Background: Acute ischemic stroke (AIS) from distal medium vessel occlusion (DMVO) presents unique treatment challenges. Mechanical thrombectomy (MT) is emerging as a viable option for these patients, yet the role of pre-stroke aspirin treatment is unclear. This study evaluates the impact of pre-stroke low-dose aspirin on outcomes in DMVO patients undergoing MT.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Current randomized controlled trials are investigating the efficacy and safety of mechanical thrombectomy (MT) in patients with medium vessel occlusion (MeVO) stroke. Whether best medical management (MM) is more efficient than unsuccessful vessel recanalization during MT remains unknown.
Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study using data from 37 academic centers across North America, Asia, and Europe between September 2017 and July 2021.
Background And Purpose: Prolonged length of stay (LOS) following a stroke is associated with unfavorable clinical outcomes. Factors predicting LOS in medium vessel occlusion (MeVO), impacting up to 40% of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) cases, remain underexplored. This study aims to investigate the predictors of LOS in AIS-MeVO.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe cerebral blood volume index (CBV index) is a perfusion-based marker of collateral status. Several real-world data analyses from observational stroke cohorts have established relationships between this parameter and a range of favorable and unfavorable stroke outcomes. In this review, an overview is provided of the CBV index, within the context of thrombectomy-treated large vessel and medium vessel occlusion ischemic strokes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Mechanical thrombectomy (MT) efficacy in medium vessel occlusion (MeVO) stroke, particularly in patients with low Alberta Stroke Program Early Computed Tomography Score (ASPECTS), remains less explored.
Methods: This retrospective study analyzed data from 443 AIS patients treated with MT for MeVO and low ASPECTS (4-7) at 37 centers across North America, Asia, and Europe, from September 2017 to July 2021. Patients were categorized into ASPECTS of 4-5 and 6-7.
Background And Purpose: Prolonged venous transit (PVT), derived from computed tomography perfusion (CTP) time-to-maximum (T) maps, reflects compromised venous outflow (VO) in acute ischemic stroke due to large vessel occlusion (AIS-LVO). Poor VO is associated with worse clinical outcomes, but pre-treatment markers predictive of PVT are not well described.
Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 189 patients with anterior circulation AIS-LVO who underwent baseline CT evaluation, including non-contrast CT, CT angiography, and CTP.
Background: Data about the safety and the efficacy of flow diversion for distal anterior cerebral artery (DACA) aneurysms are limited. We present the largest multicenter analysis evaluating the outcomes of flow diversion in unruptured DACA aneurysm treatment.
Methods: Databases from 39 centers were retrospectively reviewed for unruptured DACA aneurysms treated with flow-diverting stents.
Background And Purpose: Acute ischemic stroke due to anterior circulation large-vessel occlusion (AIS-LVO) remains a leading cause of disability despite successful reperfusion therapies. Prolonged venous transit (PVT) has emerged as a potential prognostic imaging biomarker in AIS-LVO. We aimed to investigate whether PVT is associated with a decreased likelihood of excellent functional outcome (modified Rankin Scale [mRS] score of 0-1 at 90 days) after successful reperfusion.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground And Purpose: Prolonged venous transit (PVT+) is a marker of venous outflow; it is defined as the presence or absence of time-to-maximum ≥10 seconds timing in either the superior sagittal sinus or torcula. This novel perfusion imaging-based metric has been associated with higher odds of mortality and lower odds of functional recovery. This study aims to assess the relationship between PVT on admission perfusion imaging and length of hospital stay in large vessel occlusion strokes successfully reperfused with mechanical thrombectomy.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) has shown promise in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) for large ischemic core stroke patients, yet variability in core definition and onset-to-imaging time creates heterogeneity in outcomes. This study aims to clarify the prevalence and implications of core-perfusion mismatch (MM) versus no mismatch (No MM) in such patients, utilizing established imaging criteria.
Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted including patients from 7/29/2019 to 1/29/2023, with data extracted from a continuously maintained database.
Background And Purpose: Acute ischemic strokes caused by distal medium vessel occlusions (DMVO) represent a significant proportion of all stroke cases, yet the predictors of excellent functional outcomes in these patients remain poorly understood. This study aims to identify pretreatment computed tomography perfusion (CTP) parameters associated with excellent functional outcomes, defined as a modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score of 0-1 at 90 days, in patients with anterior circulation DMVO.
Materials And Methods: We conducted a retrospective multicenter study involving patients with anterior DMVO, from three stroke centers within the Johns Hopkins Medical Enterprise.
Objective: Venous outflow (VO) impairment predicts unfavorable outcomes in patients with acute ischemic stroke caused by large vessel occlusion (AIS-LVO). Prolonged venous transit (PVT), a visual qualitative VO marker on CT perfusion (CTP) time to maximum (Tmax) maps, has been associated with unfavorable 90-day functional outcomes despite successful reperfusion. This study investigates the association between PVT and percent change on the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) among AIS-LVO patients who have undergone successful reperfusion.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe hypoperfusion intensity ratio (HIR) is a quantitative metric used in vascular occlusion imaging to evaluate the extent of brain tissue at risk due to hypoperfusion. Defined as the ratio of tissue volume with a time-to-maximum (Tmax) of >10 seconds to that of >6 seconds, HIR assists in differentiating between the salvageable penumbra and the irreversibly injured core infarct. This review explores the role of HIR in assessing clinical outcomes and guiding treatment strategies, including mechanical thrombectomy and thrombolytic therapy, for patients with large vessel occlusions (LVOs).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: While advances in endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) have led to high reperfusion rates, most patients treated with EVT do not avoid disability. Post-reperfusion hemorrhagic transformation (HT) is a potential target for improving outcomes. This study examined pretreatment blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption in tissue that would subsequently become part of the final infarct to evaluate its role in post-EVT HT.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCT perfusion (CTP) images can be easily and rapidly obtained on all modern CT scanners and have become part of the routine imaging protocol of patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage (aSAH). There is a growing body of evidence supporting the use of CTP imaging in these patients, however, there are significant differences in the software packages and methods of analysing CTP. In.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Despite the proven effectiveness of endovascular therapy (EVT) in acute ischemic strokes (AIS) involving anterior circulation large vessel occlusions, isolated posterior cerebral artery (PCA) occlusions (iPCAo) remain underexplored in clinical trials. This study investigates the comparative effectiveness and safety of EVT against medical management (MM) in patients with iPCAo.
Methods: This multinational, multicenter propensity score-weighted study analyzed data from the Multicenter Analysis of primary Distal medium vessel occlusions: effect of Mechanical Thrombectomy (MAD-MT) registry, involving 37 centers across North America, Asia, and Europe.
Cerebral vasospasm (CV) following aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) may lead to morbidity and mortality. Endovascular mechanical angioplasty may be performed if symptomatic CV is refractory to noninvasive medical management. Compliant and noncompliant balloons and manually adjustable mesh may be used in this indication.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Patients with acute basilar artery occlusion (BAO) and low-to-moderate symptoms (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale [NIHSS] < 10) are poorly represented in thrombectomy trials. Our objective is to compare thrombectomy and best medical management (BMT) in this population.
Methods: We compared data of all consecutive patients presenting with an initial NIHSS < 10 and acute symptomatic BAO included in two registries.