Publications by authors named "Nicholas Bambakidis"

Article Synopsis
  • This study analyzed decisions regarding decompressive hemicraniectomy (DHC) and early withdrawal of life-sustaining therapy (WLST) in patients with large vessel occlusion (LVO) and large ischemic strokes from the SELECT2 trial.* -
  • Among 352 patients, DHC was utilized in 55 patients, and WLST was chosen for 81, showing no significant differences in usage between those receiving endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) and those treated medically.* -
  • About 21% of DHC patients were able to walk independently after one year, indicating that DHC did not negatively impact the benefits of thrombectomy, while WLST generally resulted in poor outcomes.*
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Article Synopsis
  • Endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) has proven safe and effective for patients suffering from large core strokes, but the effects of reperfusion quality and procedure details on outcomes are still unclear.
  • In the SELECT2 trial, findings indicated that 80% of patients experienced successful reperfusion, which correlates with better clinical outcomes, particularly in those who achieved near-complete reperfusion.
  • Longer procedure times negatively impacted patient outcomes, while the method of thrombectomy (aspiration vs stent-retriever) showed no significant differences in reperfusion success or functional recovery.
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  • Psilocybin, a compound found in "magic mushrooms," has shown potential in protecting against brain damage caused by strokes in rat models by acting on the 5HT2A receptor.
  • The study demonstrated that psilocybin treatment led to reduced neuronal loss and improved brain function post-stroke, specifically through the modulation of BDNF expression.
  • These findings suggest a promising new therapeutic use for psilocybin in treating strokes, highlighting its ability to enhance recovery and minimize brain injury.
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Endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) safety and efficacy in patients with large core infarcts receiving oral anticoagulants (OAC) are unknown. In the SELECT2 trial (NCT03876457), 29 of 180 (16%; vitamin K antagonists 15, direct OACs 14) EVT, and 18 of 172 (10%; vitamin K antagonists 3, direct OACs 15) medical management (MM) patients reported OAC use at baseline. EVT was not associated with better clinical outcomes in the OAC group (EVT 6 [4-6] vs MM 5 [4-6], adjusted generalized odds ratio 0.

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Background: Our study explores the efficacy and economic benefits of neurosurgical teleconsultations in managing intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), focusing on reducing unnecessary patient transfers and associated costs.

Methods: We conducted a cost-savings analysis at our institution of a previously published pilot study involving a cohort of patients with ICH who were potential candidates for airlift to our tertiary care center but instead received neurosurgical consultation via teleconsultation to avoid the transfer. Data on patient demographics, distances, and costs were collected and analyzed to assess the economic impact of teleconsultations.

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Article Synopsis
  • Researchers looked at how bleeding in the brain (intracerebral hemorrhage or ICH) affects people who had a specific treatment for severe strokes called endovascular thrombectomy (EVT).
  • Out of the 351 patients studied, many experienced bleeding, especially those who had EVT, but serious types of bleeding were rare.
  • In the end, having some bleeding didn’t make the patients’ health outcomes worse, and there may be new treatments that could help those with bleeding issues in similar cases.
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Article Synopsis
  • Patients with large ischemic core strokes often have poor outcomes and are rarely transferred for endovascular thrombectomy (EVT), leading to a need for better understanding of treatment effects in different patient groups.
  • The study analyzed data from the SELECT2 trial, focusing on adults with acute ischemic strokes due to specific artery occlusions, comparing those who were directly treated at EVT centers with those who were transferred.
  • Results indicated that EVT improved functional outcomes in both transfer and non-transfer patients, suggesting that EVT can benefit patients regardless of transfer delays, although the median ASPECTS score showed a decline during transfers.
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Background: Multiple randomised trials have shown efficacy and safety of endovascular thrombectomy in patients with large ischaemic stroke. The aim of this study was to evaluate long-term (ie, at 1 year) evidence of benefit of thrombectomy for these patients.

Methods: SELECT2 was a phase 3, open-label, international, randomised controlled trial with blinded endpoint assessment, conducted at 31 hospitals in the USA, Canada, Spain, Switzerland, Australia, and New Zealand.

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Importance: Whether endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) efficacy for patients with acute ischemic stroke and large cores varies depending on the extent of ischemic injury is uncertain.

Objective: To describe the relationship between imaging estimates of irreversibly injured brain (core) and at-risk regions (mismatch) and clinical outcomes and EVT treatment effect.

