Discharge mRS Research Articles

Correlation between severity, independence, time, and hospitalization costs in stroke

Introduction. The evolution in the treatment of stroke has led to a decrease in mortality rates, but the number of hospitalizations and related healthcare costs have increased over the years. Objective. To analyze the profile of patients admitted to reference or backup hospitals for stroke care in Brazil, correlating stroke severity and disability level with length and costs of hospitalization. Method. Data were extracted from a multicenter Brazilian registry from three reference or backup hospitals for stroke care in Brazil. Data on stroke severity (National Institute of Health Stroke Scale - NIHSS), disability level (modified Rankin Scale - mRS), as well as hospitalization time and costs were analyzed. The data were presented using mean, standard deviation, and median in a descriptive analysis. Correlation between NIHSS and mRS values with hospitalization time and costs was analyzed using the Spearman correlation test. Results. The sample consisted of 783 patients, predominantly men (52.20%), elderly (mean age of 70.5 years), with moderate stroke severity (NIHSS 5-15) and mild disabilities at discharge (mRS 2). The average hospitalization time was 9.9±17.8 days with an average cost of R$10,140.14±18,188.59. Conclusion. This study showed that patients with greater stroke severity and greater disability at discharge tend to have longer hospital stays and higher costs for the hospital.

The Impact of Functionality and Psychological Outcome on Social Engagement 3-months after Intracerebral Hemorrhage

BackgroundAlthough it is well-known that intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is associated with physical and psychological morbidity, there is scant data on factors influencing social engagement after ICH. Understanding the relationship between functionality, psychological outcome and social engagement post-bleed may facilitate identification of patients at high risk for social isolation after ICH. MethodsPatients ≥18-years-old with non-traumatic ICH from January 2015-March 2023 were identified from the Neurological Emergencies Outcomes at NYU (NEON) registry. Data on discharge functionality were collected from the medical record. 3-months post-bleed, patients/their legally-authorized representatives (LARs) were contacted to complete Neuro-QoL social engagement, anxiety, depression, and sleep inventories. Patients were stratified by ability to participate in social roles and activities (good=T-score>50, poor=T-score≤50) and satisfaction with social roles and activities (high=T-score>50 and low=T-score≤50). Univariate comparisons were performed to evaluate the relationship between post-bleed social engagement and both functionality and psychological outcome using Pearson’s chi-square, Fisher’s Exact test, and Mann-Whitney U tests. Multivariate logistic regression was subsequently performed using variables that were significant on univariate analysis (p<0.05). ResultsThe social engagement inventories were completed for 55 patients with ICH; 29 (53%) by the patient alone, 14 (25%) by a LAR alone, and 12 (22%) by both patient and LAR. 15 patients (27%) had good ability to participate in social roles and activities and 10 patients (18%) had high satisfaction with social roles and activities. Social engagement was associated with both functionality and psychological outcome on univariate analysis, but on multivariate analysis, it was only related to functionality; post-bleed ability to participate in social roles and activities was associated with discharge home, discharge GCS score, discharge mRS score, and discharge NIHSS score (p<0.05) and post-bleed satisfaction with social roles and activities was related to discharge mRS score and discharge NIHSS score (p<0.05). ConclusionIn patients with nontraumatic ICH, social engagement post-bleed was related to discharge functionality, even when controlling for depression, anxiety, and sleep disturbance.

Door-in-Door-Out Times at Referring Hospitals and Outcomes from Hemorrhagic Stroke

Interhospital transfer is often required in the care of patients with hemorrhagic stroke. Guidelines recommend a door-in-door-out (DIDO) time of ≤120 minutes at the transferring emergency department (ED); however, it is unknown whether DIDO times are related to clinical outcomes of hemorrhagic stroke. Retrospective, observational cohort study using US registry data from Get With The Guidelines-Stroke participating hospitals. Patients include those aged ≥18 years with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) or subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) who were transferred from the ED to a Get With The Guidelines participating receiving hospital from January 1, 2019, to July 31, 2022. The primary outcome was ordinal discharge modified Rankin scale (mRS) score and secondary outcomes included dichotomous discharge mRS, ability to ambulate independently at discharge, and inhospital mortality at the receiving hospital. In all, 19,708 ICH and 7,757 patients with SAH were included. For patients with ICH, an increasing DIDO time was associated with greater odds of mRS 0 to 3 versus 4 to 6 at discharge in the unadjusted analyses (DIDO 91 to 180 minutes, odds ratio [OR] 1.15 [1.04 to 1.27]; DIDO 181 to 270 minutes, OR 1.51 [1.33, 1.71]; DIDO >270 minutes, OR 1.83 [1.58, 2.11]; versus DIDO ≤90 minutes). In the adjusted analyses, no associations were observed. Similar results were seen for mRS at discharge in patients with SAH. In both patients with ICH and SAH, longer DIDO times were associated with greater odds of independent ambulation at discharge and lower odds of inhospital mortality in the unadjusted analyses. After adjustment, the effect sizes of these associations were reduced, with some of the results based on quartiles becoming statistically nonsignificant. These findings suggest that EDs currently expedite the transfer of the sickest patients; however, prospective studies and more granular data are needed to understand the impact of early treatment and timing of transfer for patients with hemorrhagic stroke.

