MT cases. Demographic, clinical, procedural, and outcome data were compared between the two groups. Results In this cohort, there was no statistically significant difference in sex, pre‐stroke modified Rankin score (mRS), admission National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), door‐to‐groin time, thrombolytic use, or site of occlusion between the two groups. In the success group, patients were older (76 vs 61, p=0.003), and had a higher average number of atherosclerotic risk factors (p=0.002). There was a higher proportion of embolic stroke of undetermined source (ESUS) in the success group compared with the failure group (8.5% vs 0%, p=0.039). A higher proportion of failure cases were due to large artery atherosclerosis (30.6% vs 19.5%, p=0.12) and cardioembolism (55.1% vs 67.1%, p=0.27), though neither of these differences were statistically significant. Stent‐retrieval alone (SR) was a more common first pass technique in failed than in successful MT (14.3% vs 0%, p=0.001). Conclusion This study investigated clinical and procedural factors associated with successful and failed recanalization in MT. In this cohort, stent‐retrieval alone as a first pass technique was more commonly associated with failed MT. Stroke etiology was associated with rates of failure, with a significantly higher proportion of ESUS in successful cases and a trend toward a higher proportion of large vessel atherosclerosis and cardioembolism in failed MT.

Predictors of failure of early neurological improvement in early time window following endovascular thrombectomy: a multi-center study.

Endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) has become the gold standard in the treatment of acute stroke patients. However, not all patients respond well to this treatment despite successful attempts. In this study, we aimed to identify variables associated with the failure of improvements following EVT. We retrospectively analyzed prospectively collected data of 292 ischemic stroke patients with large vessel occlusion who underwent EVT at three academic stroke centers in China from January 2019 to February 2022. All patients were above 18 years old and had symptoms onset ≤6 h. A decrease of more than 4 points on the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) after 24 h compared with admission or an NIHSS of 0 or 1 after 24 h was defined as early neurological improvement (ENI), whereas a lack of such improvement in the NIHSS was defined as a failure of early neurological improvement (FENI). A favorable outcome was defined as a modified Rankin scale (mRS) score of 0-2 after 90 days. A total of 183 patients were included in the final analyses, 126 of whom had FENI, while 57 had ENI. Favorable outcomes occurred in 80.7% of patients in the ENI group, in contrast to only 22.2% in the FENI group (p < 0.001). Mortality was 7.0% in the ENI group in comparison to 42.1% in the FENI group (p < 0.001). The multiple logistic regression model showed that diabetes mellitus [OR (95% CI), 2.985 (1.070-8.324), p = 0.037], pre-stroke mRS [OR (95% CI), 6.221 (1.421-27.248), p = 0.015], last known well to puncture time [OR (95% CI), 1.010 (1.003-1.016), p = 0.002], modified thrombolysis in cerebral infarction = 3 [OR (95% CI), 0.291 (0.122-0.692), p = 0.005], and number of mechanical thrombectomy passes [OR (95% CI), 1.582 (1.087-2.302), p = 0.017] were the predictors of FENI. Diabetes mellitus history, pre-stroke mRS, longer last known well-to-puncture time, lack of modified thrombolysis in cerebral infarction = 3, and the number of mechanical thrombectomy passes are the predictors of FENI. Future large-scale studies are required to validate these findings.

Outcomes of decompressive craniectomy for malignant middle cerebral artery stroke in an academic hospital in Brazil.

Ischemic stroke is an important cause of death in the world. The malignant middle cerebral artery infarction (MMCAI) has mortality as high as 80% when clinically treated. In this setting, decompressive craniectomy is a life-saving measure, in spite of high morbidity among survivors. To evaluate the outcomes of patients with MMCAI treated with decompressive craniectomy in a Brazilian academic tertiary stroke center. A prospective stroke database was retrospectively evaluated, and all patients treated with decompressive craniectomy for MMCAI between January 2014 and December 2017 were included. The demographics and clinical characteristics were evaluated. The functional outcome, measured by the modified Rankin Scale (mRS), was assessed at hospital discharge, after 3-months and 1-year of follow-up. We included 53 patients on the final analysis. The mean age was 54.6 ± 11.6 years and 64.2% were males. The median time from symptoms to admission was 4.8 (3-9.7) hours and the mean time from symptoms to surgery was 36 ± 17 hours. The left hemisphere was the affected in 39.6%. The median NIHSS at admission was 20 (16-24). The in-hospital mortality was 30.2%. After a median of 337 [157-393] days, 47.1% of patients had achieved favorable outcome (mRS ≤ 4) and 39.6% had died. Decompressive craniectomy is a life-saving measure in the setting of MMCAI, and its effects remains important in the scenario of a middle-income country in real-world situations.

