Publications by authors named "Adam J Polifka"

Background And Objectives: First-line therapy for most intracranial dural arteriovenous fistulas (dAVFs) is endovascular embolization, but some require microsurgical ligation due to limited endovascular accessibility, anticipated lower cure rates, or unacceptable risk profiles. We investigated the most common surgically treated dAVF locations and the approaches and outcomes of each.

Methods: The Consortium for Dural Arteriovenous Fistula Outcomes Research database was retrospectively reviewed.

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Background: A combination of intravenous (IVT) or intra-arterial (IAT) thrombolysis with mechanical thrombectomy (MT) for acute ischemic stroke due to large vessel occlusion (AIS-LVO) has been investigated. However, there is limited data on patients who receive both IVT and IAT compared with IVT alone before MT.

Methods: STAR data from 2013 to 2023 was utilized.

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Background: The role for the transradial approach for mechanical thrombectomy is controversial. We sought to compare transradial and transfemoral mechanical thrombectomy in a large multicenter database of acute ischemic stroke.

Methods: The prospectively maintained Stroke Thrombectomy and Aneurysm Registry (STAR) was reviewed for patients who underwent mechanical thrombectomy for an internal carotid artery (ICA) or middle cerebral artery M1 occlusion.

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Background: Endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) remains the standard of care for acute large vessel occlusion (LVO) stroke. However, the safety and efficacy of repeat thrombectomy (rEVT) in recurrent LVO remains unclear. This study uses a large real-world patient cohort to study technical and clinical outcomes after rEVT.

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Article Synopsis
  • A study analyzed a large cohort of patients with dural arteriovenous fistulas (dAVFs) presenting cognitive impairment, called dAVFs-CI, to understand their characteristics compared to those without cognitive issues.
  • Findings showed that venous hypertension and sinus stenosis were common in dAVFs-CI, with these patients having more arterial feeders and draining veins, making their condition more severe.
  • Closing the dAVF may help improve symptoms in some cases, highlighting the importance of timely diagnosis and treatment.*
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Background: Recent 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 MT in LVO patients presenting with extremely large infarction core Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score (ASPECTS 0-2).

Methods: Data from the Stroke Thrombectomy and Aneurysm Registry (STAR) was interrogated.

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Background: The safety and efficacy of mechanical thrombectomy (MT) for the treatment of acute anterior cerebral artery (ACA) occlusions have not clearly been delineated. Outcomes may be impacted based on whether the occlusion is isolated to the ACA (primary ACA occlusion) or occurs in conjunction with other cerebral arteries (secondary).

Methods: We performed a retrospective review of the multicenter Stroke Thrombectomy and Aneurysm (STAR) database.

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Background: Several studies have established the safety and efficacy of balloon guide catheters (BGCs) for large vessel occlusions. However, the utility of BGCs remains largely unexplored for distal medium vessel occlusions (DMVOs). In this study, we aim to compare the outcomes of BGC vs.

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Objective: To evaluate the effect of procedure time on thrombectomy outcomes in different subpopulations of patients undergoing endovascular thrombectomy (EVT), given the recently expanded indications for EVT.

Methods: This multicenter study included patients undergoing EVT for acute ischemic stroke at 35 centers globally. Procedure time was defined as time from groin puncture to successful recanalization (Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction score ≥2b) or abortion of procedure.

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Background: Tools predicting intracranial dural arteriovenous fistulas (dAVFs) treatment outcomes remain scarce. This study aimed to use a multicenter database comprising more than 1000 dAVFs to develop a practical scoring system that predicts treatment outcomes.

Methods: Patients with angiographically confirmed dAVFs who underwent treatment within the Consortium for Dural Arteriovenous Fistula Outcomes Research-participating institutions were retrospectively reviewed.

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Background: The safety and efficacy of bridging therapy with intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) and mechanical thrombectomy (MT) in patients with large core infarct has not been sufficiently studied. In this study, we compared the efficacy and safety outcomes between patients who received IVT+MT and those treated with MT alone.

Methods: This is a retrospective analysis of the Stroke Thrombectomy Aneurysm Registry (STAR).

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Background: Reducing intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) can improve patient outcome in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) intervention. We sought to identify ICH risk factors after AIS thrombectomy.

Methods: This is a retrospective review of the Stroke Thrombectomy and Aneurysm Registry (STAR) database.

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Background: Endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) has become the mainstay treatment for large vessel occlusion, with favorable safety and efficacy profile. However, the safety and efficacy of EVT in concurrent multi-territory occlusions (MTVOs) remains unclear.

