Publications by authors named "Flottmann F"

Lysosomal pH dysregulation is a critical element of the pathophysiology of neurodegenerative diseases, cancers, and lysosomal storage disorders (LSDs). To study the role of lysosomes in pathophysiology, probes to analyze lysosomal size, positioning, and pH are indispensable tools. Here, we developed and characterized a ratiometric genetically encoded lysosomal pH probe, RpH-ILV, targeted to a subpopulation of lysosomal intraluminal vesicles.

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Purpose: Since perfusion imaging may be unavailable in smaller hospitals, alternative imaging selection methods for acute ischemic stroke can improve outcomes and optimize resources. This study assessed the safety and effectiveness of using imaging criteria other than DEFUSE 3 and DAWN for thrombectomy beyond 6 h from symptom onset in patients stroke in the anterior circulation.

Methods: This is a retrospective, single-center analysis of consecutive patients with large vessel occlusion in the anterior circulation undergoing thrombectomy.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study investigates factors leading to early stopping during mechanical thrombectomy (MT) in acute ischemic stroke patients, focusing on those that do not achieve a successful recanalization score (mTICI ≥2b).
  • An analysis of 2,977 patients revealed that factors such as higher age, worse pre-stroke conditions, and certain complications during the procedure were linked to early stopping without successful recanalization.
  • The findings suggest that decisions to stop the procedure often correspond to the patient's overall prognosis, indicating that both favorable and unfavorable conditions can influence the likelihood of early intervention cessation.
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Introduction: Managing blood pressure in patients with large vessel occlusion affects infarct size and clinical outcomes. We examined how restoring blood flow impacts systemic blood pressure during mechanical thrombectomy.

Patients And Methods: Patients with large vessel occlusion in the anterior circulation undergoing mechanical thrombectomy between June 2016 and January 2018 were screened.

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Introduction: Rescue intracranial stenting is necessary to provide sufficient recanalization after mechanical thrombectomy (MT) in patients with acute large vessel occlusions (LVO) due to an underlying intracranial atherosclerotic disease (ICAD). The CREDO heal is a novel stent that provides a potentially lower thrombogenicity due to surface modification. We present the first multicentric experience with the CREDO heal for acute rescue stenting.

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  • * Data from 459 patients with vessel perforation showed a 90-day mortality rate of 51.9%, with only 16.3% achieving a favorable recovery (mRS 0-2).
  • * The findings indicate that large vessel perforation leads to worse outcomes, while thrombolysis doesn’t worsen prognoses; quick management of bleeding is crucial for survival.
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Introduction: Endovascular thrombectomy stands as a pivotal component in the standard care for patients experiencing acute ischemic stroke with large vessel occlusion. Subsequent care for patients often extends to a neurological intensive care unit. While fluid management is integral to intensive care, the association between early fluid balance and neurological and functional outcomes post-thrombectomy has not yet been thoroughly investigated.

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  • Endovascular thrombectomy is a safe and effective treatment for acute ischemic stroke, but older patients (80+) with large infarcts are underrepresented in clinical trials.
  • This study analyzed data from the German Stroke Registry, focusing on patients who underwent this procedure between 2015 and 2021, categorizing them by age to assess functional outcomes.
  • Results showed that older patients had significantly lower rates of independent ambulation and higher mortality rates compared to younger patients, highlighting the increased risks associated with age in stroke treatments.
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  • - The TENSION trial evaluated the long-term safety and effectiveness of endovascular thrombectomy for patients with ischemic stroke and large infarcts, demonstrating favorable outcomes at 90 days, with a follow-up extending to 12 months.
  • - Conducted across various hospitals in Europe and Canada, the trial involved patients aged 18 and older with acute ischemic strokes caused by large vessel occlusions, comparing results between those receiving thrombectomy plus medical care versus medical care alone.
  • - Out of 253 enrolled patients, results indicated significant insights into functional outcomes, quality of life, and mental health aspects like anxiety and depression, although the trial concluded early due to promising efficacy in the treatment group.
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Background: A sizeable proportion of stroke patients with large vessel occlusion present with minor neurological deficits. Whether mechanical thrombectomy (MT) is beneficial in these patients is controversial. We aimed to investigate factors of early neurological deterioration (END) in thrombectomy patients with minor stroke and hypothesized that END is linked to unfavorable functional outcomes.

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Background: There is yet no randomized controlled evidence that mechanical thrombectomy (MT) is superior to best medical treatment in patients with large vessel occlusion but minor stroke symptoms (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) <6). Prior studies of patients with admission NIHSS scores 6 observed unfavorable functional outcomes despite successful recanalization, commonly termed as futile recanalization (FR), in up to 50% of cases.

Aim: The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of FR in patients with minor stroke and identify associated patient-specific risk factors.

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Article Synopsis
  • * A systematic review and meta-analysis of four randomized controlled trials (RCTs) showed that endovascular thrombectomy significantly improved functional outcomes at 90 days, with a pooled odds ratio of 1.62.
  • * The findings suggest that endovascular thrombectomy can be beneficial for patients with low ASPECTS scores, raising questions about the current treatment selection criteria based on ASPECTS in these cases.
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Background: Data on impact of COVID-19 vaccination and outcomes of patients with COVID-19 and acute ischemic stroke undergoing mechanical thrombectomy are scarce. Addressing this subject, we report our multicenter experience.

Methods And Results: This was a retrospective analysis of patients with COVID-19 and known vaccination status treated with mechanical thrombectomy for acute ischemic stroke at 20 tertiary care centers between January 2020 and January 2023.

