Thrombectomy In Stroke Patients Research Articles

Safety and Efficacy of Mechanical Thrombectomy in Stroke Patients beyond 6 Hours

Abstract Background Stroke is one of the primary causes of death in Egypt. With advances in the stroke imaging and medical care we could extend the window of mechanical thrombectomy beyond 6 hours according to many studies. Objective To evaluate the safety and efficacy of endovascular treatment (EVT) of acute large vessel occlusion beyond 6 hours from the onset of the stroke. Patients and Methods A retrospective cohort study was conducted that include records for all patients diagnosed with acute ischemic stroke and treated after 6 hours of symptoms onset at Ain shams university hospitals from January 2019 to December 2021 (at least 20 cases) to evaluate the safety and efficacy of endovascular treatment of acute large vessel occlusion beyond 6 hours from the onset of the stroke. Results Twenty cases are included in our study with a mean age of 53.7±17, 65% were female, and the median NIHSS score at presentation was 13. Successful recanalization (mTICI 2b to 3) was obtained in 85% of patients and symptomatic ICH rate was 50% mostly in patients who didn’t undergo MRI prior to MT. overall 30% of the patients had good outcome (mRS ≤ 2) at 90 days post thrombectomy. Conclusion Mechanical thrombectomy beyond 6 hours is safe and effective with good selection of patients according to MRI and CT perfusion.

Abstract TP198: Factors Associated With Need for Decompressive Hemicraniectomy After Mechanical Thrombectomy in Stroke Patients

Background: Mechanical thrombectomy (MT) has significantly reduced morbidity and mortality in acute ischemic stroke (AIS). This study aims to analyze the outcomes and factors associated with decompressive hemicraniectomy (DHC) in AIS patients who underwent MT. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed data from an ongoing, multicenter database to investigate AIS patients who underwent MT for ICA, M1, or M2 occlusion. We compared clinical and procedural variables between patients who underwent DHC and those who did not. Propensity score (PS) matching between the two groups was conducted using age, sex, admission NIHSS, occluded vessel, ASPECTS, time from symptoms onset to arterial puncture, intracranial hemorrhage (ICH), and symptomatic ICH (sICH). Results: Among the 3,135 MT patients who met our inclusion criteria, 113 underwent DHC. A 1:3 propensity matching yielded a well-matched cohort of 113 in the DHC group versus 339 in the non-DHC group. The DHC group had a significantly higher rate of successful recanalization (mTICI ≥ 2C) (175 [51.6%] versus 36 [31.9%], P < 0.001) and a longer procedure duration, with a median of 30 minutes (IQR: 17-54) compared to 44 minutes (IQR: 25-78) in the non-DHC group (P = <0.001). Further comparison of patients with low ASPECTS (≤ 5) who underwent DHC (n = 36) with those who did not (n = 99) showed no significant difference in successful recanalization rates (15 [41.7%] versus 43 [43.4%], P > 0.90). However, procedure duration was significantly longer in the DHC group with a median of 29 minutes (IQR: 13-52), compared to 39 minutes (IQR: 27-86) in the non-DHC group (P = 0.02). Conclusions: Successful recanalization can help in preventing DHC in AIS patients with high ASPECTS, but not those with low ASPECTS. Procedure duration is independently related to DHC following MT, especially in low ASPECTS patients.

Abstract TP193: Impact of Number of Passes on Outcomes of Mechanical Thrombectomy in Stroke Patients With Low ASPECTS

