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Background and Purpose: The safety and benefit of mechanical thrombectomy in the treatment of acute ischemic stroke patients with M2 segment middle cerebral artery occlusions remain uncertain. Here, we compare clinical and angiographic outcomes in M2 versus M1 occlusions in the STRATIS (Systematic Evaluation of Patients Treated With Neurothrombectomy Devices for Acute Ischemic Stroke) Registry. Methods: The STRATIS Registry was a prospective, multicenter, nonrandomized, observational study of acute ischemic stroke large vessel occlusion patients treated with the Solitaire stent-retriever as the first-choice therapy within 8 hours from symptoms onset. Primary outcome was defined as functional disability at 3 months measured by dichotomized modified Rankin Scale. Secondary outcomes included reperfusion rates and rates of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage. Results: A total of 984 patients were included, of which 538 (54.7%) had M1 and 170 (17.3%) had M2 occlusions. Baseline demographics were well balanced within the groups, with the exception of mean baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score which was significantly higher in the M1 population (17.3±5.5 versus 15.7±5.0, P ≤0.001). No difference was seen in mean puncture to revascularization times between the cohorts (46.0±27.8 versus 45.1±29.5 minutes, P =0.75). Rates of successful reperfusion (modified Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction≥2b) were similar between the groups (91% versus 95%, P =0.09). M2 patients had significantly increased rates of symptomatic ICH at 24 hours (4% versus 1%, P =0.01). Rates of good functional outcome (modified Rankin Scale score of 0–2; 58% versus 59%, P =0.83) and mortality (15% versus 14%, P =0.75) were similar between the 2 groups. There was no difference in the association of outcome and onset to groin puncture or onset to successful reperfusion in M1 and M2 occlusions. Conclusions: In the STRATIS Registry, M2 occlusions achieved similar rates of successful reperfusion, good functional outcome, and mortality, although increased rates of symptomatic ICH were demonstrated when compared with M1 occlusions. The time dependence of benefit was also similar between the 2 groups. Further studies are needed to understand the benefit of mechanical thrombectomy for M2 occlusions. Registration: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov ; Unique identifier: NCT02239640.

Introduction Carotid artery stenting (CAS) has increasingly emerged as an alternative strategy to carotid endarterectomy in the treatment of patients with symptomatic carotid stenosis. Optimal timing for CAS after symptoms onset remains unclear. We aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of CAS when performed in an emergency setting. Patients and methods We performed a retrospective analysis of CAS patients admitted to our CSC with symptomatic extracranial carotid occlusion or significant stenosis from January 2014-September 2019. Emergency CAS was defined as CAS performed during the same hospitalization from TIA/stroke onset, whereas elective CAS as CAS performed on a subsequent admission. The primary outcome was defined as the occurrence of any stroke, myocardial infarction, or death related to the procedure at 3 months of follow-up. Secondary outcomes included periprocedural complications and the rate of restenosis/occlusion at follow-up. Logistic regression and survival analyses were used to compare outcomes and restenosis at follow-up. Results We identified 75 emergency and 104 elective CAS patients. Emergency CAS patients had significantly higher rates of ipsilateral carotid occlusion (17% vs. 2%, p Conclusion In our study, emergency CAS in symptomatic patients might have a similar safety and efficacy profile to elective CAS at 3 months and long-term follow-up.

Introduction: A diagnosis of transient ischemic attack (TIA) must be followed by prompt investigation and rapid initiation of measures to prevent stroke. Prior studies evaluating the risk of stroke after TIA were conducted in the emergency room or clinic settings. Experience of patients admitted to the hospital after a TIA is not well known. We sought to assess the early risk of ischemic stroke after inpatient hospitalization for TIA. Methods: We used the 2010–2015 Nationwide Readmissions Database to identify all hospitalizations with the primary discharge diagnosis of TIA and investigated the incidence of ischemic stroke readmissions within 90 days of discharge from the index hospitalization. Results: Of 639,569 index TIA admissions discharged alive (mean ± SD age 70.4 ± 14.4 years, 58.7% female), 9,131 (1.4%) were readmitted due to ischemic stroke within 90 days. Male sex, head/neck vessel atherosclerosis, hypertension, diabetes, atrial flutter/fibrillation, previous history of TIA/stroke, illicit drug use, and higher Charlson Comorbidity Index score were independently associated with readmissions due to ischemic stroke. Ischemic stroke readmissions were associated with excess mortality, discharge disposition other than to home, and elevated cost. Conclusions: Patients hospitalized for TIA have a lower risk of ischemic stroke compared to that reported in the studies based on the emergency room and/or outpatient clinic evaluation. Among these patients, those with cardiovascular comorbidities remain at a higher risk of readmission due to ischemic stroke despite undergoing an inpatient evaluation and should therefore be the target for future preventive strategies.