Exploring Predictors of Long-Term Care Facility Admissions in Stroke Survivors: Insights from a Taiwanese Hospital-Based Study.

Acute stroke significantly increases the risk of long-term care facility (LTCF) admission, due to sudden functional impairments. This study aims to identify risk factors associated with LTCF admission among stroke patients, specifically targeting those who transitioned from independence to disability after stroke. We retrospectively enrolled 2027 stroke patients admitted between 2017 and 2022 from the Chi Mei Medical Center's stroke registry in Southern Taiwan, focusing on those with pre-stroke modified Rankin Scale (mRS) scores ≤ 2 and post-stroke mRS scores ≥ 3. Patients were categorized into LTCF and non-LTCF groups. Stroke severity, comorbidities, and discharge outcomes were evaluated, using logistic regression analyses to identify LTCF admission risk factors. Of the 2027 patients, 343 (16.9%) were admitted to LTCFs post-discharge. The LTCF group exhibited higher discharge mRS and National Institute of Health Stroke Scale scores, and lower Barthel Index scores. Factors linked to LTCF admission included higher discharge mRS scores, lower Barthel Index scores, nasogastric tube placement at discharge, and longer hospital stays. Barthel Index scores showed no significant change from admission to discharge in the LTCF group. Stroke severity, post-stroke functional status and nasogastric tube placement are significant predictors of LTCF admission in stroke patients. Early recognition of these factors is crucial for effective discharge planning and reducing the need for institutionalization. The study emphasizes the need for personalized interventions targeting these risk factors to improve patient outcomes and optimize medical resource utilization.

A lifetime economic model of mortality and secondary care use for patients discharged from hospital following acute stroke.

The long-term health-economic consequences of acute stroke are typically extrapolated from short-term outcomes observed in different studies, using models based on assumptions about longer-term morbidity and mortality. Inconsistency in these assumptions and the methods of extrapolation can create difficulties when comparing estimates of life-time cost-effectiveness of stroke care interventions. To develop a long-term model consisting of a set of equations to estimate the life-time effects of stroke care interventions to promote consistency in extrapolation of short-term outcomes. Data about further admissions and mortality was provided for acute stroke patients discharged between 2013 and 2014 from a large English service. This was combined with data from UK life tables to create a set of parametric equations in a model that use age, sex, and modified Rankin Scores to predict the life-time risk of mortality and secondary care resource utilisation including ED attendances, non-elective admissions, and elective admissions. A cohort of 1,509 (male 51%; mean age 74) stroke patients had median follow-up of seven years and represented 7,111 post-discharge patient years. A logistic model estimated mortality within twelve months of discharge and a Gompertz model was used over the remainder of the lifetime. Hospital attendances were modelled using a Weibull distribution. Non-elective and elective bed days were both modelled using a log-logistic distribution. Mortality risk increased with age, dependency, and male sex. Although the overall pattern was similar for resource utilisation, there were different variations according to dependency and gender for ED attendances and non-elective/elective admissions. For example, 65-year-old women with a discharge mRS of 1 would gain an extra 6.75 life years compared to 65-year-old women with a discharge mRS of 3. Over their lifetime, 65-year-old women with a discharge mRS of 1 would experience 0.09 less ED attendances, 2.12 less non-elective bed days and 1.28 additional elective bed days than 65-year-old women with a discharge mRS of 3. Using long-term follow-up publicly available data from a large clinical cohort, this new model promotes standardised extrapolation of key outcomes over the life course, and potentially can improve the real-world accuracy and comparison of long-term cost-effectiveness estimates for stroke care interventions. Data is available upon reasonable request from third parties.

Longitudinal outcomes of ischemic versus hemorrhagic stroke: Differences may impact future trial design

ObjectivesPatients with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) are more likely to present with severe symptoms than those with ischemic stroke (IS); however, the way in which long-term outcomes differ between groups is less clear. Given that the tissue surrounding ICH is not always irreversibly infarcted, it may have the potential to recover more fully over time. Understanding the differences in expected outcome severity is critical in order to prognosticate and to determine appropriate outcome measures when designing clinical trials. Materials and MethodsWe used our prospectively collected stroke registry to identify and follow a cohort of 300 patients with ICH and 300 patients with IS, matched by age, sex, lesion size, location, and admission date. Paired t-tests were used to compare modified Rankin Scores (mRS) between groups at hospital discharge, 90-day, and >12-month follow-up time points. ResultsNot surprisingly, patients with ICH had worse discharge mRS scores compared to individuals with IS (4.20 (SD 0.09) versus 3.42 (SD 0.08)). However, rather than improving, the long-term outcomes remained significantly worse for ICH patients compared to their IS matches (4.02 (SD 0.15) versus 2.89 (SD 0.14) at 90 days, and 4.32 (SD 0.20) versus 3.16 (SD 0.22) at >12 months (p < 0.001 for all analyses)). ConclusionsThis study longitudinally followed matched cohorts of patients with ICH and IS, confirming that outcomes for those with ICH remain significantly worse over time. Results allow for better long-term prognostication, illustrate the need for further intervention trials to improve outcomes, and inform the development of evidence-based endpoints.