Introduction: Real-world data showed that less than half of the acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients with large vessel occlusion (LVO) presenting with low Alberta Stroke Program Early Computed Tomography Score (ASPECTS) (2-5) achieved favorable outcomes at 90 days after mechanical thrombectomy (MT). In this study, we aim to investigate the relationship between the number of MT passes at which successful recanalization is obtained and outcomes in LVO-related AIS patients with low ASPECTS. Methods: This retrospective cohort study was performed on the data from 31 thrombectomy-capable centers between 2013 to 2022. Successful recanalization was defined as modified Thrombolysis in Cerebral Ischemia Score≥ 2b. The primary outcome was a 90-day modified Rankin Scale (mRS) of 0-3. Secondary outcomes were symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage and intracranial hemorrhage within 24 hours and mortality at 90 days. Outcomes were compared among patients with unsuccessful recanalization, and successful recanalization at first, second, third, and more than four passes. Results: A total of 297 patients with a median age of 70 [IQR 59-78] years were included and 140 (47.1%) were female. In 239 (80.4%) patients, successful recanalization was achieved: 88 patients (29.6 %) with 1 pass, 59 patients (19.9 %) with 2 passes, 35 patients(11.8%) with 3 passes, and 57 patients (19.2%) with more than 4 passes. Compared to unsuccessful recanalization, successful recanalization at first pass (adjusted OR 5.25, 95% CI 1.78 - 17.1), second passes (adjusted OR 5.20, 95% CI 1.68 - 17.6), and passes 4 (adjusted OR 4.90, 95% CI 1.68 - 17.6) was related to 90-day mRS 0-3. Recanalization status and MT attempt number were not related to secondary outcomes except for 90-day mortality. Compared to unsuccessful recanalization, successful recanalization at second and third passes were inversely related to 90-day mortality (adjusted OR 0.37, 95% CI 0.14 - 0.93; adjusted OR 0.33, 95% CI 0.11 - 0.95, respectively). Conclusion: The present results indicated that successful recanalization was related to 90-day good outcome regardless of the number of MT passes but the odds of achieving favorable outcome declines with each pass.

Thrombectomy in Stroke Patients With Low Alberta Stroke Program Early Computed Tomography Score: Is Modified Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction (mTICI) 2c/3 Superior to mTICI 2b?

Outcomes following mechanical thrombectomy (MT) are strongly correlated with successful recanalization, traditionally defined as modified Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction (mTICI) ≥2b. This retrospective cohort study aimed to compare the outcomes of patients with low Alberta Stroke Program Early Computed Tomography Score (ASPECTS; 2-5) who achieved mTICI 2b versus those who achieved mTICI 2c/3 after MT. This study utilized data from the Stroke Thrombectomy and Aneurysm Registry (STAR), which combined databases from 32 thrombectomy-capable stroke centers between 2013 and 2023. The study included only patients with low ASPECTS who achieved mTICI 2b, 2c, or 3 after MT for internal carotid artery or middle cerebral artery (M1) stroke. Of the 10,229 patients who underwent MT, 234 met the inclusion criteria. Of those, 98 (41.9%) achieved mTICI 2b, and 136 (58.1%) achieved mTICI 2c/3. There were no significant differences in baseline characteristics between the two groups. The 90-day favorable outcome (modified Rankin Scale score: 0-3) was significantly better in the mTICI 2c/3 group than in the mTICI 2b group (adjusted odds ratio 2.35; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.18-4.81; P=0.02). Binomial logistic regression revealed that achieving mTICI 2c/3 was significantly associated with higher odds of a favorable 90-day outcome (odds ratio 2.14; 95% CI 1.07-4.41; P=0.04). In patients with low ASPECTS, achieving an mTICI 2c/3 score after MT is associated with a more favorable 90-day outcome. These findings suggest that mTICI 2c/3 is a better target for MT than mTICI 2b in patients with low ASPECTS.

Early flexible endoscopic evaluation of swallowing after mechanical thrombectomy in stroke patients.

