Frontline thrombectomy strategy and outcome in acute basilar artery occlusion

2022 ◽  
pp. neurintsurg-2021-018180
Author(s):  
Mohamed Abdelrady ◽  
Julien Ognard ◽  
Federico Cagnazzo ◽  
Imad Derraz ◽  
Pierre-Henri Lefevre ◽  
...  

BackgroundNovel thrombectomy strategies emanate expeditiously day-by-day counting on access system, clot retriever device, proximity to and integration with the thrombus, and microcatheter disengagement. Nonetheless, the relationship between native thrombectomy strategies and revascularization success remains to be evaluated in basilar artery occlusion (BAO).PurposeTo compare the safety and efficacy profile of key frontline thrombectomy strategies in BAO.MethodsRetrospective analyses of prospectively maintained stroke registries at two comprehensive stroke centers were performed between January 2015 and December 2019. Patients with BAO selected after MR imaging were categorized into three groups based on the frontline thrombectomy strategy (contact aspiration (CA), stent retriever (SR), or combined (SR+CA)). Patients who experienced failure of clot retrieval followed by an interchanging strategy were categorized as a fourth (switch) group. Clinicoradiological features and procedural variables were compared. The primary outcome measure was the rate of complete revascularization (modified Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction (mTICI) grade 2c–3). Favorable outcome was defined as a 90 day modified Rankin Scale score of 0–2.ResultsOf 1823 patients, we included 128 (33 underwent CA, 35 SR, 35 SR +CA, and 25 switch techniques). Complete revascularization was achieved in 83/140 (59%) primarily analyzed patients. SR +CA was associated with higher odds of complete revascularization (adjusted OR 3.04, 95% CI 1.077 to 8.593, p=0.04) which was an independent predictor of favorable outcome (adjusted OR 2.73. 95% CI 1.152 to 6.458, p=0.02). No significant differences were observed for symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage, functional outcome, or mortality rate.ConclusionAmong BAO patients, the combined technique effectively contributed to complete revascularization that showed a 90 day favorable outcome with an equivalent complication rate after thrombectomy.

Stroke ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 42 (12) ◽  
pp. 3454-3459 ◽  
Author(s):  
Volker Puetz ◽  
Andrei Khomenko ◽  
Michael D. Hill ◽  
Imanuel Dzialowski ◽  
Patrik Michel ◽  
...  

Background and Purpose— The posterior circulation Acute Stroke Prognosis Early CT Score (pc-ASPECTS) quantifies the extent of early ischemic changes in the posterior circulation with a 10-point grading system. We hypothesized that pc-ASPECTS applied to CT angiography source images predicts functional outcome of patients in the Basilar Artery International Cooperation Study (BASICS). Methods— BASICS was a prospective, observational registry of consecutive patients with acute symptomatic basilar artery occlusion. Functional outcome was assessed at 1 month. We applied pc-ASPECTS to CT angiography source images of patients with CT angiography for confirmation of basilar artery occlusion. We calculated unadjusted and adjusted risk ratios (RRs) of pc-ASPECTS dichotomized at ≥8 versus <8. Primary outcome measure was favorable outcome (modified Rankin Scale scores 0–3). Secondary outcome measures were mortality and functional independence (modified Rankin Scale scores 0–2). Results— Of 158 patients included, 78 patients had a CT angiography source images pc-ASPECTS ≥8. Patients with a pc-ASPECTS ≥8 more often had a favorable outcome than patients with a pc-ASPECTS <8 (crude RR, 1.7; 95% CI, 0.98–3.0). After adjustment for age, baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score, and thrombolysis, pc-ASPECTS ≥8 was not related to favorable outcome (RR, 1.3; 95% CI, 0.8–2.2), but it was related to reduced mortality (RR, 0.7; 95% CI, 0.5–0.98) and functional independence (RR, 2.0; 95% CI, 1.1–3.8). In post hoc analysis, pc-ASPECTS dichotomized at ≥6 versus <6 predicted a favorable outcome (adjusted RR, 3.1; 95% CI, 1.2–7.5). Conclusions— pc-ASPECTS on CT angiography source images independently predicted death and functional independence at 1 month in the CT angiography subgroup of patients in the BASICS registry.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xu Tong ◽  
Jiayi An ◽  
Raynald Liu ◽  
Xuan Sun ◽  
Feng Gao ◽  
...  