An International, Multicenter Feasibility Study on Active and Continuous Irrigation With Cerebrospinal Fluid Exchange for Improving Outcomes in Cerebral Ventriculitis.

Cerebral ventriculitis remains a challenging neurosurgical condition because of poor outcomes including mortality rates of nearly 80% and a prolonged course of treatment in survivors. Despite current conventional management, outcomes in some cases remain unsatisfactory, with no definitive therapeutic guidelines. This feasibility study aims to explore the use of a novel active, continuous irrigation and drainage system (IRRAflow [IRRAS AB]) combined with intraventricular drug delivery for patients with cerebral ventriculitis. We conducted a multicenter, international, retrospective study of patients with ventriculitis who were treated with use of the IRRAflow system. Data collected included patient demographics, comorbidities, admission Glasgow Coma Scale score, baseline modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score, and imaging findings. Catheter occlusions, infections, and shunt placement were recorded for outcome assessment, along with discharge mRS scores and in-hospital deaths. Four centers contributed data for a total of 21 patients who had IRRAflow placement for treatment of ventriculitis. Thirteen (61.9%) were men (mean age = 49.8 ± 14.87 years). The median baseline mRS score was 1. The median Glasgow Coma Scale score at admission was 13. The etiology of ventriculitis was iatrogenic in 12 (57.1%) patients and secondary to an abscess in 9 (42.9%). No cases reported hemorrhage or failure of IRRAflow placement. Antibiotics were administered through the IRRAflow system in 13 (61.9%) cases in addition to systemic dosing. Sixteen (76.2%) patients had significant clinical improvement and resolution of ventriculitis. Seven (33.3%) patients required shunt placement after resolution because of persistent hydrocephalus. There were 6 (28.6%) in-hospital deaths. The use of active irrigation with drainage for continuous delivery of intraventricular irrigation fluid with antibiotics led to dramatically low mortality. In our case series, it led to a marked improvement in neurological status, imaging findings, and cerebrospinal fluid profiles, making it a technically feasible and safe treatment for ventriculitis.

Anisocoria After Direct Light Stimulus is Associated with Poor Outcomes Following Acute Brain Injury.

Assessing pupil size and reactivity is the standard of care in neurocritically ill patients. Anisocoria observed in critically ill patients often prompts further investigation and treatment. This study explores anisocoria at rest and after light stimulus determined using quantitative pupillometry as a predictor of discharge modified Rankin Scale (mRS) scores. This analysis includes data from an international registry and includes patients with paired (left and right eye) quantitative pupillometry readings linked to discharge mRS scores. Anisocoria was defined as the absolute difference in pupil size using three common cut points (> 0.5mm, > 1mm, and > 2mm). Nonparametric models were constructed to explore patient outcome using three predictors: the presence of anisocoria at rest (in ambient light); the presence of anisocoria after light stimulus; and persistent anisocoria (present both at rest and after light). The primary outcome was discharge mRS score associated with the presence of anisocoria at rest versus after light stimulus using the three commonly defined cut points. This analysis included 152,905 paired observationsfrom 6,654 patients witha mean age of 57.0 (standard deviation 17.9) years, and a median hospital stay of 5 (interquartile range 3-12) days. The mean admission Glasgow Coma Scale score was 12.7 (standard deviation 3.5), and the median discharge mRS score was 2 (interquartile range 0-4). The ranges for absolute differences in pupil diameters were 0-5.76mm at rest and 0-6.84mm after light. Using an anisocoria cut point of > 0.5mm, patients with anisocoria after light had worse median mRS scores (2 [interquartile range 0-4]) than patients with anisocoria at rest (1 [interquartile range 0-3]; P < .0001). Patients with persistent anisocoria had worse median mRS scores (3 [interquartile range 1-4]) than those without persistent anisocoria (1 [interquartile range 0-3]; P < .0001). Similar findings were observed using a cut point for anisocoria of > 1mm and > 2mm. Anisocoria after light is a new biomarker that portends worse outcome than anisocoria at rest. After further validation, anisocoria after light should be considered for inclusion as a reported and trended assessment value.