The aims of the study were to (1) characterize the findings of flexible endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES) in stroke patients undergoing mechanical thrombectomy (MT); (2) analyse the screening performance of the Standardized Swallowing Assessment (SSA); and (3) study the impact of FEES-defined dysphagia on 3-month outcomes. This single-centre study was based on a local registry of consecutive acute ischaemic stroke patients undergoing MT during a 1-year period. Patients received FEES within 5 days of admission regardless of the result of dysphagia screening. We compared baseline demographic and clinical characteristics of patients with and without FEES-defined dysphagia. We collected 3-month modified Rankin Scale (mRS) and individual index values of the European Quality of Life 5 Dimensions (EQ-5D-iv). Using univariable and multivariable regression analyses we predicted 3-month outcomes for presence of dysphagia and for FEES-defined dysphagia severity. We included 137 patients with a median age of 74 years, 43.1% were female, median NIHSS was 12 and successful recanalization was achieved in 92.7%. Stroke-associated pneumonia occurred in 8% of patients. FEES-defined dysphagia occurred in 81% of patients. Sensitivity of the SSA as a dysphagia screening was 67%. Presence of dysphagia and increasing severity of dysphagia were independently associated with increasing 3-month mRS score. Increasing dysphagia severity dysphagia was independently associated with lower EQ-5D-iv. Early FEES-defined dysphagia occurs in four in every five patients undergoing MT. SSA has a suboptimal dysphagia screening performance. Presence of dysphagia and increasing dysphagia severity predict worse functional outcome and worse health-related quality-of-life.

Outcomes of mechanical thrombectomy in stroke patients with extreme large infarction core

BackgroundRecent clinical trials have demonstrated that patients with large vessel occlusion (LVO) and large infarction core may still benefit from mechanical thrombectomy (MT). In this study, we evaluate outcomes of...

Long-Term Effect of Mechanical Thrombectomy in Stroke Patients According to Advanced Imaging Characteristics.

Data on long-term effect of mechanical thrombectomy (MT) in patients with large ischemic cores (≥ 70 ml) are scarce. Our study aimed to assess the long-term outcomes in MT-patients according to baseline advanced imaging parameters. We performed asingle-centre retrospective cohort study of stroke patients receiving MT between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2018. We assessed baseline imaging to determine core and mismatch volumes and hypoperfusion intensity ratio (with low ratio reflecting good collateral status) using RAPID automated post-processing software. Main outcomes were cross-sectional long-term mortality, functional outcome and quality of life by May 2020. Analysis were stratified by the final reperfusion status. In total 519 patients were included of whom 288 (55.5%) have deceased at follow-up (median follow-up time28months, interquartile range 1-55). Successful reperfusion was associated with lower long-term mortality in patients with ischemic core volumes ≥ 70 ml (adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) 0.20; 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.10-0.44) and ≥ 100 ml (aHR 0.26; 95% CI 0.08-0.87). The effect of successful reperfusion on long-term mortality was significant only in the presence of relevant mismatch (aHR 0.17; 95% CI 0.01-0.44). Increasing reperfusion grade was associated with ahigher rate of favorable outcomes (mRS 0-3) also in patients with ischemic core volume ≥ 70 ml (aOR 3.58, 95% CI 1.64-7.83). Our study demonstrated asustainable benefit of better reperfusion status in patients with large ischemic core volumes. Our results suggest that patient deselection based on large ischemic cores alone is not advisable.

General anesthesia or conscious sedation for thrombectomy in stroke patients: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis.

Endovascular treatment for stroke patients usually requires anesthesia care, with no current consensus on the best anesthetic management strategy. Several randomized controlled trials and meta-analyses have attempted to address this. In 2022, additional evidence from three new trials was published: the GASS trial, the CANVAS II trial, and preliminary results from the AMETIS trial, prompting the execution of this updated systematic review and meta-analysis. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of general anesthesia and conscious sedation on functional outcomes measured with the modified Rankin scale (mRS) at three months. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials investigating conscious sedation and general anesthesia in endovascular treatment. The following databases were examined: PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and the Cochrane Database of Randomized Controlled Trials and Systematic Reviews. The Risk of Bias 2 tool was used to assess bias. In addition, trial sequence analysis was performed on the primary outcome to estimate if the cumulative effect is significant enough to be unaffected by further studies. Nine randomized controlled trials were identified, including 1,342 patients undergoing endovascular treatment for stroke. No significant differences were detected between general anesthesia and conscious sedation with regards to mRS, functional independence (mRS, 0-2), procedure duration, onset to reperfusion, mortality, hospital length of stay, and intensive care unit length of stay. Patients treated under general anesthesia may have more frequent successful reperfusion, though the time from groin to reperfusion was slightly longer. Trial sequential analysis showed that additional trials are unlikely to show marked differences in mean mRS at three months. In this updated systematic review and meta-analysis, the choice of anesthetic strategy for endovascular treatment of stroke patients did not significantly impact functional outcome as measured with the mRS at three months. Patients managed with general anesthesia may have more frequent successful reperfusion. PROSPERO (CRD42022319368); registered 19 April 2022.