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Introduction: In acute ischemic stroke, prediction of the tissue outcome after reperfusion can be used to identify patients that might benefit from mechanical thrombectomy (MT). The aim of this work was to develop a deep learning model that can predict the follow-up infarct location and extent exclusively based on acute single-phase computed tomography angiography (CTA) datasets. In comparison to CT perfusion (CTP), CTA imaging is more widely available, less prone to artifacts, and the established standard of care in acute stroke imaging protocols.

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  • Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) is a rare disorder caused by mutations in a specific gene, affecting the body's ability to regulate blood cells.
  • The disorder leads to the destruction of red blood cells and low blood cell counts, along with frequent blood clots that can occur in various parts of the body.
  • Historic data shows that up to 44% of PNH patients experience these abnormal blood clots, making it a significant concern for those affected.
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Introduction: Kidney dysfunction (KD) is a risk factor for cerebrovascular events and has been shown to have a detrimental effect on outcome after stroke. We evaluated the influence of KD at admission and pre-existing diagnosis of chronic kidney disease (CKD) before thrombectomy for anterior circulation stroke on functional independence and mortality 90 days after stroke in this cross-sectional study.

Patients And Methods: We included patients with acute ischemic stroke in the anterior circulation treated with thrombectomy at our hospital between June 2015 and May 2022.

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  • There is increasing evidence that endovascular therapy is effective for treating M2 occlusions in the middle cerebral artery, but multiple attempts at recanalization may raise safety concerns.
  • The study aimed to analyze how the number of recanalization attempts affects functional outcomes in M2 occlusions, comparing it to larger vessel occlusions (LVO).
  • Results indicated that while successful reperfusion was common, functional independence decreased with more recanalization attempts, and higher rates of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage were observed with four or more attempts.
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  • Mechanical thrombectomy (MT) for acute ischemic stroke with medium vessel occlusions (like M2-occlusions) is debated, with a recent analysis from the German Stroke Registry Endovascular Treatment exploring factors affecting patient outcomes.
  • 1348 patients were studied, revealing that successful recanalization, higher Alberta stroke scores, and intravenous thrombolysis positively influenced the likelihood of good outcomes, while older age, high pre-stroke mRS scores, and diabetes had a negative impact.
  • The study concluded that, similar to large-vessel occlusions, factors like younger age and low pre-stroke disability are linked to better outcomes after MT, while treatment-related complications also play a role.
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Background: Recent evidence suggests a beneficial effect of endovascular thrombectomy in acute ischaemic stroke with large infarct; however, previous trials have relied on multimodal brain imaging, whereas non-contrast CT is mostly used in clinical practice.

Methods: In a prospective multicentre, open-label, randomised trial, patients with acute ischaemic stroke due to large vessel occlusion in the anterior circulation and a large established infarct indicated by an Alberta Stroke Program Early Computed Tomographic Score (ASPECTS) of 3-5 were randomly assigned using a central, web-based system (using a 1:1 ratio) to receive either endovascular thrombectomy with medical treatment or medical treatment (ie, standard of care) alone up to 12 h from stroke onset. The study was conducted in 40 hospitals in Europe and one site in Canada.

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Background: Evaluating the deployed length of flow diverting stents (FDs) to select the optimal device size remains a challenging, yet crucial, task in aneurysm treatment. This study reports on the accuracy of PreSize Neurovascular (Oxford Heartbeat Ltd), a visualization and simulation software for FD intervention planning, in predicting FD deployed length, and on its impact on device size selection.

Methods: Imaging data from consecutive patients treated with Derivo Embolization Device (Acandis GmbH) were collected from University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf and retrospectively analyzed.

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Background: Landmark thrombectomy trials have provided evidence that selected patients with large ischemic stroke benefit from successful endovascular therapy, commonly defined as incomplete (modified Thrombolysis In Cerebral Infarction (mTICI) 2b) or complete reperfusion (mTICI 3). We aimed to investigate whether mTICI 3 improves functional outcomes compared with mTICI 2b in large ischemic strokes.

Methods: This retrospective multicenter cohort study was conducted to compare mTICI 2b versus mTICI 3 in large ischemic strokes in the anterior circulation.

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Purpose: Given the inherent complexity of neurointerventional procedures and the associated risks of ionizing radiation exposure, it is crucial to prioritize ongoing training and improve safety protocols. The aim of this study is to assess a training and evaluation environment using a vascular model of M1 stenosis, within a clinical angiography suite, without relying on animal models or X-ray radiation.

Materials And Methods: Using a transparent model replicating M1 stenosis, we conducted intracranial stenting procedures with four different setups (Gateway & Wingspan, Gateway & Enterprise, Neurospeed & Acclino, and Pharos Vitesse).

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Purpose: Flow arrest using a balloon guide catheter (BGC) in mechanical thrombectomy (MT) due to large vessel occlusion has been associated with better outcomes. Known limitations of currently commercially available BGCs are incompatibility with large bore aspiration catheters (AC) and lack of distal flexibility. Walrus presents variable stiffness and compatibility with large bore AC.

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Article Synopsis
  • Vessel perforation during thrombectomy is more common in medium vessel occlusion (MeVO) cases compared to large vessel occlusion (LVO), with a rate of 2.4% in MeVO vs. 1.0% in LVO.
  • Among patients who experienced perforation, those in the MeVO group had better functional outcomes at 3 months, achieving independence 25.7% of the time compared to 10.9% in the LVO group.
  • Common procedural causes of perforation included navigating beyond the occlusion and retracting the stent retriever or aspiration catheter, highlighting the need for further research to improve safety in thrombectomy procedures.
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