Objective: To investigate the prevalence, clinical and technical outcomes of concurrent EVT for MTVOs.

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Background: Recent clinical trials have shown that mechanical thrombectomy is superior to medical management for large vessel occlusion for up to 24 hours from onset. Our objective is to examine the safety and efficacy of thrombectomy beyond the standard of care window.

Methods: A retrospective review was undertaken of the multicenter Stroke Thrombectomy and Aneurysm Registry (STAR).

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Background: Anterior cranial fossa dural arteriovenous fistulas (ACF-dAVFs) are aggressive vascular lesions. The pattern of venous drainage is the most important determinant of symptoms. Due to the absence of a venous sinus in the anterior cranial fossa, most ACF-dAVFs have some degree of drainage through small cortical veins.

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Background: Endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) is the standard-of-care for proximal large vessel occlusion (LVO) stroke. Data on technical and clinical outcomes in distal vessel occlusions (DVOs) remain limited.

Methods: This was a retrospective study of patients undergoing EVT for stroke at 32 international centers.

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Background: Cranial dural arteriovenous fistulas with cortical venous drainage are rare lesions that can present with hemorrhage. A high rate of rebleeding in the early period following hemorrhage has been reported, but published long-term rates are much lower. No study has examined how risk of rebleeding changes over time.

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Background: To date, limited studies have been conducted regarding the safe timing of valvular repair for infectious endocarditis (IE) in patients with radiographic findings consistent with embolic stroke or infectious intracranial aneurysm (IIA).

Methods: A single-center, retrospective review of valvular surgeries for IE was performed (2011-2019). Outcomes for patients who underwent cranial image screening and those who did not were subsequently compared.

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Objective: The risk-to-benefit profile of treating an unruptured high-grade dural arteriovenous fistula (dAVF) is not clearly defined. The aim of this multicenter retrospective cohort study was to compare the outcomes of different interventions with observation for unruptured high-grade dAVFs.

Methods: The authors retrospectively reviewed dAVF patients from 12 institutions participating in the Consortium for Dural Arteriovenous Fistula Outcomes Research (CONDOR).

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Objective: Current evidence suggests that intracranial dural arteriovenous fistulas (dAVFs) without cortical venous drainage (CVD) have a benign clinical course. However, no large study has evaluated the safety and efficacy of current treatments and their impact over the natural history of dAVFs without CVD.

Methods: The authors conducted an analysis of the retrospectively collected multicenter Consortium for Dural Arteriovenous Fistula Outcomes Research (CONDOR) database.

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Background And Purpose: Dural arteriovenous fistulae can present with hemorrhage, but there remains a paucity of data regarding subsequent outcomes. We sought to use the CONDOR (Consortium for Dural Arteriovenous Fistula Outcomes Research), a multi-institutional registry, to characterize the morbidity and mortality of dural arteriovenous fistula–related hemorrhage.

Methods: A retrospective review of patients in CONDOR who presented with dural arteriovenous fistula–related hemorrhage was performed.

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Delayed cerebral ischemia is a major predictor of poor outcomes in patients who suffer subarachnoid hemorrhage. Treatment options are limited and often ineffective despite many years of investigation and clinical trials. Modern advances in basic science have produced a much more complex, multifactorial framework in which delayed cerebral ischemia is better understood and novel treatments can be developed.

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Objective: The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic is a pressing public health issue. Although most cases do not result in severe illness requiring hospitalization, there is increasing evidence that SARS-CoV-2-induced inflammation can exacerbate pre-existing diseases. We sought to describe the characteristics of patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage who were actively or very recently infected with SARS-CoV-2.

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The placement of cervical and intracranial stents requires the administration of antiplatelet drugs to prevent thromboembolic complications. Ticagrelor has emerged as the most widely used alternative in clopidogrel non-responders owing to its potent antiplatelet effects. Because ticagrelor does not require hepatic activation, many neurointerventionalists choose to forgo laboratory testing of platelet inhibition.

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Background: Although the liquid embolic agent, Onyx, is often the preferred embolic treatment for cerebral dural arteriovenous fistulas (DAVFs), there have only been a limited number of single-center studies to evaluate its performance.

Objective: To carry out a multicenter study to determine the predictors of complications, obliteration, and functional outcomes associated with primary Onyx embolization of DAVFs.

Methods: From the Consortium for Dural Arteriovenous Fistula Outcomes Research (CONDOR) database, we identified patients who were treated for DAVF with Onyx-only embolization as the primary treatment between 2000 and 2013.

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