Endovascular therapy for acute vertebrobasilar occlusion (VERITAS): a systematic review and individual patient data meta-analysis.

Background: Trials of endovascular therapy for basilar artery occlusion, including vertebral occlusion extending into the basilar artery, have shown inconsistent results. We aimed to pool data to estimate safety and efficacy and to explore the benefit across pre-specified subgroups through individual patient data meta-analysis.

Methods: VERITAS was a systematic review and meta-analysis that pooled patient-level data from trials that recruited patients with vertebrobasilar ischaemic stroke who were randomly assigned to treatment with either endovascular therapy or standard medical treatment alone.

Mobile stroke units services in Germany: A cost-effectiveness modeling perspective on catchment zones, operating modes, and staffing.

Background And Purpose: Investigating the cost-effectiveness of future mobile stroke unit (MSU) services with respect to local idiosyncrasies is essential for enabling large-scale implementation of MSU services. The aim of this study was to assess the cost-effectiveness for varying urban German settings and modes of operation.

Methods: Costs of different operating times together with different personnel configurations were simulated.

Endovascular therapy in patients with acute intracranial non-terminal internal carotid artery occlusion (ICA-I).

Background: Acute intracranial occlusion of the internal carotid artery (ICA) can be distinguished into (a) occlusion of the terminal ICA, involving the proximal segments of the middle or anterior cerebral artery (ICA-L/-T) and (b) non-terminal intracranial occlusions of the ICA with patent circle of Willis (ICA-I). While patients with ICA-L/-T occlusion were included in all randomized controlled trials on endovascular therapy (EVT) in anterior large vessel occlusion, data on EVT in ICA-I occlusion is scarce. We thus aimed to evaluate effectiveness and safety of EVT in ICA-I occlusions in comparison to ICA-L/-T occlusions.

VISIT STROKE: non-inferiority of telemedicine-based neurological consultation for post-acute stroke patients - protocol of a prospective observational controlled multi-center study.

Background: Telemedicine provides specialized medical expertise in underserved areas where neurological expertise is frequently not available on a daily basis for hospitalized stroke patients. While tele-consultations are well established in acute stroke assessment, the value of telemedicine-based ward-rounds in the subsequent in-patient stroke management is unknown.

Methods: Four telemedicine stroke networks in Germany, implemented in eight out of 16 federal states, participate in this prospective observational multi-center study.