OBJECTIVEAspirin has emerged as a potential agent in the prevention of rupture of intracranial aneurysms (IAs). In this study, the authors’ goal was to test if aspirin is protective against aneurysm growth in patients harboring multiple IAs ≤ 5 mm.METHODSThe authors performed a retrospective review of a prospectively maintained database covering the period July 2009 through January 2019. Patients’ data were included if the following criteria were met: 1) the patient harbored multiple IAs; 2) designated primary aneurysms were treated by surgical/endovascular means; 3) the remaining aneurysms were observed for growth; and 4) a follow-up period of at least 5 years after the initial treatment was available. Demographics, earlier medical history, the rupture status of designated primary aneurysms, aneurysms’ angiographic features, and treatment modalities were gathered.RESULTSThe authors identified 146 patients harboring a total of 375 IAs. At the initial encounter, 146 aneurysms were treated and the remaining 229 aneurysms (2–5 mm) were observed. During the follow-up period, 24 (10.48%) of 229 aneurysms grew. All aneurysms observed to grow later underwent treatment. None of the observed aneurysms ruptured. Multivariate analysis showed that aspirin was significantly associated with a decreased rate of growth (odds ratio [OR] 0.19, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.05–0.63). Variables associated with an increased rate of growth included hypertension (OR 14.38, 95% CI 3.83–53.94), drug abuse (OR 11.26, 95% CI 1.21–104.65), history of polycystic kidney disease (OR 9.48, 95% CI 1.51–59.35), and subarachnoid hemorrhage at presentation (OR 5.91, 95% CI 1.83–19.09).CONCLUSIONSIn patients with multiple IAs, aspirin significantly decreased the rate of aneurysm growth over time. Additional prospective interventional studies are needed to validate these findings.

Background A direct admission to angiosuite (DAA) strategy in transfer patients with large vessel occlusion (LVO) is considered to decrease stroke time metrics and benefit functional outcomes. However, feasibility and effectiveness of DAA have not been established in rural settings. Fast door‐to‐reperfusion times and high‐quality reperfusion are key predictors of outcome in patients with LVO. To reduce treatment times in transferred patients with suspected LVO, we initiated a DAA triage protocol in 2017. Methods We conducted a nested interventional cohort study of adult patients with anterior LVO from January 2015 to August 2019 transferred to our center from an outside hospital. Patients were divided into DAA for mechanical thrombectomy (MT) and patients directly admitted to the emergency department (DAED). DAED was subdivided into patients undergoing MT and patients who did not. Workflow times and clinical and radiographic outcomes were analyzed. Results Forty‐five DAA patients and 241 DAED patients (DAED patients undergoing MT=134 patients and DAED patients not undergoing MT=107 patients) were identified. DAA patients had significantly shorter median door‐to‐arterial‐puncture times (15 versus 71 minutes) and puncture‐to‐recanalization times (27 versus 42.5 minutes). At discharge, DAA patients had a significant decrease in median admission National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score (ΔNIHSS score 10 versus 4; P =0.02), and higher rate of dramatic clinical improvement (ΔNIHSS score >10; 48.9% versus 23.5%; P P =0.52), and mortality at 90 days ( P =0.63). When mortality was excluded, DAA patients showed a significant proportion of excellent functional outcome (mRS 0–1; 50% versus 26%) before ( P =0.04) and after ( P =0.02) adjusting for confounders. Conclusions DAA is feasible and can safely reduce reperfusion times in transferred patients with LVO to MT centers in a rural setting. Reducing workflow times may impact the functional recovery of patients undergoing MT.