Abstract WMP10: Effect Of Imaging Selection Paradigms On Endovascular Thrombectomy Outcomes In Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients With Large Vessel Occlusion: A Pooled Analysis Of The Devt And Rescue Bt Randomized Clinical Trials

Background and Purpose: The study aimed to assess the effect of basic imaging (noncontrast computed tomography (NCCT) with or without computed tomographic angiography (CTA)) versus advanced imaging (magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography perfusion (CTP)) on clinical outcomes following thrombectomy in stroke patients with large vessel occlusion (LVO) in the early and extended windows using a pooled analysis of randomized controlled trials. Methods: Patients from two randomized controlled trials with occlusion of the intracranial internal carotid artery or proximal middle cerebral artery (M1/M2 segments) were categorized according to baseline imaging modality (basic versus advanced) as well as treatment time window (early: 0-6 hours versus extended: 6-24 hours from last known well to puncture). The primary outcome was the proportion of patients with functional independence (modified Rankin scale score of 0-2) at 90 days. Multivariable Poisson regression analysis was performed to determine the association between imaging selection modality and outcomes after EVT at each time windows. Results: A total of 1182 patients were included in this cohort analysis, with 648 in the early (471 with basic imaging versus 177 advanced imaging) and 534 in the extended (222 basic imaging versus 312 advanced imaging) time window. There were no differences in 90-day functional independence between the advanced and basic imaging groups in either time windows (early window: adjusted relative risk, 0.95 (95% confidence interval, 0.80-1.11), P =0.49; extended window: adjusted relative risk, 0.98 (95% confidence interval, 0.82-1.17), P =0.83). Conclusions: In this post-hoc analysis of two randomized clinical trial pooled data involving patients with LVO stroke, there was no association between imaging selection modality and clinical or safety outcomes for patients undergoing thrombectomy in either the early or extended windows. Our study adds to the growing body of literature simpler imaging paradigms to assess thrombectomy eligibility across both the early and extended time windows.

Relevance of admission hyperglycaemia and diabetes mellitus to efficacy and safety of mechanical thrombectomy in stroke patients.

The relevance of diabetes mellitus (DM) to the efficacy of mechanical thrombectomy (MT) has been the subject of few studies and with only inconclusive results. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of DM and admission hyperglycaemia on the efficacy and safety of MT in stroke patients. This retrospective study analysis focused on the relevance of admission hyperglyacemia and DM to the functional status of patients treated with MT at the Upper Silesian Medical Centre of the Silesian Medical University in Katowice, Poland. 417 stroke patients (median age 70 years) were qualified for the study. There were 103 patients (24.70%) with DM. Admission hyperglycaemia ≥ 140 mg% was found in 91 patients (21.82%), of whom 69 were diagnosed with DM before or during hospitalisation. The parameters with the strongest effect on the functional status on days 7, 90 and 365 were: age, and neurological status according to the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) on the first day of ischaemic stroke before MT. The angiographic effect indirect after MT and patient functional status on days 7, 90 and 365 were comparable between the groups, regardless of the DM burden. The frequency of symptomatic intracranial bleeding 24 hours after MT was comparable between patients with and patients without DM (p = 0.092). Model based on parameters were age, NIHSS on the first day of ischaemic stroke, an when score in Thrombolysis In Cerebral Infarct (TICI) showed good predictive attributes for the functional status of patients in the acute period (day 7). Age, a lack of admission hyperglycaemia, and the neurological state on day 1 of ischaemic stroke (before MT) were the key parameters for a favourable outcome (≤ 2 points on the modified Rankin Scale, mRS) on day 90. Admission hyperglycaemia ≥ 140 mg/dL, regardless of the presence or absence of DM, had a negative effect on achieving a good functional status one week after stroke onset. Diabetes mellitus has a neutral effect on the angiographic and clinical outcomes of mechanical thrombectomy in stroke patients. It does not increase the risk of intracranial haemorrhage after instrumental therapy. It is admission hyperglycaemia, rather than diabetes mellitus, that is a predictor of poor functional status in patients treated with thrombectomy. According to our results, the patient's neurological status, age, and the outcome of thrombectomy are relevant to the functional status in the acute ischaemic stroke period.

