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Background: Trials have demonstrated efficacy for endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) for anterior circulation acute ischaemic stroke (AIS) up to 24-h from symptom onset. The magnitude of effect suggests benefit may exist beyond 24-h. Objectives: To perform a retrospective review of all patients undergoing EVT for anterior circulation LVO stroke beyond 24-h from symptom onset and assess safety and efficacy. Methods:A prospectively maintained database of EVT patients treated at two comprehensive stroke centers between January 2016 and December 2017 was retrospectively screened. Patients undergoing EVT for anterior circulation AIS >24-h from symptom onset were selected. Results: A total of 429 AIS patient underwent EVT in the study period. Five patients treated >24-h from symptom onset were identified. The median age was 72 (range 42–84); median ASPECTS 8 (range 6–8); median baseline-NIHSS 9 (range 4–17); and median time from symptom onset to groin puncture 44 h and 55 min (range 25:07-90:10). One patient underwent CT perfusion imaging. The remaining four patients were selected based on non-contrast CT brain and CT-angiography. Two patients had tandem cervical carotid lesions and underwent acute stenting. Modified thrombolysis in cerebral ischaemia (mTICI) 3 reperfusion was achieved in four patients. No hemorrhagic transformation occurred. All patients were alive at 90-day follow-up. Four patients achieved functional independence at 90-days (mRS 0-2). Conclusion: Endovascular thrombectomy for AIS patients beyond 24-h from symptom onset appears to be safe and effective in this limited study. There is a need for further evidence-based trials of benefit vs. risk in very prolonged time windows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To explore the effects of reperfusion grade rates on clinical outcomes in the setting of stent-retriever-based reperfusion therapy for anterior circulation stroke in early time windows. Methods: Systematic searching of Medline and Embase databases was performed to identify stroke trials of stent-retriever-based therapy versus standard care. Mixed effects meta-regression was used to analyze the trial-level association between reperfusion rates and clinical outcomes. results: A total of five trials met the inclusion criteria (n = 1,287). Rates of successful reperfusion [modified thrombolysis in cerebral ischemia grade 2b/3] demonstrated strong evidence for an association with good functional outcomes [modified Rankin scale score (mRS) 0-2] OR 1.59 (95% CI 1.16, 2.19) p = 0.019 and very strong evidence for an association with excellent functional outcomes (mRS 0-1) OR 2.10 (95% CI 1.46, 3.01) p = 0.007. In addition, there was weak evidence for an association with symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage OR 0.54 (95% CI 0.28, 1.04) p = 0.057 and mortality OR 0.69 (95% CI 0.69, 1.01) p = 0.053. conclusion: In early, stent-retriever-based acute ischemic stroke treatment, reperfusion appears to be a major predictor of outcomes. Every 10% increase in the rates of successful reperfusion is associated with an 11% increase in the probability of achieving good and 17% increase in the probability of achieving excellent outcomes. Symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage and mortality may be decreased as reperfusion rates are improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Striatocapsular infarcts (SCIs) are defined as large subcortical infarcts involving the territory of more than one lenticulostriate artery. SCI without concomitant ischemia in the more distal middle cerebral artery (MCA) territory [isolated SCI (iSCI)] has been described as a rare infarct pattern. The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of iSCI in patients treated with endovascular thrombectomy (ET), to evaluate baseline and procedural parameters associated with this condition, and to describe the clinical course of iSCI patients. Methods: A retrospective analysis of 206 consecutive patients with an isolated MCA occlusion involving the lenticulostriate arteries and treated with ET was performed. Baseline patient and procedural characteristics and ischemic involvement of the striatocapsular and distal MCA territory [iSCI, as opposed to non-isolated SCI (niSCI)] were analyzed using multivariate logistic regression models. Prevalence of iSCI was assessed, and clinical course was determined with the rates of substantial neurological improvement and good functional short- and mid-term outcome (discharge/day 90 Modified Rankin Scale _2). Results: iSCI was detected in 53 patients (25.7%), and niSCI was detected in 153 patients (74.3%). Successful reperfusion [thrombolysis in cerebral infarction (TICI) 2b/3] [adjusted odds ration (aOR) 8.730, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.069-71.308] and good collaterals (aOR 2.100, 95% CI 1.119-3.944) were associated with iSCI. In successfully reperfused patients, TICI 3 was found to be an additional factor associated with iSCI (aOR 5.282, 1.759-15.859). Patients with iSCI had higher rates of substantial neurological improvement (71.7 vs. 37.9%, p < 0.001) and higher rates of good functional short- and mid-term outcome (58.3 vs. 23.7%, p < 0.001 and 71.4 vs. 41.7%, p < 0.001). However, while iSCI patients, in general, had a more favorable outcome, considerable heterogeneity in outcome was observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]