Introduction: Cervical artery dissection (CeAD) is a major cause of ischemic stroke in young adults. Our understanding of the specific risk factors and clinical course of CeAD is still evolving. In this study, we evaluated the differential risk factors and outcomes of CeAD-related strokes among young adults. Methods: The study population consisted of young patients 15–45 years of age consecutively admitted with acute ischemic stroke to our comprehensive stroke center between January 1, 2010, and November 30, 2016. Diagnosis of CeAD was based on clinical and radiological findings. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to assess the risk factors and clinical outcomes associated with CeAD-related strokes. Results: Of the total 333 patients with acute ischemic stroke included in the study (mean ± SD age: 36.4 ± 7.1 years; women 50.8%), CeAD was identified in 79 (23.7%) patients. As compared to stroke due to other etiologies, patients with CeAD were younger in age, more likely to have history of migraine and recent neck manipulation and were less likely to have hypertension, diabetes, and previous history of stroke. Clinical outcomes of CeAD were comparable to strokes due to other etiologies. Within the CeAD group, higher initial stroke severity and history of tobacco use were associated with higher modified Rankin Scale score at follow-up. Conclusions: While history of migraine and neck manipulation are significantly associated with CeAD, most of the traditional vascular risk factors for stroke are less prevalent in this group when compared to strokes due to other etiologies. For CeAD-related strokes, higher initial stroke severity and history of tobacco use may be associated with higher stroke-related disability, but overall, patients with CeAD have similar outcomes as compared to strokes due to other etiologies.

Background Most trials have assessed intracranial atherosclerotic disease (ICAD) severity based on angiographic stenosis. However, anatomic stenosis might not accurately identify the actual state of functional post-stenotic flow limitation. Objective To investigate whether angiographic stenosis correlates with physiologic distal flow limitation, measured as trans-stenotic pressure gradients, in ICAD patients. Methods In patients referred for endovascular treatment of anterior circulation symptomatic ICAD who failed maximal medical therapy (MMT) per SAMMPRIS (Stenting versus Aggressive Medical Therapy for Intracranial Arterial Stenosis) criteria, angiographic luminal diameters and percentages of stenosis were correlated with trans-stenotic pressure gradients, calculated as distal/proximal pressure ratios (DPPR) and proximal minus distal pressure gradients (PDPG), by way of Spearman correlation coefficients. Results Nine patients (3 men, 6 women) were evaluated. Atherosclerotic lesions' locations included internal carotid artery in 5 subjects (2 cavernous, 3 supraclinoid) and proximal middle cerebral artery (M1) in 4 patients. Mean percentage of stenosis was 80 ± 8% (range 75%-94%). Minimal lumen diameter at the most stenotic ICAD site ranged from 0.2 to 0.9 mm (0.59 ± 0.41 mm). DPPR ranged from 0.38 to 0.63 (0.56 ± 0.14). PDPG ranged from 35 to 57 mm Hg (50 ± 8 mm Hg). Spearman coefficients showed no correlation between DPPR or PDPG and angiographic minimal luminal diameters or percentages of stenosis. There were no procedural complications related to trans-stenotic pressure measurements. Conclusion Angiographic stenosis does not reflect the physiologic severity of distal flow limitation in patients with ICAD. Hemodynamic assessment using trans-stenotic pressure ratios and gradients may serve as a more reliable predictive biomarker for MMT failure and response to revascularization.

IntroductionStroke is a leading cause of adult death and disability. Although acute ischemic stroke (AIS) in pregnancy is rare, it has devastating consequences on the life of the mother and fetus. Pregnancy was an exclusion criterion in endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) trials and so there are no evidence-based treatment recommendations in this subgroup. The objective of this study was to evaluate the safety and feasibility of mechanical thrombectomy in large vessel occlusion (LVO) stroke in pregnancy.MethodsPatients with AIS due to LVO treated with EVT during pregnancy between 2000 and 2019 were identified at seven tertiary care centers. After IRB approval, retrospective analysis of prospectively maintained stroke/endovascular databases was performed.ResultsA total of seven subjects were identified. The average age was 33.2 years (range 25–38 years) and the average initial National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score at presentation was 15 (range 9–28). Three patients received IV tissue plasminogen activator. Techniques of EVT included stent retriever thrombectomy, stent retriever-assisted continuous aspiration, direct contact aspiration, and multimodal techniques including a rescue balloon mounted coronary stent placement. While one patient was noted to have petechial hemorrhage, no individuals developed parenchymal hematoma. Mean discharge NIHSS score was 1.7 (range 0–5).ConclusionEVT is a safe and effective treatment for acute stroke secondary to LVO in this series of pregnant patients. While EVT for acute stroke is standard of care in select patient populations, our study suggests that treatment should be considered in the gravid population.