Mechanical thrombectomy in stroke patients of advanced age with score-based prediction of outcome.

Stroke patients ≥80 years constituted only 15% in randomised trials on mechanical thrombectomy (MT), but is a considerable higher proportion in clinical practice. Association of clinical variables collected before MT with functional outcome has not been independently described in these patients, while being important in the decision of patient eligibility for MT. We included patients consecutively at a single centre (2017-2021) categorised as octogenarians (age: 80-89 years) or nonagenarians (age: 90-99 years). Functional outcome at 90 days was defined as fair (modified Rankin Scale (mRS) 0-3) or poor (mRS 4-6). Clinical variables collected before MT were analysed for association with shift of mRS in a poor direction. Significant predictors were used to produce a risk score of fair outcome. Significance was set at the p < 0.05 level. Nonagenarians (n = 43, 15.5%) compared to octogenarians (n = 235, 84.5%) less likely achieved fair outcome (20.9% vs. 46.0%, p < 0.01) with higher mortality (65.1% vs. 31.9%, p < 0.01). Significant predictors of outcome were: age, adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 0.91 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.86-0.97); pre-stroke mRS, aOR = 0.57 (95% CI: 0.44-0.73); National Institute of Health Stroke Scale at admission, aOR = 0.91 (95% CI: 0.87-0.95); Alberta Stroke Program Early Computed Tomography, aOR = 1.23 (95% CI: 1.05-1.45). After bootstrap validation, the area under the curve of the risk score was 0.74 and the optimal cut-off for fair outcome was a score of >7 points. One in two octogenarians achieved fair outcome, however, only one in five nonagenarians had fair outcome. The clinical risk score could be considered as guidance when deciding patient eligibility for MT.

The impact of funding on the quality and interpretation of systematic reviews of mechanical thrombectomy in stroke patients.

Funding may impact the quality and findings of systematic reviews (SRs). We aimed to compare the methodological quality of funded and non-funded SRs that investigated the outcomes in ischemic stroke patients undergoing mechanical thrombectomy. We conducted a comprehensive search strategy in different databases, including Ovid Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Ovid Embase, Ovid Medline (including epub ahead of print, in-process & other non-indexed citations), PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science Core Collection to retrieve all relevant SRs. Random sequence generation matched each funded SR with a non-funded one. A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews (AMSTAR)-2 tool was used to assess the bias and quality of the included SRs. We also used uni- and multivariate analysis to perform our analysis, and results were expressed in odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). We retrieved 150 articles, which were randomized and matched into 100 SRs, including 50 funded and 50 non-funded studies. By multivariate analysis, we found that including randomized clinical trials (RCTs) (OR: 5.7; 95% CI: 1.8-17.8; p = 0.003) and reporting conflict of interests (OR: 5.2; 95 CI: 1.1-24; p = 0.036) were the only significant differences between funded and non-funded SRs. No significant differences were found regarding the overall confidence for low-quality (OR: 0.54; 95% CI: 0.09-3.2; p = 0.49) and moderate/high-quality SRs (OR: 0.17; 95% CI: 0.02-1.87; p = 0.14). Funded studies tend to include RCTs more often and report conflict of interests with no significant impact on overall confidence.