Management of intracranial arterial stenosis during mechanical thrombectomy: Survey of neuro-interventionalists.

The optimal management of emergent large vessel occlusion due to underlying intracranial stenosis (intracranial stenosis related large vessel occlusion) remains unknown. The primary aim of this survey analysis was to measure variation in the clinical management of intracranial stenosis related large vessel occlusion during mechanical thrombectomy. A survey was designed using a web-based survey-building platform and distributed via the Society of NeuroInterventional Surgery (SNIS) and the Society of Vascular and Interventional Neurology (SVIN) websites for a response. Predictors of respondents' level of comfortability stenting were estimated using a binomial logistic regression model. We received 105 responses to the survey. Most respondents (54.3%) practiced at an academic Stroke Center. Nearly half of the respondents (49%) had been practicing for 5 or more years independently after fellowship. An average of 54 mechanical thrombectomies were performed by each respondent annually. There was variation in the definition of intracranial stenosis related large vessel occlusion, number of passes performed before pursuing rescue stenting, as well as intra and post-procedural antiplatelet management. Of respondents, 58% felt rescue stenting was very risky, and 55.7% agreed that there was equipoise regarding emergent angioplasty and/or stenting versus medical therapy for intracranial stenosis related large vessel occlusion. Respondents who encountered intracranial stenosis related large vessel occlusion more frequently thought that rescue stenting was less risky. There is notable variability in the diagnosis and management of intracranial stenosis related large vessel occlusion during mechanical thrombectomy. While most respondents felt rescue stenting was risky, the majority believed the benefit could outweigh the risk. The majority of respondents agreed that equipoise exists regarding the management of intracranial stenosis related large vessel occlusion, highlighting the need for clinical trials in this rare patient population.

Underlying intracranial atherosclerotic disease is associated with worse outcomes in acute large vessel occlusion undergoing endovascular thrombectomy

BackgroundData on large vessel occlusion (LVO) management due to intracranial atherosclerotic disease (ICAD) are scarce. ObjectiveTo compare clinical outcomes between patients with ICAD and those without ICAD following mechanical thrombectomy (MT). MethodsWe performed a retrospective analysis of consecutive patients who underwent MT for LVO in a large academic comprehensive stroke center, and compared in-hospital mortality, 90-day mortality, favorable functional outcome at 90 days, and symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) using chi-squared tests and multivariate logistic regression analyses. We defined ICAD as observable plaque at occlusion site post-thrombectomy. ResultsAmong 215 patients (mean age 67.1 ± 16.0 years; 60.5% female; 83.6% Black, median NIHSS score 16), ICAD was present in 38 patients (17.7%). Diabetes and dyslipidemia were more common in those with ICAD (57.9% vs. 38.4%, p = 0.027 and 29.0% vs. 14.7%, p = 0.035, respectively). Substantial reperfusion (TICI ≥2b) was achieved less often (84.2% vs. 94.4%, p = 0.031) but symptomatic ICH was also less common in ICAD patients (0% vs. 9.0%, p = 0.081). In-hospital and 90-day mortality were more common (36.8% vs. 15.8%, p = 0.003 and 52.6% vs. 26.6%, p = 0.002, respectively) and favorable functional outcome (mRS 0-2) at 90 days was less common (7.9% vs. 33.9%, p = 0.001) in ICAD patients. After adjusting for prognostic variables, ICAD was independently associated with in-hospital mortality (OR=4.1, 95% CI 1.7-9.7), 90-day mortality (OR=3.7, 95% CI 1.6-8.6), and poor functional outcome at 90 days (OR=5.5, 95% CI 1.6-19.4). ConclusionSymptomatic ICAD in a predominantly African American cohort is associated with increased odds of mortality and poor functional outcome at 90 days in patients with LVO undergoing MT.