Understanding of the epidemiology, outcomes, and management of spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage (sSAH) during pregnancy is limited. Small, single center series suggest a slight increase in morbidity and mortality.To determine if incidence of sSAH in pregnancy is increasing nationally and also to study the outcomes for this patient population.A retrospective analysis was performed utilizing the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) and Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project for the years 2002-2014 for sSAH hospitalizations. The NIS is a large administrative database designed to produce nationally weighted estimates. Female patients age 15-49 with sSAH were identified using the International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification code 430. Pregnancy and maternal diagnosis were identified using pregnancy related ICD codes validated by previous studies. The Cochran-Armitage trend test and parametric tests were utilized to analyze temporal trends and group comparisons. Main Outcomes and Measures: National trend for incidence of sSAH in pregnancy, age, and race/ethnicity as well as associated risk factors and outcomes.During the time period, there were 73,692 admissions for sSAH in women age 15-49 years, of which 3978 (5.4%) occurred during pregnancy. The proportion of sSAH during pregnancy hospitalizations increased from 4.16 % to 6.33% (P-There is an upward trend in the incidence of sSAH occurring during pregnancy. There was disproportionate increase in incidence of sSAH in the African American and younger mothers. Outcomes were better for both pregnant and nonpregnant women treated at teaching hospitals and in pregnant women in general as compared to nonpregnant women.

Background and Purpose: Mechanical thrombectomy (MT) is a time-dependent therapy that is only available at a limited number of hospitals. As such, patients that live at a considerable distance of those specialized centers often require rapid interhospital emergent evacuation with Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) to be considered for MT. It is not known whether the use of HEMS is equitable across different groups of patients. Methods: Acute ischemic stroke patients emergently transferred to another facility were identified in a retrospective review of a large Medicare claims database. Mode of transportation (HEMS, advanced, or basic ground ambulances) was determined by CPT codes. Distance from patient's residence to the closest center with MT capabilities was calculated. Generalized linear mixed logit models were used to determine the odds of HEMS relative to ground services for Hispanic and non-Hispanic black (NHB) patients relative to non-Hispanic white (NHW) patients while controlling for confounders. Results: A total of 8027 patients that underwent emergent interhospital transportation were analyzed. HEMS utilization was 18.1% for NHB, 20.6% for Hispanics, and 21.6% for NHW (P = .054). In adjusted analyses for confounders, including distance to a MT-capable hospital, Hispanic patients were less likely than NHWs to be transported by HEMS. While that association had marginal significance for the whole United States (OR = .76; 95% CI, .57-1.01; P = .055), it was statistically significant for patients living in the southern region of the United States (OR = .6; 95% CI, .40-.92; P = .019). Discussion: Our findings suggest there is a disparity in the use of HEMS in Hispanic stroke patients compared to NHW. Such a disparity may delay arrival to a MT-capable hospital, delay treatment times, or lead to ineligibility for MT altogether. Given the known benefit of MT and known existing disparities in stroke treatment and outcomes, it is important to further investigate and address disparities in mode of interhospital transportation.

Data regarding the risk of cerebrovascular events following transient global amnesia (TGA) remain controversial. While some neuroradiological studies suggest an underlying cerebrovascular etiology, results from the clinical studies have been largely conflicting. We, therefore, aimed to evaluate the risk of ischemic stroke in a large, nationally representative sample of patients with TGA. We utilized the Nationwide Readmissions Database 2010–2015 to identify all hospitalizations with the primary discharge diagnosis of TGA. We selected a 2% random sample of all elective admissions to be included as controls. A propensity score-matched analysis was performed to match patients with TGA and the controls. The primary outcome was readmission due to ischemic stroke up to 1 year following discharge from the index hospitalization, assessed using the Kaplan–Meier survival analysis in the propensity-matched groups. There were 24,803 weighted hospitalizations due to TGA (mean ± SD age: 65.6 ± 10.4 years, female: 54.9%) and 699,644 corresponding controls. At baseline, patients with TGA were significantly older, more likely to be male, and had a higher prevalence of hypertension, hyperlipidemia, coronary artery disease, cerebrovascular disease, and migraine, as compared to the controls. However, after propensity score matching, we obtained 21,202 cases and 21,293 well-matched corresponding controls, and the risk of readmission due to ischemic stroke in patients with TGA was not different compared to the control group (HR: 1.13, 95% CI 0.62–2.05, P 0.686) during the mean (SD) follow-up period of 192.2 (102.4) days. After adjustment for demographics and cerebrovascular risk factors, TGA is not associated with an increased risk of subsequent ischemic stroke.