A novel predictor in endovascular treatment patients for cerebral perfusion and prognosis: CHA2DS2-VASC

ObjectiveThrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction(TICI) score is used to objectively evaluate cerebral perfusion after intervention in acute stroke with mechanical thrombectomy. In our study, we aimed to compare the results of patients with successful TICI perfusion score (TICI ≥ 2c) with the results of patients with poor TICI perfusion score (TICI < 2c) and to investigate the relationship of the CHA2DS2-VASc scoring system with the final TICI perfusion score and other endpoints. MethodsFor this retrospective, single-center, cross-sectional study, 278 patients who underwent endovascular thrombectomy were screened consecutively by the interventional neurology department of hospital. The primary endpoint of the study was in-hospital and 1-year all-cause death. All patients underwent cranial imaging to evaluate hemorrhagic transformation after the procedure. ResultsIt was observed that CHA2DS2-VASc score was significantly higher in the poor cerebral perfusion group than in the succesful cerebral perfusion group (3.19 ± 1.8 vs 2.72 ± 1.73, p = 0.046). According to Kaplan Meier's analysis, a significant difference was observed in the group with a CHA2DS2-VASc score > 2.5 in terms of all-cause mortality at follow-up compared to the group with a low CHA2DS2-VASc score (p = 0.002). According to Kaplan Meier's analysis, a significant difference was observed in the group with a poor TICI score compared to the group with a succesful one in terms of all-cause mortality at follow-up (p < 0.001). Cox regression model showed that poor TICI score group, Age ≥ 75 years, lower glomerular filtariton rate (GFR), higher high-sensitiveC-reactiveprotein (Hs-CRP), and higher admission NIHSS score were independent predictors of 1-year all-cause mortality. ConclusionHigh CHA2DS2-VASc score has been shown to be a predictor of unsuccessful cerebral perfusion score and 1-year mortality after mechanical thrombectomy in stroke patients. As a result of our research, it has been shown that complete or nearly complete reperfusion has more positive results than partial reperfusion.

Cerebral blood volume index may be a predictor of independent outcome of thrombectomy in stroke patients with low ASPECTS

IntroductionTo evaluate the predictors for efficacy and safety of patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) and Alberta Stroke Program Early Computed Tomographic Score (ASPECTS) ＜6 undergoing endovascular therapy (EVT). MethodsThis study retrospectively analyzed consecutive patients presented between December 2020 and December 2021 with large vessel occlusions (LVO) within the anterior circulation and an ASPECTS ＜6, followed by EVT. The efficacy outcome was 90-day functional independence, defined as modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score 0–3. The primary safety outcome was symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH). Secondary safety outcomes included 90-day all-cause mortality and 24-hour any ICH. ResultsA total of 22 patients were included. The percentage of patients with mRS 0–3 at 90 days was 36.4% (8/22). The occurrence of sICH was 22.7% (5/22). The occurrence of any ICH was 45.5% (10/22). The 90-day all-cause mortality was 36.4% (8/22). Median (interquartile range, IQR) cerebral blood volume (CBV) index was 0.5 (0.4–0.7). CBV index in mRS 0–3 group (n = 8) was higher than mRS 4–5 group (n = 14) (P＜0.05). There was no significant difference of age, gender, comorbidities, baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score, mismatch ratio, CBV index, interval between stroke onset and re-perfusion, good re-perfusion rate between sICH group (n = 5) and non-sICH group (n = 17). ConclusionsAIS patients with low ASPECTS can still benefit from EVT and gain good functional outcome, especial those had higher CBV index on pre-EVT computed tomography perfusion (CTP). Further studies with larger sample size are needed to validate our findings.