Abstract Background To design a simplified NIH Stroke Scale (sNIHSS) that requires minimal training but can reflect acute basilar artery occlusion (BAO) severity and is predictive for the 90-day outcome after endovascular therapy (EVT). Methods We analyzed the prospectively gathered data of acute BAO treated with EVT in a tertiary stroke center during a 6-year period. The sNIHSS (range: 0 to 20 points) consisted of 4 NIHSS items: level of consciousness - (1) questions and (2) commands; motor function - (3) arms and (4) legs. The 90-day outcomes included functional independence (mRS ≤ 2), favorable outcome (mRS ≤ 3) and death. Results Of 173 patients, 62, 83 and 36 achieved functional independence, favorable outcome and death, respectively. Interobserver reliability of sNIHSS was high (ICC = 0.95), and compared with NIHSS, sNIHSS had a significant reduction of assessment time (median: 1.5 min vs. 5 min, P < 0.01). A multivariable logistic model demonstrated that sNIHSS was independently associated with functional independence (OR = 0.82, 95% CI = 0.77-0.87), favorable outcome (OR = 0.86, 95% CI = 0.81-0.92) and death (OR = 1.24, 95% CI = 1.12-1.37). Additionally, the sNIHSS predicted 90-day outcomes almost as same discrimination as NIHSS by using DeLong test. The optimal cutoff value of sNIHSS was determined to be 12 points for predicting any outcome. Conclusions The sNIHSS reflects acute BAO severity well and predicts 90-day outcomes with reasonable accuracy. Nevertheless, the sNIHSS needs further validation before it can be applied as a predictive tool for acute BAO outcome.


Stroke ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 51 (Suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlo W Cereda ◽  
Jeremy Heit ◽  
Giovanni Bianco ◽  
Marco Pileggi ◽  
Abid Qureshi ◽  
...  

Introduction: Perfusion imaging can identify patients who respond favorably to endovascular therapy (EVT) in the anterior circulation; no data are available for the posterior circulation. We evaluated perfusion patterns, assessed with RAPID software, in a consecutive cohort of patients with basilar artery occlusion treated with EVT and assessed the association between reperfusion and favorable clinical outcome based on the perfusion profile. Hypothesis: We hypothesized that patients with limited regions of severe hypoperfusion (Tmax > 10s) would have a favorable response (mRS 0-2) to reperfusion (mTICI 2b-3) while patients with multiple critical brain regions severely hypoperfused would have poor outcome (mRS 4-6) despite reperfusion. Methods: From a multicenter cohort of perfusion imaging in posterior circulation stroke, we included patients with basilar artery occlusion and EVT. We pre-specified a Critical Area Perfusion Score (CAPS, 0 - 8 points) to identify severe hypoperfusion (Tmax >10s) in the following regions: inferior and/or superior cerebellar hemisphere (1-4 points), pons (2 points), midbrain/thalamus (2 points). We compared the outcome between reperfusers and non reperfusers based on the CAP score with univariate and multivariate analysis. Results: 38 patients met the inclusion criteria. Mean age was 63±17, 34% female, NIHSS 17±11. In patients who reperfused (n=30, 79%) 63% had favorable outcome, while no patient without reperfusion survived, p=0.003 OR=29 (95%CI 1.5-547). Ninety percent (19/21) of reperfused patients with CAPS ≤2 had a favorable outcome, while none of the 9 with reperfusion and a score >2 survived, p<0.001, OR=148 (95%CI 6.5-3,333). In univariate analysis, favorable outcome was associated with NIHSS OR=0.87 (95% CI 0.80-0.96), p=0.003, and mismatch volume OR=0.98 (95% CI 0.97-0.997) p=0.013. In the multivariate analysis, only CAPS was an independent predictor of favorable outcome. Conclusions: Patients with limited regions of severe hypoperfusion (Tmax > 10s) had a robust response to basilar artery EVT, however, all patients with multiple critical brain regions severely hypoperfused died despite successful reperfusion. Perfusion imaging profiles may help identify optimal patients for basilar EVT.


2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 1174-1180 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Raphael Meinel ◽  
Johannes Kaesmacher ◽  
Panagiotis Chaloulos-Iakovidis ◽  
Leonidas Panos ◽  
Pasquale Mordasini ◽  
...  