Introduction: Safety of emergent carotid artery stenting (CAS) during endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) for acute strokes with intracranial large vessel and cervical internal carotid artery tandem occlusion is still unclear. Given the potential risk of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) with anti-thrombotic medications required in the setting of CAS, the decision between CAS versus carotid artery angioplasty (CAA) alone remains controversial. In this study, we aimed to identify the optimal endovascular carotid revascularization approach in this patient population, using a large, nationally representative dataset. Methods: We utilized the Nationwide Readmissions Database 2016-2017 to identify patients admitted due to acute ischemic stroke who underwent anterior circulation EVT as well as CAS or CAA on the same day. Survey design methods were used to generate national estimates. Logistic regression analysis was used to compare the in-hospital outcomes between patients who underwent CAS versus CAA. Survival analysis was used to estimate the 30-day readmissions. Results: We identified 2,042 hospitalizations meeting the study inclusion criteria (mean±SD age: 66.0±12.5 years, female 31.3%). Of these, 1,391 (68.1%) had undergone CAS and 651 (31.9%) CAA alone. Baseline characteristics between the two groups were similar except patients with CAS were more likely to be on anti-thrombotics and were less likely to have received intravenous thrombolysis (tPA) as compared to those with CAA. There was no significant difference in the clinical outcomes including ICH, in-hospital mortality, gastrostomy tube placement, prolonged mechanical ventilation, length of stay, and hospital charges between the two groups in unadjusted analysis and after adjustment for the demographics and tPA use. All-cause 30-day readmission rate was similar between the two groups [hazards ratio (HR) 0.98, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.64-1.51, p-value 0.924]. Patients with CAS had more readmissions due to ICH (HR 2.72, 95% CI 0.30-24.74) and less readmissions due to ischemic events (HR 0.78, 95% CI 0.12-5.08), although the difference was not statistically significant. Conclusion: Emergent CAS-EVT approach appears to be safe with no adverse outcomes compared to CAA alone.

Introduction: Acute ischemic strokes with intracranial large vessel occlusion (LVO) and cervical internal carotid artery (ICA) tandem occlusion have traditionally been known to have a poor prognosis. Recent evidence suggests favorable functional outcomes in patients undergoing emergent carotid artery stenting (CAS) following intracranial mechanical thrombectomy (MT). We aimed to evaluate the outcomes of endovascular carotid revascularization (CR) performed acutely after emergent intracranial MT. Methods: We used the Nationwide Readmissions Database 2016-2017 to identify patients admitted with anterior circulation LVO treated with MT. Patients who underwent CAS or carotid artery angioplasty (CAA) during the same hospitalization were also identified. Propensity scores were used to match patients with and without CR in a 1:1 ratio by demographics, comorbidities, use of intravenous thrombolysis and hospital-level characteristics. Logistic regression and survival analyses were used to compare the outcomes. Results: We identified 15,137 hospitalizations meeting the study inclusion criteria (mean±SD age:70.1±14.6, female 51.1%). Of these, 1,214 (8.0%) underwent CAS or CAA during the same hospitalization. After propensity score matching, we obtained 1,063 well matched pairs of patients with and without CR. In the matched cohort, patients who underwent CR had higher odds of hemorrhagic transformation (OR 1.34, 95% CI 1.07-1.69, p 0.011) and higher total hospital cost (mean difference $6,232, 95% CI 3,606-8,858, p 0.001) but other clinical outcomes including gastrostomy tube placement, decompressive craniectomy, prolonged mechanical ventilation, in-hospital mortality, length of stay, and discharge disposition did not differ between the two groups. Patients with CR were less likely to have an unplanned 30-day readmission (HR 0.67, 95% CI 0.51-0.87, p 0.004). Further, they had more readmissions due to ICH (HR 1.06, 95% CI 0.41-2.71) and less readmissions due to ischemic events (HR 0.39, 95% CI 0.14-1.08), although the difference was not statistically significant. Conclusion: If indicated, early endovascular CR for anterior circulation tandem occlusions seems to be safe with clinical outcomes comparable to patients undergoing MT alone.