The impact of COVID 19 on the outcomes of thrombectomy in stroke patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

We aimed to conduct the current meta‐analysis to provide better insight into the efficacy of mechanical thrombectomy (MT) in managing COVID‐19 patients suffering from a stroke. An electronic search was conducted through eight databases for collecting the current evidence about the efficacy of MT in stroke patients with COVID‐19 until 18 December 2021. The results were reported as the pooled prevalence rates and the odds ratios (ORs), with their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI). Out of 648 records, we included nine studies. The prevalence of stroke patients with COVID‐19 who received MT treatment was with TICI ≥2b 79% (95%CI: 73–85), symptomatic intracranial haemorrhage 6% (95%CI: 3–11), parenchymal haematoma type 1, 11.1% (95%CI: 5–23), and mortality 29% (95%CI: 24–35). On further comparison of MT procedure between stroke patients with COVID 19 to those without COVID‐19, we found no significant difference in terms of TICI ≥2b score (OR: 0.85; 95%CI: 0.03–23; p = 0.9). However, we found that stroke patients with COVID‐19 had a significantly higher mortality rate than stroke patients without COVID‐19 after MT procedure (OR: 2.99; 95%CI: 2.01–4.45; p < 0.001). Stroke patients with COVID‐19 can be safely and effectively treated with MT, with comparable reperfusion and complication rates to those without the disease.

Efficacy of mechanical thrombectomy in stroke patients with large vessel involvement.

Ischemic stroke is a common disease worldwide and leads to a significant rate of mortality and disability in patients every year, and imposes high costs on the health care system. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of the invasive method of mechanical thrombectomy for rapid intervention in ischemic stroke patients with large vessel involvement. Patients suspected of having a stroke, who were referred to Imam Hossein Hospital, were examined, and the diagnosis of stroke was confirmed. In the next stage, patients' MRS index was measured and the possibility of emergency thrombectomy was evaluated in patients. Patients who underwent thrombectomy were considered as the case group and the other patients were contemplated as the control group; then, the cases of the two groups were evaluated and compared. The mean age of patients was 66.63 ± 12.26 years. the use of emergency thrombectomy in the study group significantly reduced the MRS index of patients after 90 days (p <0.001), while a significant increase in the mean scores of the MRS index was seen in patients receiving pharmacological treatments. Also, there was no significant difference in terms of gender between the group of patients undergoing thrombectomy and the group receiving other treatments (p = 0.375). Emergency mechanical thrombectomy significantly reduces disability in stroke patients in the long term and can be a good alternative to conventional drug treatments..

Mechanical thrombectomy in stroke patients with acute occlusion of the M1- compared to the M2-segment: Safety, efficacy, and clinical outcome.

Endovascular treatment (ET) in occlusions of the M1- and proximal M2-segment of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) is an established procedure. In contrast, ET in distal M2-occlusions has not been sufficiently evaluated yet. The purpose of this study was to assess relevant parameters for clinical outcome, efficacy, and safety of patients undergoing ET in M1-, proximal M2-, and distal M2-occlusions. One hundred seventy-four patients undergoing ET in acute ischemic stroke with an occlusion of the M1- or M2-segment of the MCA were enrolled prospectively. Non-parametric analysis of variance in 3-month mRS, TICI scale, and complication rates were performed with Kruskal-Wallis test between M1- and proximal and distal M2-occlusions. Subsequent pairwise group comparisons were calculated using Mann-Whitney U-tests. Binary logistic regression models were calculated for each occlusion site. There were no significant group differences in 3-month mRS, mTICI scale, or complication rates between M1- and M2-occlusions nor between proximal and distal M2-occlusions. Binary logistic regression in patients with M1-occlusions showed a substantial explanation of variance (NR2=0.35). NIHSS (p=0.009) and Maas Score as parameter for collateralization (p=0.01) appeared as significant contributing parameters. Binary logistic regression in M2-occlusions showed a high explanation of variance (NR2=0.50) of mRS but no significant factors. Clinical outcome and procedural safety of patients with M2-occlusions undergoing ET are comparable to those of patients with M1-occlusions. Clinical outcome of patients with M1-occlusions undergoing ET is primarily influenced by the initial neurological deficit and the collateralization of the occlusions. By contrast, clinical outcome in patients with M2-occlusions undergoing ET is more multifactorial.