Stroke in Qatar: a decade of insights from a national registry

ABSTRACT Background Stroke is a major cause of death and disability worldwide and presents a significant burden on healthcare systems. This retrospective study aims to analyze the characteristics and outcomes of stroke patients admitted to Hamad General Hospital (HGH) stroke service in Qatar from January 2014 to July 2022. Methods The medical records of 15,859 patients admitted during the study period were analyzed. The data collected included patient demographics, stroke types, admission location, procedures performed, mortality rates, and other clinical characteristics. Results Of the total cohort, 70.9% were diagnosed with a stroke, and 29.1% were diagnosed with stroke mimics. Of the stroke patients, 85.3% had an ischemic stroke, and 14.7% had a hemorrhagic stroke. Male patients below 65 years old (80.2%) and of South Asian ethnicity (44.6%) were the most affected. The mortality rate was 4.6%, significantly higher for hemorrhagic stroke than ischemic stroke (12.6% vs. 3.2%). Female patients had a higher stroke-related mortality rate than male patients (6.8% vs. 4%). The thrombolysis rate was 9.5%, and the thrombectomy rate was 3.4% of the ischemic stroke cohort. The mean door-to-needle time for thrombolysis was 61.2 minutes, and the mean door-to-groin time for thrombectomy was 170 minutes. Stroke outcomes were good, with 59.3% of patients having favorable outcomes upon discharge (mRS ≤2), which improved to 68.2% 90 days after discharge. Conclusion This study provides valuable insights into stroke characteristics and outcomes in Qatar. The findings suggest that stroke mortality rates are low, and favorable long-term disability outcomes are achievable. However, the study identified a higher stroke-related mortality rate among female patients and areas for improvement in thrombolysis and thrombectomy time.

Contemporary Prestroke Dual Antiplatelet Use and Symptomatic Intracerebral Hemorrhage Risk After Thrombolysis

Intravenous alteplase (IV-tPA) can be administered to patients with acute ischemic stroke but is associated with symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (sICH). It is unclear if patients taking prestroke dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) are at higher risk of sICH. To determine the associated risk of sICH in patients taking prestroke dual antiplatelet therapy receiving alteplase for acute ischemic stroke using propensity score matching analysis. This cohort study used data from the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association Get With The Guidelines-Stroke (GWTG-Stroke) registry between 2013 and 2021. Data were obtained from hospitals in the GWTG-Stroke registry. This study included patients hospitalized with acute ischemic stroke and treated with IV-tPA. Data were analyzed from January 2013 to December 2021. Prestroke DAPT before treatment with IV-tPA for acute ischemic stroke. sICH, In-hospital death, discharge modified Rankin scale score, and other life-threatening systemic hemorrhages. Of 409 673 participants, 321 819 patients (mean [SD] age, 68.6 [15.1] years; 164 587 female [51.1%]) who were hospitalized with acute ischemic stroke and treated with IV-tPA were included in the analysis. The rate of sICH was 2.9% (5200 of 182 344), 3.8% (4457 of 117 670), and 4.1% (893 of 21 805) among patients treated with no antiplatelet therapy, single antiplatelet therapy (SAPT), and DAPT, respectively (P < .001). In adjusted analyses after propensity score subclassification, both SAPT (odds ratio [OR], 1.13; 95% CI, 1.07-1.19) and DAPT (OR, 1.28; 95% CI, 1.14-1.42) were associated with increased risks of sICH. Prestroke antiplatelet medications were associated with lower odds of discharge mRS score of 2 or less compared with no medication (SAPT OR, 0.92; 95% CI, 0.90-0.95; DAPT OR, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.88-0.98). Results of a subgroup analysis of patients taking DAPT exposed to aspirin-clopidogrel vs aspirin-ticagrelor combination therapy were not significant (OR, 1.35; 95% CI, 0.84-1.86). Prestroke DAPT was associated with a significantly elevated risk of sICH among patients with ischemic stroke who were treated with thrombolysis; however, the absolute increase in risk was small. Patients exposed to antiplatelet medications did not have excess sICH compared with landmark trials, which demonstrated overall clinical benefit of thrombolysis therapy for acute ischemic stroke.

PCSK9 inhibitor in acute ischemic stroke patient receiving mechanical thrombectomy: early outcomes and safety.

