Flow diversion for the treatment of distal circulation aneurysms: A randomized comparison.

Background And Purpose: Flow diversion (FD) has expanded beyond initial indications (proximal carotid artery aneurysms) to include distal circulation aneurysms (on the anterior, middle, or posterior cerebral arteries). Our objective was to examine results obtained from aneurysms in these locations in the Flow Diversion in the Treatment of Intracranial Aneurysms Trial (FIAT) which compared FD with alternative standard management options (ASMO).

Materials And Methods: FIAT was an all-inclusive parallel-group 1:1 randomized study comparing FD with one of 4 ASMOs (coiling +/-stenting, parent vessel occlusion (PVO), clipping, or observation, pre-specified by clinical judgment).

Clinical Reasoning: A 70-Year-Old Man With Systemic Illness Related Strokes Refractory to Medical Treatment Managed With Intracranial Stent.

We present the case of a 70-year-old man with a history of embolic stroke, atrial fibrillation, deep vein thrombosis, and polymyalgia rheumatica who presented as a stroke code with transient right-sided focal neurologic deficits (motor and sensory), mild alteration in consciousness, and mild aphasia. His cerebrovascular imaging revealed new multifocal intracranial stenoses. Despite best medical management, this patient continued to have recurrent symptomatic cerebrovascular events.

Endovascular treatment versus medical management for basilar artery occlusion with low-to-moderate symptoms (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale < 10).

Background: 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.

Advance Consent for participation in Acute Stroke Trials (ACTION): protocol for a feasibility study.

Introduction: Obtaining informed consent for research from patients in medical emergencies remains a challenge, particularly in acute stroke care as treatment must be administered quickly and patients often arrive in the hospital in a state of incapacitation. Adaptations to standard consenting approaches-such as the use of surrogate consent or deferral of consent-have significant limitations. This feasibility study aims to test a new consenting approach in acute stroke care that we call advance consent.

Predicting intracerebral hemorrhage after endovascular therapy for anterior circulation strokes using CT-ASPECT, CTP-ASPECT and DWI-ASPECT: Protocol for a systematic review.

Introduction: Over the last decade, there have been significant advances in treatments for anterior ischemic stroke, most notably endovascular thrombectomy (EVT). Despite the success of EVT on overall outcomes, intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is an important post-procedure complication, often associated with mortality and disability. Hence, predicting the risk of ICH can inform EVT decision making.

Interhospital Transfer for Endovascular Stroke Treatment in Canada: Results From the OPTIMISE Registry.

Background: Interhospital transfer for patients with stroke due to large vessel occlusion for endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) has been associated with treatment delays.

Methods: We analyzed data from Optimizing Patient Treatment in Major Ischemic Stroke With EVT, a quality improvement registry to support EVT implementation in Canada. We assessed for unadjusted differences in baseline characteristics, time metrics, and procedural outcomes between patients with large vessel occlusion transferred for EVT and those directly admitted to an EVT-capable center.

Seasonal Variations in Stroke Occurrence.

Background: Understanding seasonal variations in stroke can help stakeholders identify underlying causes in seasonal trends, and tailor resources appropriately to times of highest needs. We sought to evaluate the seasonal occurrence of stroke and its subtypes.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using administrative data from January 1st, 2003, to December 31st, 2017, in Ontario, Canada's most populous province.

Endovascular treatment to improve outcomes for medium vessel occlusions: The ESCAPE-MeVO trial.

Rationale: Clinical outcomes in acute ischemic stroke due to medium vessel occlusion (MeVO) are often poor when treated with best medical management. Data from non-randomized studies suggest that endovascular treatment (EVT) may improve outcomes in MeVO stroke, but randomized data on potential benefits and risks are hitherto lacking. Thus, there is insufficient evidence to guide EVT decision-making in MeVO stroke.

Influence of Stroke-Onset Location on the Efficacy of Endovascular Thrombectomy: Comparison of Outcomes between In-Hospital versus Community-Onset Strokes.

Background And Purpose: Previous studies have suggested that patients experiencing an in-hospital stroke may face delays in treatment and worse outcomes compared with patients with community-onset strokes. However, most studies occurred when IV thrombolysis was the primary treatment. This study aimed to examine the outcomes of patients experiencing an in-hospital stroke in the endovascular thrombectomy era.

Influence of Time of Admission on Endovascular Thrombectomy (EVT): Comparison of Outcomes During Business Hours Versus Off-Business Hours.

To investigate the differences in endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) outcomes of patients treated for acute ischaemic stroke (AIS) during business versus off-business hours. A single-centre retrospective cohort study of patients with AIS treated with EVT from February 1, 2015, to May 31, 2021, was performed at a comprehensive stroke centre (CSC). Patients were divided into business (Monday to Friday, 8 AM-5 PM) versus off-business hours groups.