Outcomes of recurrent stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation according to presumed etiology.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a potent risk factor for stroke. The presence of competing etiologies can modify disease outcomes and demand different treatment strategies. The primary purpose of the study was to examine the differences in outcomes for patients with AF admitted with a recurrent stroke, stratified according to the presumed etiology of the stroke. We analyzed AF patients admitted for a recurrent ischemic stroke in an academic comprehensive stroke center. Recurrent strokes were categorized as "Cardioembolic", meaning AF without any competing mechanism, versus "Undetermined" etiology due to competing mechanisms. We used logistic regression to test the association between recurrent stroke etiology and favorable outcome (discharge home), after accounting for important covariates. We included 230 patients, with a mean age 76.9 (SD ± 11.3), 52.2% male, median National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score of 7 (IQR 2-16). Patients with cardioembolic stroke (65.2%) had higher median NIHSS 8.5 (3-18) versus 3 (1-8) and were more likely to be treated with reperfusion therapies. The favorable outcome was reached by 64 patients (27.8%), and in-hospital mortality was 15.2% overall. After adjustment, there was no difference in outcome between patients with cardioembolic versus undetermined stroke etiology (odds ratio for discharge home: 1.41; 95% CI: 0.65-3.15). In this single-center sample of AF patients with history of stroke, there was no difference in discharge outcomes between those with cardioembolic and those with undetermined stroke etiology. This question warrants examination in larger samples to better understand the importance of the stroke mechanism and secondary prophylaxis.

PO-03-048 CLINICAL UTILITY OF IMPLANTABLE LOOP RECORDERS AFTER CRYPTOGENIC STROKE: INSIGHTS FROM A LARGE ACADEMIC STROKE CENTER

Detection of occult AF using implantable loop recorders (ILR) has become routine practice in the evaluation of cryptogenic stroke, yet there are few data demonstrating that ILRs reduce risk of recurrent stroke. Our aim was to determine if the diagnostic yield for ILR-detected AF in patients with cryptogenic stroke may be improved using clinical characteristics, and if ILR-directed changes in medical therapy reduce risk of recurrent stroke. We observed 282 consecutive patients with cryptogenic stroke (n=255) or transient ischemic attack (TIA, n=27) implanted with ILR at an academic stroke center for the clinical outcomes of first detected AF, recurrent stroke or TIA, and the temporal relation between AF and recurrent stroke/TIA. Collected data included demographics, comorbid medical conditions, stroke and imaging details, ECG and echocardiographic findings, and routine laboratory testing. During 557 days median follow-up, 50 (18%) patients manifested AF after a median 107 days, including 15% at 1 year, 20% at 2 years, and 23% at 3 years. All but 1 patient were started on a direct anticoagulant (n=48) or warfarin (n=1) upon AF diagnosis. Age (HR 1.04 per year, 95% CI 1.02-1.07; p<0.001) and middle cerebral artery stroke (HR 2.20, 95% CI 1.06-4.58; p=0.035) were independently associated with shorter time to first detected AF. Only 2 of 20 patients with recurrent stroke (n=17) or TIA (n=3) had ILR-detected AF; in both cases AF was first seen >1 year after recurrent stroke or TIA despite continuous monitoring. Age 65-years old best delineated risk of detected AF (area under ROC curve 0.66, p<0.001). Among 157 patients <65 years old, only 13 (8%) had AF; all had left ventricular end-diastolic dimension >4.60 cm (median LVEDD 4.90) and cortical stroke. Among 125 patients ≥65 years old, 37 (30%) had AF; mitral regurgitation (HR 1.98, 95% CI 1.06-3.72; p=0.03) was independently associated with shorter time to first AF detection. Detection of AF after cryptogenic stroke is highest within the first year of ILR monitoring. Consideration of age, stroke territory, and mitral valvular disease increases specificity for detecting AF and thus informs who should receive ILR. Correlation between recurrent AF and recurrent stroke or TIA is poor, raising concern that routine ILR use may not prevent additional strokes.

Thrombolytic Therapy for Non-arteritic Central Retinal Artery Occlusion in an Academic Multi-site Stroke Center (S45.010)