Lipid-lowering therapies are mainstays in reducing recurrence after acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Evolocumab, a Proprotein convertase subtilisin-kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitor, is a promising lipid-lowering agent known to decrease LDL cholesterol and mitigate vascular events alongside statins. However, its effects on the early functional outcomes post-mechanical thrombectomy (MT) remain unclear. This study aimed to assess the short-term effects and incidence of bleeding events after the early, off-label use of PCSK9 inhibitors in AIS patients undergoing MT. We retrospectively analyzed patients who had MT at a Regional Stroke Center from December 2018 to April 2023. Our primary outcome was discharge functional outcomes. Secondary outcomes included early neurologic deterioration (END), symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (sICH), 3-month functional outcomes, 3-month recurrence rate, and lipid profiles. Of 261 patients (mean age 69.2 ± 11.7, men 42.9%), 42 were administered evolocumab peri-procedurally. While baseline characteristics were similar between the two groups, evolocumab group demonstrated improved discharge outcomes, with a lower mean NIHSS (8.8 ± 6.8 vs. 12.4 ± 9.8, p = 0.02) and a higher percentage of patients with discharge mRS ≤ 3 (52.4% vs. 35.6%, p = 0.041). The 3-month follow-up show a non-significant trend toward an improved outcome in the evolocumab group. Multivariable analysis indicated that evolocumab had a potential impact on favorable discharge outcomes (aOR 1.98[0.94-4.22] for mRS ≤ 3 and 0.47[0.27-0.84] for lower ordinal mRS). Notably, evolocuamb users exhibited fewer instances of END and sICH, although they do not reach statistical significance. Additionally, the evolocumab group demonstrated potential benefits in LDL cholesterol reduction over time. Early use of evolocumab in AIS patients undergoing MT appeared to be safe and associated with better early functional outcomes. The potential benefit of the PCSK9 inhibitor shown here warrants further prospective studies.

Mid-term safety and efficacy in small intracranial aneurysm coiling: results from TARGET® nano prospective independent core lab adjudicated multicenter registry.

The primary objective is to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of Stryker second generation Target® Nano Coils in the treatment of ruptured and unruptured small (<7 mm) intracranial aneurysms. The TARGET Registry is a prospective, two-arm study with independent medical event monitoring and core-lab adjudication. This paper describes the second arm of the TARGET registry. Patients with de novo intracranial aneurysms were embolized with 2nd generation TARGET Nano coils in 12 US centers. The primary efficacy outcome was adequate aneurysm occlusion (RR occlusion grade I-II) on follow-up. Primary safety outcome was treatment-related morbidity and mortality. Secondary outcomes included aneurysm packing density immediately post-procedure, immediate adequate occlusion, aneurysm re-access rate, retreatment rate and clinical outcomes using modified ranking scale. A secondary analysis investigated the influence of using Nano-predominant coils (≥2/3 of total coil-length) vs. non-Nano-predominant coils (<2/3 of total length). 150 patients with 155 aneurysms met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. (31%) patients with ruptured and (69%) with unruptured aneurysms were treated using TARGET coils. Median age was 58.8 (SD 12.7), 74.7% were females, and 80% were Caucasians. Mean follow-up was 5.23 (SD 2.27) months. Peri-procedural mortality was seen in 2.0% of patients. Good outcome at discharge (mRS 0-2) was seen in 81.3% of the cohort. The median packing density (SD) was 29.4% (14.9). Mid-term complete/near complete occlusion rate was seen in 96% of aneurysms and complete obliteration was seen in 75.2% of aneurysms. Patients treated predominantly with Nano coils had higher PD (32.6% vs. 26.1%, p < 0.001). There was no significant difference in clinical and angiographic outcomes. The mid-term mRS0-2 was achieved in 106/109 (97.2%) patients. All-cause mortality was 5/115 (4.3%). In the multicenter TARGET Registry, 75.8% of aneurysms achieved mid-term complete occlusion, and 96% achieved complete/near complete occlusion with excellent independent functional outcome.

Contrast Staining in Noninfarcted Tissue after Endovascular Treatment of Acute Ischemic Stroke.

Contrast staining is a common finding after endovascular treatment of acute ischemic stroke. It typically occurs in infarcted tissue and is considered an indicator of irreversible brain damage. Contrast staining in noninfarcted tissue has not been systematically investigated. We sought to assess the incidence, risk factors, and clinical significance of contrast staining in noninfarcted tissue after endovascular treatment. We conducted a retrospective review of consecutive patients who underwent endovascular treatment for anterior circulation large-vessel occlusion acute ischemic stroke. Contrast staining, defined as new hyperdensity on CT after endovascular treatment, was categorized as either contrast staining in infarcted tissue if the stained region demonstrated restricted diffusion on follow-up MR imaging or contrast staining in noninfarcted tissue if the stained region demonstrated no restricted diffusion. Baseline differences between patients with and without contrast staining in noninfarcted tissue were compared. Logistic regression was used to identify independent associations for contrast staining in noninfarcted tissue after endovascular treatment. Among 194 patients who underwent endovascular treatment for large-vessel occlusion acute ischemic stroke and met the inclusion criteria, contrast staining in infarcted tissue was noted in 52/194 (26.8%) patients; contrast staining in noninfarcted tissue, in 26 (13.4%) patients. Both contrast staining in infarcted tissue and contrast staining in noninfarcted tissue were noted in 5.6% (11/194). Patients with contrast staining in noninfarcted tissue were found to have a higher likelihood of having an ASPECTS of 8-10, to be associated with contrast staining in infarcted tissue, and to achieve successful reperfusion compared with those without contrast staining in noninfarcted tissue. In contrast staining in noninfarcted tissue regions, the average attenuation was 40 HU, significantly lower than the contrast staining in infarcted tissue regions (53 HU). None of the patients with contrast staining in noninfarcted tissue had clinical worsening during their hospital stay. The median discharge mRS was significantly lower in patients with contrast staining in noninfarcted tissue than in those without (3 versus 4; P = .018). No independent predictors of contrast staining in noninfarcted tissue were found. Contrast staining can be seen outside the infarcted tissue after endovascular treatment of acute ischemic stroke, likely attributable to the reversible disruption of the BBB in ischemic but not infarcted tissue. While generally benign, understanding its characteristics is important because it may mimic pathologic conditions such as infarcted tissue and cerebral edema.