Ethical Problems of Observational Studies and Big Data Compared to Randomized Trials.

The temptation to use prospective observational studies (POS) instead of conducting difficult trials (RCTs) has always existed, but with the advent of powerful computers and large databases, it can become almost irresistible. We examine the potential consequences, were this to occur, by comparing two hypothetical studies of a new treatment: one RCT, and one POS. The POS inevitably submits more patients to inferior research methodology.

Outcomes with General Anesthesia Compared to Conscious Sedation for Endovascular Treatment of Medium Vessel Occlusions: Results of an International Multicentric Study.

Background: Optimal anesthetic strategy for the endovascular treatment of stroke is still under debate. Despite scarce data concerning anesthetic management for medium and distal vessel occlusions (MeVOs) some centers empirically support a general anesthesia (GA) strategy in these patients.

Methods: We conducted an international retrospective study of MeVO cases.

Stent-assisted Woven EndoBridge embolization for the treatment of pulsatile tinnitus caused by an ipsilateral high-riding jugular bulb.

Purpose: Pulsatile tinnitus can be caused by a high-riding jugular bulb (HRJB), characterized by the superior position of the jugular bulb in the petrous temporal bone. The anatomical position and morphology of this entity make it challenging for endovascular treatment. We report our experience with two patients successfully treated with a stent-assisted Woven EndoBridge (WEB; Microvention, Tustin, CA, USA) device.

Embolization of a pseudoaneurysm of the innominate artery with a Woven EndoBridge (WEB) device.

The Woven EndoBridge (WEB) is an intra-aneurysmal flow disruptor designed for the treatment of broad-based arterial aneurysms with a high safety and effectiveness profile. It does not require concomitant antiplatelet therapy compared to other devices such as flow diverters or intracranial stents. Innominate artery pseudoaneurysms are a rare consequence of blunt traumatic injury, infection, or atherosclerotic disease.

Clinical uncertainty in large vessel occlusion ischemic stroke: does automated perfusion imaging make a difference? An intra-rater and inter-rater agreement study.

Background: Limited research exists regarding the impact of neuroimaging on endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) decisions for late-window cases of large vessel occlusion (LVO) stroke.

Objective: T0 assess whether perfusion CT imaging: (1) alters the proportion of recommendations for EVT, and (2) enhances the reliability of EVT decision-making compared with non-contrast CT and CT angiography.

Methods: We conducted a survey using 30 patients drawn from an institutional database of 3144 acute stroke cases.

Endovascular Parent Vessel Occlusion Versus Flow Diversion in the Treatment of Large and Giant Aneurysms: A Randomized Comparison.

Objective: Parent vessel occlusion (PVO) is a time-honored treatment for unclippable or uncoilable intracranial aneurysms. Flow diversion (FD) is a recent endovascular alternative that can occlude the aneurysm and spare the parent blood vessel. Our aim was to compare outcomes of FD with endovascular PVO.

Incidence and clinical outcomes of perforations during mechanical thrombectomy for medium vessel occlusion in acute ischemic stroke: A retrospective, multicenter, and multinational study.

Background: Mechanical thrombectomy (MT) has revolutionized the treatment of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) due to large vessel occlusion (LVO), but its efficacy and safety in medium vessel occlusion (MeVO) remain less explored. This multicenter, retrospective study aims to investigate the incidence and clinical outcomes of vessel perforations (confirmed by extravasation during an angiographic series) during MT for AIS caused by MeVO.

Methods: Data were collected from 37 academic centers across North America, Asia, and Europe between September 2017 and July 2021.

Nonaneurysmal perimesencephalic subarachnoid hemorrhage on noncontrast head CT: An accuracy, inter-rater, and intra-rater reliability study.

Background And Purpose: To evaluate the reliability and accuracy of nonaneurysmal perimesencephalic subarachnoid hemorrhage (NAPSAH) on Noncontrast Head CT (NCCT) between numerous raters.

Materials And Methods: 45 NCCT of adult patients with SAH who also had a catheter angiography (CA) were independently evaluated by 48 diverse raters; 45 raters performed a second assessment one month later. For each case, raters were asked: 1) whether they judged the bleeding pattern to be perimesencephalic; 2) whether there was blood anterior to brainstem; 3) complete filling of the anterior interhemispheric fissure (AIF); 4) extension to the lateral part of the sylvian fissure (LSF); 5) frank intraventricular hemorrhage; 6) whether in the hypothetical presence of a negative CT angiogram they would still recommend CA.