Acute ischemic stroke is a common complication and an important source of morbidity and mortality in patients with left ventricular assist devices. There are no standardized protocols to guide management of ischemic stroke among patients with left ventricular assist device. We evaluated our experience treating patients who had an acute ischemic stroke following left ventricular assist device placement.We retrospectively reviewed all patients who underwent left ventricular assist device placement from 2010-2019 and identified patients who had acute ischemic stroke following left ventricular assist device placement.Of 216 patients having left ventricular assist device placement (mean±SD age 52.9±16.2 years, women 26.9%), 19 (8.8%) had acute ischemic stroke (mean±SD age 55.8±12.0 years, women 36.8%). Median (interquartile range) time to ischemic stroke following left ventricular assist device placement was 96 (29-461) days. At the time of the ischemic stroke, 16/19 (84.2%) patients were taking both antiplatelet and anticoagulation therapy, 1/19 (5.3%) patient was receiving only anticoagulants, 1/19 (5.3%) patient was taking aspirin and dipyridamole, and 1/19 (5.3%) patient was not taking antithrombic agents. INR was subtherapeutic (INR2.0) in 7/17 (41.2%) patients. No patient was eligible to receive thrombolytic therapy, while 5/19 (26.3%) underwent mechanical thrombectomy. Anticoagulation was continued in the acute stroke phase in 11/19 (57.9%) patients and temporarily held in 8/19 (42.1%) patients. Hemorrhagic transformation of the ischemic stroke occurred in 6/19 (31.6%) patients. Anticoagulation therapy was continued following ischemic stroke in 4/6 (66.7%) patients with hemorrhagic transformation.While thrombolytic therapy is frequently contraindicated in the management of acute ischemic stroke following left ventricular assist device, mechanical thrombectomy remains a valid option in eligible patients. Anticoagulation is often continued through the acute phase of ischemic stroke secondary to concerns for LVAD thrombosis. The risks and benefits of continuing anticoagulation must be weighed carefully, especially in patients with large infarct volume, as hemorrhagic transformation remains a common complication.

Purpose To analyse the demographics, academic background, and scholarly activity of Interventional Neuroradiology (INR)/Endovascular Surgical Neuroradiology (ESN) program directors (PDs) in the United States (US) and Canada. Methods A list of all INR/ESN fellowships was obtained from the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, the Committee on Advanced Subspecialty Training, maintained by Society of Neurological Surgeons, the NeuroInterventional Training list website maintained by the Society of NeuroInterventional Surgery, and the Neurosurgical Fellowship Training Program Directory website maintained by the American Association of Neurological Surgeons. Online search was performed to identify PDs for these programs. Publicly available sources used to gather information about each PD included the program websites, the HealthGrades and Doximity websites, and Elsevier's Scopus database. Demographic and educational data including age, gender, educational background, subspecialty, appointment age, interval between residency completion and appointment as PD, additional degrees, academic rank, prior leadership positions, and metrics of scholarly activity were recorded. One-way analysis of variance was used to determine differences between the means of different groups. Results A total of 78 PDs from 72 programs were included, of which 72 (92.3%) were male with the mean age of 49.59 years (SD 7.25). Specialty division of PDs was neurosurgery (40, 51.3%), radiology (26, 33.3%), and neurology (10, 12.8%), whereas 2 PDs were dual board-certified in neurology and radiology. Twenty-five (32.1%) PDs attended an international medical school. All PDs received an MD degree or foreign equivalent, with no PD holding a DO degree. Eleven PDs received a PhD degree and 16 PDs received fellowship from a professional medical society. The mean ± SD publications, citations, and h-indexes of PDs were 111.32 ± 121.18, 2985.0 ± 1459.0 and 22.27 ± 15.45, respectively. There was no statistical difference in scholarly activity among PDs when stratified on the basis of specialty, gender, and US region. Conclusion INR/ESN PDs are predominantly male, with a majority from neurosurgery background, and thirty percent having graduated from international medical schools.