Evaluation of demographic/clinical features and hemorrhagic complications in patients with ischemic stroke who underwent reperfusion therapy.

The relationship between demographic/clinical characteristics, clinical outcomes and the development of hemorrhagic complications in patients with ischemic stroke who underwent reperfusion therapy has not been studied sufficiently. We have aimed to compare genders and age groups in terms of clinical features and outcome; and types of reperfusion treatments and clinical features regarding the development of hemorrhagic complications in patients with ischemic stroke who underwent recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rtPA) and/or thrombectomy. Patients with acute ischemic stroke undergoing rtPA and/or thrombectomy were divided into six age groups. Parameters including hemorrhagic complications, anticoagulant and antiaggregant use, hyperlipidemia, smoking status, biochemical parameters, and comorbidities were documented. National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores, modified Rankin Score (mRS) and Glasgow Coma Scale scores were recorded. Etiological classification of stroke was done. These parameters were compared in terms of age groups, genders, and hemorrhagic complications. Significant differences were found between age groups concerning hypertension, coronary artery disease, smoking status, and antiaggregant use. Rate of hemorrhagic complications in rtPA group was significantly lower when compared with other treatment groups. Hemorrhagic complications developed mostly in the rtPA+thrombectomy group. Among the patients who developed hemorrhagic complications, NIHSS scores on admission were found to be significantly lower in men than women. Admission, discharge, and 3rd month mRS values in men were significantly lower than those of women. Knowing demographic and clinical features of patients that may have an impact on the clinical course of ischemic stroke managed with reperfusion therapy will be useful in predicting the hemorrhagic complications and clinical outcomes.

257 Breaking the Mold: An International, Multicenter Study on Active and Continuous Irrigation With Cerebrospinal Fluid Exchange for Improving Outcomes in Cerebral Ventriculitis

INTRODUCTION: Cerebral ventriculitis remains one of the most challenging neurosurgical conditions, with poor outcome and a long course of treatment and duration of hospital stay. Despite the current conventional management plans, i.e., using antibiotics in addition to CSF drainage, the outcome remains unsatisfactory in some cases, with no definitive therapeutic guidelines. METHODS: We conducted a multicenter, international, retrospective study of ventriculitis patients treated with a novel automated active irrigation, and drainage system. Data collected included patients’ demographics, comorbidities, admission Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score, and pre-hospital modified Rankin Scale (mRS). Catheter occlusions, infections, and shunt placement was recorded for outcome assessment, along with discharge mRS, and in-hospital mortality. RESULTS: Four centers (3 from U.S and 1 from Finland) contributed data for a total of 21 ventriculitis patients who had IRRAflow placement. Thirteen (61.9%) were males (mean age = 49.8 ± 14.87 years). The baseline median mRS was 1 and the median GCS at time of ventriculitis diagnosis was 13. Etiology of ventriculitis was iatrogenic in 12 (57.4%), and secondary to abscess in 9 (42.6%). No cases reported hemorrhage, or failure of IRRAflow placement. Antibiotics were administered in through the IRRAflow in 13 (61.9%) cases in addition to systemic dosing. Sixteen (76.19%) patients had significant clinical improvement and resolution of ventriculitis. Seven (33.33%) patients required shunt placement after resolution. There were 6 (28.6%) in-hospital mortalities reported. CONCLUSIONS: Use of active and continuous irrigation with drainage for continuous delivery of intraventricular irrigation fluid with antibiotics led to dramatically lower mortality when compared to literature (mortality approx. 70%). In our case series, it led to marked improvement in neurologic status, imaging findings, and CSF profiles making it technically feasible and safe treatment for ventriculitis.