BackgroundPerforming mechanical thrombectomy (MT) in patients with basilar artery occlusion (BAO) is currently not evidence-based.ObjectiveTo compare patients’ outcome, relative merits of achieving recanalization, and predictors of futile recanalization (FR) between BAO and anterior circulation large vessel occlusion (ACLVO) MT.MethodsIn the multicenter BEYOND-SWIFT registry (NCT03496064), univariate and multivariate (displayed as adjusted Odds Ratios, aOR and 95% confidence intervals, 95%-CI) outcome comparisons between BAO (N=165) and ACLVO (N=1574) were performed. The primary outcome was favorable outcome at 90 days (modified Rankin Scale, mRS 0-2). Secondary outcome included mortality, symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH) and FR. The relative merits of achieving successful recanalization between ACLVO and BAO were evaluated with interaction terms.ResultsMT in BAO was more often technically effective and equally safe in regards to mortality and sICH when compared to ACLVO. When adjusting for baseline differences, there was no significant difference between BAO vs ACLVO regarding rates of favorable outcome (aOR 0.986, 95%-CI 0.553 – 1.758). However, BAO were associated with increased rates of FR (aOR 2.146, 95%-CI 1.267 – 3.633). Predictors for FR were age, stroke severity, maneuver count and intracranial stenting. No significant heterogeneity on the relative merits of achieving successful recanalization on several outcome parameters were observed when comparing BAO and ACLVO.ConclusionsIn selected patients, similar outcomes can be achieved in BAO and ACLVO patients treated with MT. Randomized controlled trials comparing patient selection and interventional strategies seem warranted to avoid FR.Trial registration numberNCT03496064


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gang Luo ◽  
Feng Gao ◽  
Xuelei Zhang ◽  
Baixue Jia ◽  
Xiaochuan Huo ◽  
...  

Background and Purpose: Studies on rescue therapy for acute posterior circulation stroke due to basilar artery occlusion (BAO) are limited in the modern era of mechanical thrombectomy (MT). The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of rescue stenting (RS) following MT failure in patients with BAO.Methods: Data were collected from the Endovascular Treatment Key Technique and Emergency Work Flow Improvement of Acute Ischemic Stroke (ANGEL-ACT) prospective registry in China. Patients who underwent MT for BAO with failure of recanalization were enrolled in this study. The patients were divided into the RS and non-RS groups. Clinical and laboratory findings, procedural details, and clinical outcomes were compared between the two groups.Results: Overall, 93 patients with acute BAO were analyzed. The RS group included 81 (87.1%) patients, and the non-RS group included 12 patients. A modified treatment in cerebral infarction (mTICI) score of 2b/3 was achieved in 75 (92.6%) patients in the RS group. Compared with the non-RS group, the RS group had a significantly higher rate of successful recanalization and favorable clinical outcomes (modified Rankin Scale score at 90 days post-procedure, 0–3: 16.7 vs. 51.9%, respectively; P = 0.023) without an increase in the rate of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage and a significantly lower mortality rate (58.3 vs. 18.5%, respectively; P = 0.006). Furthermore, the use of a glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitor improved the rate of recanalization of the target artery without increasing the rate of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage.Conclusions: Permanent stenting appears to be a feasible rescue modality when MT fails and might provide functional benefits in patients with acute ischemic stroke due to BAO.


Neurology ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 10.1212/WNL.0000000000012858
Author(s):  
Hong fei Sang ◽  
Jun jie Yuan ◽  
Zhongming Qiu ◽  
Min Zhang ◽  
Xiao gang Hu ◽  
...  