<h3>Objective:</h3> To review our academic multi-site stroke center experience with intravenous (IVT) and intra-arterial thrombolysis (IAT) for central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO). <h3>Background:</h3> CRAO is a subtype of acute ischemic stroke leading to severe visual loss. Conventional management is not effective and potentially harmful. 2021 American Heart Association scientific statement proposes similar time-windows for thrombolysis in CRAO and cerebral strokes (4.5hours for IVT, 6hours for IAT). <h3>Design/Methods:</h3> We retrospectively identified consecutive CRAO patients that received IVT or IAT in our academic enterprise stroke centers (1997–2022). Demographic, clinical characteristics, thrombolysis timeline, concurrent CRAO therapies, hospital complications, and follow-up visual outcomes were collected and analyzed using descriptive statistics. <h3>Results:</h3> Of 563 CRAO admissions, 20 (3.55%) received thrombolytic therapy: 13 IVT (mean age 68, range 55–82, 61.5% male, 12 alteplase and 1 tenecteplase, all embolic etiology) and 7 IAT (mean age 55, range 17–83, 85.7% male, 4 post-operative and 3 embolic). 11/20 (55%) received additional therapies (ocular massage, intraocular pressure lowering drops, diuretics, intra-arterial verapamil). 1 CRAO mimic received IVT. Median visual loss to IVT was 158 minutes (range 67–260 min). Baseline mean logMAR visual acuity (VA) was −3.11 (±1.16). 8/13 IVT had 3-month follow-up VA recorded (mean VA −2.53). 50% improved at least one Snellen line, 12.5% had VA &gt; 20/100. 1/13 (7.6%) had intracranial hemorrhage after IVT. Median visual loss to IAT was 335 minutes (131 minutes to 20 hours). Dose range was 5–30 mg. Baseline IAT mean logMAR VA was −3.5 (±1.19). 5/7 showed VA improvement. 1/7 had profuse epistaxis after IAT. <h3>Conclusions:</h3> The management of acute CRAO in a multi-site academic stroke center remains heterogeneous, consultant specific. Most received a combination of thrombolytic and other conventional therapies, hence thrombolysis-specific outcomes could not be described. Prospective studies comparing thrombolysis and placebo are warranted to guide hyperacute CRAO practice. <b>Disclosure:</b> Dr. Alhayek has nothing to disclose. Mr. Sobczak has nothing to disclose. Miss Weinberg has nothing to disclose. Dr. Demaerschalk has received personal compensation in the range of $10,000-$49,999 for serving as an Editor, Associate Editor, or Editorial Advisory Board Member for The Neurologist . Dr. Dumitrascu has nothing to disclose.

Real World Experience with Viz.ai Automated Large Vessel Occlusion in CT Angiogram (P8-5.010)

<h3>Objective:</h3> To determine the accuracy of Viz.AI LVO at our large academic comprehensive stroke center. <h3>Background:</h3> Viz.AI LVO is an artificial-intelligence platform which analyzes brain computed tomography angiography (CTA) images in patients with suspected acute ischemic stroke (AIS) and sends an automated alert for suspected large vessel occlusions (LVO). Viz.AI reports high sensitivity and specificity (96.3% and 93.8%); we report our experience with Viz.AI LVO detection. <h3>Design/Methods:</h3> We performed a retrospective review of suspected stroke patients who had CTA ordered as a stroke code from September 2020–May 2021. Data was collected on sex, age, Viz.AI LVO alert, and CTA radiologist review (considered gold standard). True negative was defined as Viz negative, Radiology negative, False positive as Viz positive, Radiology negative, false negative as Viz negative, Radiology positive, and true positive as Viz positive, Radiology positive. LVO was defined as occlusion of the intracranial carotid (ICAT) or MCA (M1 or M2). Data collected included performance of Viz.AI LVO alert, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value. <h3>Results:</h3> Among 980 consecutive suspected AIS patients with CTA analyzed by Viz.AI, the mean age was 64.2 years (range 19–99) and 531 (54.3%) were female. Viz LVO autodetection alerted for 161 patients (16.4%). Radiologist review reported 85 patients (8.7%) with LVO as follows: 33 (38.8%) M2, 36 (42.4%) M1, and 16 (18.8%) ICAT. The following were adjudicated: 805 true negatives, 90 false positives, 14 false negatives, and 71 true positives. Sensitivity was 83.5%, specificity 89.9%, PPV 44.1%, and NPV 98.3%. All 14 false negatives were M2 occlusions. The median time to alert (TTA) was 11 min (range 6–656). <h3>Conclusions:</h3> In our series of AIS patients evaluated with CTA at an academic CSC, Viz.AI automated LVO detection performed well with a sensitivity of 83.5%, specificity of 89.9%, and a median TTA of 11 minutes. <b>Disclosure:</b> Dr. Mannix has nothing to disclose. Ms. Penhos has nothing to disclose. Shahid Nimjee has nothing to disclose. Mohammad Taimur Shujaat has nothing to disclose. Ms. Hammond-Heaton has nothing to disclose. Dr. Vitellas has nothing to disclose. Dr. Lee has nothing to disclose.