699 Immune Activation on Stroke Thrombus Proteome Associated With Failed First Pass Recanalization by Thrombectomy

INTRODUCTION: Endovascular thrombectomy remains one of the most potent tools in the treatment kit for acute ischemic stroke. Prior cursory histopathological studies have demonstrated relationships between cellular composition of the thrombus and successful endovascular treatment. METHODS: Quantitative proteomes were generated using mass spectrometry from thromboembolic material from 59 stroke patients retrieved by mechanical thrombectomy. Clinical data, including whether or not Thrombolysis In Cerebral Infarction (TICI) score of 2b or greater was achieved on the first pass (FP±), was gathered by retrospective chart review. FP effect was related to the clinical variables, as well as the abundances of proteins identified by mass spectrometry. Finally, gene ontology and KEGG pathway analysis was used to examine the functional implications of proteins significantly associated with FP±. RESULTS: Both discharge and 90-day follow-up mRS were significantly greater in greater in patients who were FP- (Wilcoxon; Z = -1.84, -2.32; p = 0.03, 0.01). Additionally, mortality was significantly associated with FP effect (Fisher’s; p = 0.04). Numerous proteins were negatively and positively associated with FP± (Wilcoxon; 1.6 &lt; |Z| &lt; 2.8, p &lt; 0.05). Notably, several neutrophil and histone proteins were associated with FP- thrombectomy (Wilcoxon; |Z| &gt; 1.9, p &lt; 0.05). GO tags represented in the proteins FP- thrombectomy included, among others, immune activation and granule secretion (padj &lt; 0.001). KEGG pathways significantly represented in the FP- group also include immune activation, in particular neutrophil degranulation (padj &lt; 1E-13). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that not only is angiographic FP effect significantly associated with short and long-term functional outcomes, but it is also associated with significant proteome-level differences in the composition of retrieved stroke thrombi. Specifically, immune activation may be related to failure to achieve FP recanalization.

Traumatic Brain Injury Outcomes After Recreational Cannabis Use.

Basic science data indicate potential neuroprotective effects of cannabinoids in traumatic brain injury (TBI). We aimed to evaluate the effects of pre-TBI recreational cannabis use on TBI outcomes. We used i2b2 (a scalable informatics framework; www.i2b2.org) to identify all patients presenting with acute TBI between 1/1/2014 and 12/31/2016, then conducted a double-abstraction medical chart review to compile basic demographic, urine drug screen (UDS), Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), and available outcomes data (mortality, modified Rankin Scale (mRS), duration of stay, disposition (home, skilled nursing facility, inpatient rehabilitation, other)) at discharge and at specific time points thereafter. We conducted multivariable nested ordinal and logistic regression analyses to estimate associations between cannabis use, other UDS results, demographic factors, and selected outcomes. i2b2 identified 6396 patients who acutely presented to our emergency room with TBI. Of those, 3729 received UDS, with 22.2% of them testing positive for cannabis. Mortality was similar in patients who tested positive vs negative for cannabis (3.9% vs 4.8%; p = 0.3) despite more severe GCS on admission in the cannabis positive group (p = 0.045). Several discharge outcome measures favored the cannabis positive group who had a higher rate of discharge home vs other care settings (p < 0.001), lower discharge mRS (p < 0.001), and shorter duration of hospital stay (p < 0.001) than the UDS negative group. Multivariable analyses confirmed mostly independent associations between positive cannabis screen and these post-TBI short- and long-term outcomes. This study adds evidence about the potentially neuroprotective effects of recreational cannabis for short- and long-term post-TBI outcomes. These results need to be confirmed via prospective data collections.

Exploring the role of in-patient magnetic resonance imaging use among admitted ischemic stroke patients in improving patient outcomes and reducing healthcare resource utilization.

Despite the diagnostic and etiological significance of in-patient MRI in ischemic stroke (IS), its utilization is considered resource-intensive, expensive, and thus limiting feasibility and relevance. This study investigated the utilization of in-patient MRI for IS patients and its impact on patient and healthcare resource utilization outcomes. This retrospective registry-based study analyzed 1,956 IS patients admitted to Halifax's QEII Health Centre between 2015 and 2019. Firstly, temporal trends of MRI and other neuroimaging utilization were evaluated. Secondly, we categorized the cohort into two groups (MRI vs. No MRI; in addition to a non-contrast CT) and investigated adjusted differences in patient outcomes at admission, discharge, and post-discharge using logistic regression. Additionally, we analyzed healthcare resource utilization using Poisson log-linear regression. Furthermore, patient outcomes significantly associated with MRI use underwent subgroup analysis for stroke severity (mild stroke including transient ischemic attack vs. moderate and severe stroke) and any acute stage treatment (thrombolytic or thrombectomy or both vs. no treatment) subgroups, while using an age and sex-adjusted logistic regression model. MRI was used in 40.5% patients; non-contrast CT in 99.3%, CT angiogram in 61.8%, and CT perfusion in 50.3%. Higher MRI utilization was associated with male sex, younger age, mild stroke, wake-up stroke, and no thrombolytic or thrombectomy treatment. MRI use was independently associated with lower in-hospital mortality (adjusted OR, 0.23; 95% CI, 0.15-0.36), lower symptomatic neurological status changes (0.64; 0.43-0.94), higher home discharge (1.32; 1.07-1.63), good functional outcomes at discharge (mRS score 0-2) (1.38; 1.11-1.72), lower 30-day stroke re-admission rates (0.48; 0.26-0.89), shorter hospital stays (regression coefficient, 0.92; 95% CI, 0.90-0.94), and reduced direct costs of hospitalization (0.90; 0.89-0.91). Subgroup analysis revealed significantly positive association of MRI use with most patient outcomes in moderate and severe strokes subgroup and non-acutely treated subgroup. Conversely, outcomes in mild strokes (including TIAs) subgroup and acute treatment subgroup were comparable regardless of MRI use. A substantial proportion of admitted IS patients underwent MRI, and MRI use was associated with improved patient outcomes and reduced healthcare resource utilization. Considering the multifactorial nature of IS patient outcomes, further randomized controlled trials are suggested to investigate the role of increased MRI utilization in optimizing in-patient IS management.