Introduction: Acute ischemic stroke (AIS) is a common complication and an important source of morbidity and mortality in patients with left ventricular assist devices (LVAD). There are currently no universal protocols to guide management of AIS among patients with LVAD. Management of anticoagulation is challenging, requiring clinicians to balance risk of hemorrhagic transformation vs development of LVAD thrombosis. We sought to evaluate treatment strategies among patients who had an AIS following use of a LVAD. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed all patients who underwent LVAD placement at our institution from 2010-2019. We identified patients who had AIS and extracted clinical data. Results: Of 238 patients having LVAD placement, we identified 19 (7.9%) with AIS (median age 59 years; median NIHSS score 9). Mean interval to AIS following LVAD placement was 405 days (8 days-5.7 years). At initial presentation, 16/19 (84.2%) patients were taking both antiplatelet and anticoagulation therapy, 1/19 (5.3%) was receiving only anticoagulants, 1/19 (5.3%) was taking aspirin and dipyridamole, and 1/19 (5.3%) was not taking antithrombic agents. Mean INR was 2.1 (1.0-3.2). INR was subtherapeutic (INR Conclusions: Thrombolytic therapy is not used in management of AIS in patients with LVAD. Endovascular interventions remain a valid option. Anticoagulation is frequently continued through the acute phase of AIS secondary to concerns for LVAD thrombosis. Hemorrhagic transformation is a common complication.

Introduction: Because acute ischemic stroke (AIS) in young adults is not rare, understanding trends in etiology may help decisions about evaluation and secondary stroke prevention. This study describes probable causes of AIS in a cohort of young adults and identifies changes in etiologies and diagnostic studies compared to 20 years ago. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed all patients aged 15-45 admitted to our comprehensive stroke center between 1/2010-11/2016 with AIS. Diagnostic studies and stroke etiologies for each patient were reviewed. We then compared our results to a historic sample of young patients who presented to our center in 1977-1993 using univariate chi-squared comparison for each etiology. Results: We identified 333 young adults, 169 (50.8%) were women. The mean age was 36.4±7.1 years. Vessel imaging was performed in 305 (91.3%) cases vs. 68.9% in the historic sample. Of these, 247 (81.0%) had magnetic resonance angiography (MRA). Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) was performed in 101 (30.3%) and transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) was performed in 171 (51.4%) cases compared to 67.1% who underwent TTE in the historic sample. Etiologic comparisons to the historic sample yielded significant decline in small vessel disease ( P = .029) and a major increase in stroke of other identified cause ( P = .024). Other TOAST etiologies illustrated in Figure 1. The most common etiology for stroke in our sample was arterial dissection 84 (25.2%), whereas this was found in only 6.0% of patients in the historic sample ( P< .001). Conclusions: Using the TOAST classification, the most common subtype in young adults was stroke of other identified cause; a rate that reflects a marked increase in the diagnosis of dissection. Despite advancement in diagnostic studies, cryptogenic stroke remains a common category in young adults.

Introduction: Cervical artery dissection (CeAD) is a major cause of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) in young adults. Its pathophysiology is distinct from the other etiologies of AIS and is determined by both genetic and environmental factors. In this study, we sought to determine the risk factors for and outcomes of AIS due to CeAD in young adults, in the era of increasing utilization of neuroimaging and neuro-intervention procedures. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed all cases of AIS between 15-45 years of age admitted to our comprehensive stroke center between January 2010 - November 2016. Risk factors and outcomes were compared between patients with and without CeAD using univariate analysis. Multivariable generalized linear and logistic regression models were used to adjust for confounding variables. Results: Of the total 333 patients with AIS included in the study (mean±SD age: 36.4±7.1 years; females 50.8%), CeAD was identified in 84 (25.2%) patients. When compared to the non-CeAD group, patients with CeAD were younger in age and more likely to have a history of migraine and recent chiropractic neck manipulation (p Conclusions: While history of migraine and recent chiropractic neck manipulation are significantly associated with CeAD; most of the traditional vascular risk factors are less prevalent in this group. In comparison with AIS due to other etiologies, patients with CeAD have worse functional outcomes at the time of discharge but similar outcomes at follow up, which suggests a propensity for better recovery.