Objective:To characterize the association of onset to puncture time (OPT) with clinical outcomes among patients with acute basilar artery occlusion receiving endovascular therapy (EVT) in clinical practice.Methods:Using the EVT for Acute Basilar Artery Occlusion (BASILAR) study, we identified consecutive patients with acute basilar artery occlusion receiving EVT in 47 comprehensive stroke centers in China from January 2014 to May 2019. The primary outcome was favorable functional outcome (defined as modified Rankin Scale score [mRS] 0–3) at 90 days. Secondary outcomes included function independence (mRS 0–2), mortality, and symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage. The associations of OPT with clinical outcomes were analyzed using multivariable logistic regression (OPT as a categorical variable) and restricted cubic spline regression (OPT as a continuous variable).Results:Among 639 eligible patients, the median age was 65 years, and median OPT was 328 min (interquartile range, 220–490). Treatment within 4–8 hours and 8–12 hours were associated with lower rates of favorable outcome (adjusted OR, 0.63 [95% CI, 0.40–0.98] and 0.47 [95% CI, 0.23–0.93], respectively) compared with treatment within 4 hours. Restricted cubic spline regression analysis showed that the OPT had L-shaped associations with favorable outcome (Pnon-linearity=0.028) and functional independence (Pnon-linearity=0.025), with significant benefit loss throughout the first 9 hours but then appeared relatively flat. The odds of mortality increased relatively for OPT up to 9 hours, but then levelled off (Pnon-linearity=0.042). The association between symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage and OPT was not significant.Conclusion:Among patients with acute basilar artery occlusion in routine practice, earlier treatment with EVT was associated with better outcomes throughout the first 9 hours after onset, but benefit may sustain unchanged afterwards.Classification of Evidence:This study provides Class II evidence that for patients with acute ischemic stroke due to basilar artery occlusion, earlier endovascular treatment is associated with better outcomes.


Author(s):  
Islam El Malky ◽  
Ali Hendi ◽  
Hazem Abdelkhalek

Introduction : BAO (basilar artery occlusion) is well known by catastrophic outcomes whether death or disability in approximately 70 %. 1 Thrombectomy as an intervention in large vessel occlusion of anterior proximal circulation was approved after multiple RCTs and meta‐analyses. 2 In spite of two RCTs that appeared lately, there is still uncertainty about the effect of thrombectomy in BAO. 9, 10 Our study aims to report the outcome of BAO, as a further clue of MT effectiveness in BAO and variables affecting good outcome and mortality rate. Methods : We retrospectively collected the clinical and radiological data of 30 BAO patients treated in our center between 2016 and 2020. There is no limitation as regard age or presenting NIHHS. Twenty‐two patients who came to the emergency within 4.5 hours had I.V. thrombolytic therapy (73.3%). A favorable clinical outcome was considered if mRS ≤ 2. Angioplasty, stenting, or I.A thrombolysis were used as a rescue treatment. Symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage within two days after the initiation of treatment and mortality at 90 days were reported. The radiological outcome was assessed by modified Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction (mTICI) score where mTICI ≥ 2b or 3 at the end of the intervention was considered a favorable radiological result. Multiple variables were tested for their effect on favorable clinical outcomes and mortality (Table 1). Results : Among 30 patients, the mean age was 61.23 ± 16.81 years; 20/30 (66.7%) male. A favorable functional outcome was achieved in (40.7%). Successful revascularization was achieved in 26 patients (86.7 %). Four patients had procedural complications (13.3%). Symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage occurred in three cases (11%) and mortality at 90 days was 11 patients (36.7 %). The presenting NIHSS is the only predictor of mortality and the optimal cut‐off value for death was 15 with AUC = 0.758 (sensitivity 91 % and specificity 59%) and p‐value = 0.02. TOR (time of onset to recanalization) had no effect on the clinical outcome which is controversy with the paradigm of early reperfusion leading to a good outcome Conclusions : In spite of two RCSs approved no statistical difference between medical treatment and thrombectomy, thrombectomy is still an effective procedure in real‐world practice in selected cases. The presenting NIHSS is the only predictor of mortality in our studies. More studies are warranted to discover other predictors of BAO thrombectomy outcome to improve case selection and avoid futile recanalization.


2021 ◽  
pp. neurintsurg-2021-018026
Author(s):  
Luming Chen ◽  
Chenghao Zhao ◽  
Jiaxing Song ◽  
Wenjie Zi ◽  
Hongfei Sang ◽  
...  

BackgroundHigher extended Thrombolysis In Cerebral Infarction (eTICI) grades are associated with better clinical outcomes after endovascular treatment (EVT) for proximal intracranial occlusion of the anterior circulation. However, the relationship between eTICI grade and outcomes after EVT in patients with acute basilar artery occlusion (BAO) remains unclear. We aimed to explore which eTICI category was the cut-off correlating with better clinical outcomes in patients with BAO undergoing EVT.MethodsWe included patients treated via EVT from the BASILAR study. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the impact of eTICI grades on 90-day favorable functional outcomes, defined as a modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score of 0–3. Other outcomes were functional independence (mRS 0–2), all-cause mortality, and symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage.ResultsAmong 647 patients treated with EVT, 127 (19.6%), 128 (24.5%), 110 (21.1%), and 282 (54%) patients achieved eTICI grades of 0–2a, 2b, 2c, and 3, respectively. Compared with eTICI grades 0–2a, higher rates of favorable functional outcomes (adjusted OR (aOR) 2.96, 95% CI 1.33 to 6.57, and aOR 7.40, 95% CI 3.63 to 15.09, respectively) were observed for grades 2c and 3, not 2b (aOR 1.93, 95% CI 0.86 to 4.36). The risks of mortality and symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage were also lower for eTICI grades 2c and 3 than for grades 0–2a.ConclusionsAn eTICI grade of 2c/3 may be a target for successful reperfusion after EVT in patients with acute BAO; however, further studies with larger sample sizes and clinical trials are needed.