Design, Setting, And Participants: An exploratory analysis of the SELECT2 trial, which randomized 352 adults (18-85 years) with acute ischemic stroke due to occlusion of the internal carotid or middle cerebral artery (M1 segment) and large ischemic core to EVT vs medical management (MM), across 31 global centers between October 2019 and September 2022.

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  • Reperfusion therapy significantly benefits ischemic stroke patients by reducing infarct growth and cerebral edema, which may be key to improving clinical outcomes.* -
  • A study involving 542 patients found that successful reperfusion was linked to decreased infarct growth and midline shift, highlighting their role as mediators in treatment effectiveness.* -
  • Although successful reperfusion initially correlated with better functional outcomes, this link diminished when accounting for infarct growth and midline shift, indicating these factors greatly influence treatment success.*
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Background: Factors associated with discharge disposition and mortality following aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) are not well-characterized. We used a national all-payer database to identify factors associated with home discharge and in-hospital mortality.

Methods: The National Inpatient Sample was queried for patients with aSAH within a 4-year range.

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Objective: Endovascular mechanical thrombectomy is safe and effective for the treatment of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) due to large-vessel occlusion (LVO). Still, despite high rates of procedural success, it is routine practice to uniformly admit postthrombectomy patients to an intensive care unit (ICU) for postoperative observation. Predictors of ICU criteria and care requirements in the postmechanical thrombectomy ischemic stroke patient population are lacking.

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 En plaque meningiomas are a rare subtype of meningiomas that are frequently encountered in the spheno-orbital region. Characterized by a hyperostotic and dural invasive architecture, these tumors present unique diagnostic and treatment considerations.  The authors conduct a narrative literature review of clinical reports of en plaque meningiomas to summarize the epidemiology, clinical presentation, diagnostic criteria, and treatment considerations in treating en plaque meningiomas.

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Background: Giant prolactinomas (>4 cm) are a rare entity, constituting less than 1% of all pituitary tumors. Diagnosis can usually be achieved through endocrinological analysis, but biopsy may be considered when trying to differentiate between invasive nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas and primary clival tumors such as chordomas.

Observations: The authors presented a rare case of a giant prolactinoma causing significant clival and occipital condyle erosion, which led to craniocervical instability.

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 The incidence of vestibular schwannoma is reported as 12 to 54 new cases per million per year, increasing over time. These patients usually present with unilateral sensorineural hearing loss, tinnitus, or vertigo. Rarely, these patients present with symptoms of hydrocephalus or vision changes.

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 While regarded as an effective surgical approach to vestibular schwannoma (VS) resection, the translabyrinthine (TL) approach is not without complications. It has been postulated that postoperative cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (pCVST) may occur as a result of injury and manipulation during surgery. Our objective was to identify radiologic, surgical, and patient-specific risk factors that may be associated with pCVST.

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Introduction: Over the past several years there has been a dramatic increase in the implementation of telemedicine technology to aid in the delivery of care across community, inpatient, and emergency settings. This technology has proved valuable for acute life-threatening clinical scenarios. We aimed to pilot a novel neurosurgical telemedicine program within an academic tertiary care center to assist in consultation of patients with high-grade intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) (ICH score 4, 5).

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Objective: Mechanical thrombectomy is effective in acute ischemic stroke secondary to emergent large-vessel occlusion, but optimal efficacy is contingent on fast and complete recanalization. First-pass recanalization does not occur in the majority of patients. The authors undertook this study to determine if anatomical parameters of the intracranial vessels impact the likelihood of first-pass complete recanalization.

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Background and Purpose- The purpose of these guidelines is to provide an up-to-date comprehensive set of recommendations in a single document for clinicians caring for adult patients with acute arterial ischemic stroke. The intended audiences are prehospital care providers, physicians, allied health professionals, and hospital administrators. These guidelines supersede the 2013 Acute Ischemic Stroke (AIS) Guidelines and are an update of the 2018 AIS Guidelines.

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Article Synopsis
  • The Common Data Elements (CDEs) initiative aims to standardize data collection and definitions for neurological disorders, specifically focusing on unruptured aneurysms and subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH).
  • A working group assessed existing CDEs from other brain-related conditions to create new, categorized CDEs for SAH that include specific clinical details and therapies.
  • The newly developed CDEs will enhance data collection and sharing in SAH research, improving consistency and enabling better comparisons across studies and trials.
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Objective: The exact pathophysiological mechanisms underlying cerebral aneurysm formation remain unclear. Asymmetrical local vascular geometry may play a role in aneurysm formation and progression. The object of this study was to investigate the association between the geometric asymmetry of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) and the presence of MCA aneurysms and associated high-risk features.

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