Triple platelet inhibition in intracranial thrombectomy with additional acute cervical stent angioplasty due to tandem lesion: a retrospective single-center analysis

BackgroundAcute stroke treatment with intracranial thrombectomy and treatment of ipsilateral carotid artery stenosis/occlusion (“tandem lesion”, TL) in one session is considered safe. However, the risk of stent restenosis after TL treatment is high, and antiplatelet therapy (APT) preventing restenosis must be well balanced to avoid intracranial hemorrhage. We investigated the safety and 90-day outcome of patients receiving TL treatment under triple-APT, focused on stent-patency and possible disadvantageous comorbidities.MethodsPatients receiving TL treatment in the setting of acute stroke between 2013 and 2022 were analyzed regarding peri-/postprocedural safety and stent patency after 90 days. All patients received intravenous eptifibatide and acetylsalicylic acid and one of the three drugs prasugrel, clopidogrel, or ticagrelor. Duplex imaging was performed 24 h after treatment, at discharge and 90 days, and digital subtraction angiography was performed if restenosis was suspected.Results176 patients were included. Periprocedural complications occurred in 2.3% of the patients at no periprocedural death, and in-hospital death in 13.6%. Discharge mRS score was maintained or improved at the 90-day follow-up in 86%, 4.54% had an in-stent restenosis requiring treatment at 90 days. No recorded comorbidity considered disadvantageous for stent patency showed statistical significance, the duration of the endovascular procedure had no significant effect on outcome.ConclusionIn our data, TL treatment with triple APT resulted in a low restenosis rate, low rates of sICH and a comparably high number of patients with favorable outcome. Aggressive APT in the initial phase may therefore have the potential to prevent recurrent stroke better than restrained platelet inhibition. Comorbidities did not influence stent patency.

Abstract TP179: Reversible Cerebral Vasoconstriction Syndrome (RCVS): A Retrospective Analysis of 79 Cases

Background: RCVS is characterized by severe thunderclap headaches often triggered by medications or sexual activity. Convexity subarachnoid hemorrhage, and less commonly, ischemic stroke and intracerebral hemorrhage can occur. There are few studies of the clinical-imaging features of RCVS (Singhal, 2011; Ducros, 2007). The pathogenesis is yet to be understood, and further studies looking into various triggers and outcomes, such as our present one, is essential to characterize the condition and develop targeted treatments. Methods: We performed an EMR search (2012-2023) for patients over 18Y of age with a diagnosis of RCVS in inpatient and outpatient settings. We retrospectively analyzed clinical (demographics, triggers, and discharge mRS)) and imaging features (CTA, MRA, DSA, and transcranial doppler (TCD)) to confirm RCVS diagnosis. RCVS score was calculated. Discharge mRS was inferred from EMR. Diagnosis adjudication was performed by RSM. Student t-test and Chi-square test were used to analyze outcomes. Results: Seventy-nine patients were identified (mean age 40±11.5Y, 91% women). The most common triggers were medications (39%), sexual activity (11.4%), and marijuana use (5%). One-third (35%) had chronic headache history (migraines 22%). Twenty-nine (37%) were postpartum (n=19) or pregnant (n=10). Fourteen had concurrent pre-eclampsia (17%). Twelve (15%) also had imaging features of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES). Vasoconstriction was seen on DSA (n=15), CTA (n=25), and MRA (n=23); In 14 patients, vasoconstriction was evident only on TCD. SAH occurred in 26 (33%), ischemic stroke in 8, and ICH in 9. Median RCVS score was 7 (IQR 6-9, range 4-10). CSF profile (n=19) was normal, aside from mildly elevated lymphocyte count (n=2, range 10-13 cells) or protein (n=5, range 50-80 mg/dL). Discharge mRS was 0-1 in 83%. Patients without RCVS trigger (n= 40) had higher ischemic stroke or hemorrhage occurrence ( χ2 = 3.8, P=0.05 ). RCVS scores in pregnant/postpartum patients were similar to others ( t = 2.01, P = 0.06). Conclusion: In this case series, absence of an RCVS trigger was associated with occurrence of stroke or hemorrhage. Most patients had favorable prognosis. These findings need to be confirmed in prospective studies.