2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 477-482
Author(s):  
Sung Hyun Baik ◽  
Joon Whi Kim ◽  
Byung Moon Kim ◽  
Dong Joon Kim

IntroductionThe relationship between the occlusive clot morphology and the efficacy of mechanical thrombectomy (MT) in basilar artery occlusion (BAO) is not well known. Our aim was to evaluate the clinical significance of the clot meniscus sign in patients with acute BAO.Methods89 patients with acute BAO who underwent MT were retrospectively analyzed. The clot meniscus sign was defined as meniscoid/tram-track like antegrade side-wall contrast opacification of the thrombus. Patients were assigned to two groups based on the presence of the clot meniscus sign. The treatment and clinical outcomes were compared.ResultsThe clot meniscus sign was diagnosed in 62.9% (53/89) of the patients. The meniscus sign (+) group showed a shorter procedure time (55 vs 85 min; p=0.045), higher rate of successful recanalization (89.3% vs 63.6%, p=0.004), higher incidence of first pass effect (32.1% vs 6.1%, p=0.004), and lower number of passes (2 vs 3; p=0.042) when compared with the meniscus sign (−) group. The procedure time (OR 0.972, 95% CI 0.962 to 0.992; p=0.003) and clot meniscus sign (OR 7.920, 95% CI 1.769 to 35.452; p=0.007) were independent predictors of successful recanalization.ConclusionThe clot meniscus sign is related to high first pass effect and short procedure time and is a reliable predictor of successful recanalization in patients with acute BAO.


Neurology ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 10.1212/WNL.0000000000011520
Author(s):  
Fana Alemseged ◽  
Felix C Ng ◽  
Cameron Williams ◽  
Volker Puetz ◽  
Gregoire Boulouis ◽  
...  

Objective:To investigate the efficacy of tenecteplase (TNK), a genetically modified variant of alteplase with greater fibrin specificity and longer half-life than alteplase, prior to endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) in patients with basilar artery occlusion (BAO).Methods:To determine whether tenecteplase is associated with better reperfusion rates than alteplase prior to EVT in BAO, clinical and procedural data of consecutive BAO patients from the Basilar Artery Treatment and MANagement (BATMAN) registry and the Tenecteplase versus Alteplase before Endovascular Therapy for Ischemic Stroke (EXTEND-IA TNK) trial were retrospectively analyzed. Reperfusion >50% or absence of retrievable thrombus at the time of the initial angiogram was evaluated.Results:We included 110 BAO patients treated with intravenous thrombolysis prior to EVT [mean age 69(SD 14); median NIHSS 16(IQR 7-32)]. Nineteen patients were thrombolysed with TNK (0.25mg/kg or 0.40mg/kg) and 91 with alteplase (0.9mg/kg). Reperfusion>50% occurred in 26% (n=5/19) of patients thrombolysed with TNK vs 7% (n=6/91) thrombolysed with alteplase (RR 4.0 95%CI 1.3-12; p=0.02), despite shorter thrombolysis-to-arterial-puncture time in the TNK-treated patients (48[IQR 40-71]mins) vs alteplase-treated patients (110[IQR 51-185]mins, p=0.004). No difference in symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage was observed (0/19(0%) TNK, 1/91(1%) alteplase, p=0.9).Conclusions:Tenecteplase may be associated with an increased rate of reperfusion in comparison with alteplase before EVT in BAO. Randomized controlled trials to compare tenecteplase with alteplase in BAO patients are warranted.Classification of evidence:This study provides Class III evidence that tenecteplase leads to higher reperfusion rates in comparison with alteplase prior to EVT in BAO patients.


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