Mechanical thrombectomy in stroke patients of working age: Real-world outcomes in Sweden.

IntroductionOutcomes after mechanical thrombectomy (MT) in young stroke patients remain elusive due to small patient cohorts. We sought to determine outcomes after MT in stroke patients between ages 18 and 64 years and compare with outcomes in older patients in a large national stroke cohort.Patients and methodsWe used the Swedish National Stroke Registry and the Swedish National Endovascular Thrombectomy Registry to identify all patients treated with MT for anterior circulation occlusions. We examined outcome measures in terms of functional independence at 90 days (modified Rankin Scale score of 0–2), symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (sICH), and mortality at 90 days with multivariable logistic regression analysis.ResultsOf 2143 patients, 565 were between 18 and 64 years (26.4%) and 1179 (55.0%) were males. Analysis showed that patient aged 18–64 achieved higher rate of functional independence at 90 days (46.2% vs 28.4%, p < .001), had less often sICH (5.5% vs 6.8%, p = .008), and lower 90-day mortality rate (6.9% vs 17.7%, p < .001). Increasing age was associated with a lesser probability of functional independence at 90 days (adjusted odds ratio (aOR), 0.94; [95% confidence intervals (CIs) 0.93–0.95]), higher odds of mortality at 90 days (aOR, 1.05; [95% CIs 1.03–1.06]), and of sICH (aOR 1.03; [95% CIs 1.01–1.05]).ConclusionPatients aged 18–64 years demonstrated better outcome after thrombectomy regarding functional independence, sICH, and mortality at 90 days when compared to older ages.

Carboxypeptidase U (TAFIa) Is Rapidly Activated and Deactivated Following Thrombolysis and Thrombectomy in Stroke Patients.

The antifibrinolytic enzyme carboxypeptidase U (CPU, TAFIa, CPB2) is an appealing target for the treatment of acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Increased insights in CPU activation and inactivation during thrombolysis (rtPA) with or without endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) are required to develop CPU inhibitors as profibrinolytic agents with optimal benefits/risks. Therefore, CPU kinetics during ischemic stroke treatment were evaluated. AIS patients with documented cerebral artery occlusion receiving rtPA (N = 20) or rtPA + EVT (N = 16) were included. CPU activation during thrombolysis was measured by an ultrasensitive HPLC-based CPU activity method and by an ELISA measuring both CPU and inactivated CPU (CPU + CPUi). Intravenous blood samples were collected at admission and throughout the first 24h. Additional in situ blood samples were collected in the rtPA + EVT cohort proximal from the thrombus. The NIHSS score was determined at baseline and 24h. CPU activity and CPU + CPUi levels increased upon rtPA administration and reached peak values at the end of thrombolysis (1h). High inter-individual variability was observed in both groups. CPU activity decreased rapidly within 3h, while CPU + CPUi levels were still elevated at 7h. CPU activity or CPU + CPUi levels were similar in in situ and peripheral samples. No correlation between CPU or CPU + CPUi and NIHSS or thrombus localization was found. The CPU system was rapidly activated and deactivated following thrombolysis and thrombectomy in stroke patients, suggesting that a CPU inhibitor would have to be administered during rtPA infusion and over the next few hours. The high CPU generation variability suggests that some patients may not respond to the treatment. EudraCT number2017-002760-41.

Reader Response: Association of Time of Day When Endovascular Therapy for Stroke Starts and Functional Outcome

We read with great interest the recent article by Hajdu et al.1 in which the authors investigated the association between the onset time of mechanical thrombectomy in stroke patients and evaluated medium-term functional outcomes. The research finds that those patients who were operated on between the 8:00 and 12:00 am hours had better results, compared with those who were operated on in the afternoon or night hours. This finding is very curious considering the hypothesis proposed by Kario et al.2 based on the neurobiology of blood pressure, which describes that cerebrovascular events tend to occur in the day because of adrenergic shock, while they are reduced at night by cholinergic regulation.2