Carotid stenting (CAS) has been shown to be equivalent to carotid endarterectomy in symptomatic patients; however its optimal timing remains unclear. In this study, we aim to evaluate the safety of CAS when performed within the first 48 hours of symptom onset. We performed a retrospective analysis of a prospectively collected database of consecutive CAS patients admitted to our comprehensive stroke center with TIA/stroke and ipsilateral symptomatic carotid stenosis >50% from 2014 to 2019. Medical records were retrospectively reviewed for demographic, clinical and procedural data and outcomes. Acute and delayed treatment were defined as ≤48 and >48 hours from last known well (LKW) respectively. The primary endpoint was procedure-related major complications (stroke with NIHSS increase of ≥4, myocardial infarction, parenchymal hemorrhage type 2 or death) ≤30 days after CAS. Secondary endpoints were procedure-related minor neurological (stroke with NIHSS increase of

Background: High-resolution vessel wall imaging (HR-VWI) has emerged as a useful tool for characterization of intracranial vasculopathic processes. HR-VWI allows better characterization of the arterial wall and may aid in the identification of atherosclerotic plaques, intra-arterial hemorrhages such as in the case of dissections and/or increased contrast enhancement such as in vasculitis. 7T HR-VWI may provide additional information in the identification of stroke mechanism in patients with cryptogenic stroke. Methods: Patients with cryptogenic stroke were prospectively imaged with a 7T scan. Strokes were determined to be cryptogenic after an extensive diagnostic work-up was completed. T1-weighted (pre- and post-contrast), T2-weighted, TOF and SWAN sequences were obtained. Demographic and clinical information was gathered from electronic medical charts. Results: Seventeen patients were included. Mean age was 57.8 ± 16.3 years-old, and 10 (58.8%) were women. HR-VWI determined the etiology of AIS in all subjects: 12 (70.6%) intracranial atherosclerotic disease (ICAD), 3 small-vessel disease and 2 arterial dissections. Inter-observer agreement was κ = 0.92. Plaque enhancement was identified in 14 cases, and intraplaque hemorrhage in 1 case of arterial dissection. In a patient with angiography suggestive of Moyamoya disease, HR-VWI determined the presence of diffuse ICAD as the underlying cause of stroke. Conclusion: HR-VWI may be used in patients with cryptogenic stroke to identify the etiologic mechanism and guide treatment. Figure: Axial-DWI (A) shows an acute right-medullary infarct (arrow). (B) Right-VA stenosis (arrow) on CTA. 7T axial-SWAN (C) reveals focal-susceptibility (arrowhead) and intra-vessel hemosiderin (arrow) suggestive of IPH. Axial-T1 pre-contrast (D), post-contrast (E) and sagittal MPR (F) images show eccentric thickening/enhancement of right-VA (arrowheads), compared to normal-appearing left-VA (arrows D-E).

Background The treatment of acute ischemic stroke due to large vessel occlusion (LVO) has revolutionized in the last decade. We sought to compile the most relevant literature published about the evolution in treating this disabling and fatal disease. Methods A literature review of recent studies describing early treatment options like intravenous tissue plasminogen activator to the latest mechanical thrombectomy (MT) techniques was performed. We described in a chronological order the evolution of LVO treatment. Results Recanalization rates with newer techniques and MT devices approach a 90% of effectiveness. Timely interventions have also resulted in better clinical outcomes with approximately 50% of patient achieving functional independence at 90 days. At least 14 new third generation thrombectomy devices are currently being evaluated in in vitro and clinical studies. Conclusions The treatment of LVO with MT is feasible and safe. MT is standard of care in treating acute ischemic stroke due to LVO.

Central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) is a medical emergency that, if not treated, may result in irreversible loss of vision. It continues to be an important cause for acute painless loss of vision. Amaurosis fugax or "transient CRAO" has long been considered an equivalent of transient cerebral ischemic event. Animal models, in addition to data from retrospective and randomized clinical studies, provide valuable insights into the time interval for irreversible retinal ischemia. Subset analyses from 2 large studies of patients with CRAO show benefit from treatment with thrombolysis within 6 hours from symptoms onset. Significant workflow improvements after the intra-arterial therapy trials for acute ischemic stroke have occurred world over in last 5 years. Patients with CRAO are uniquely suited to receive maximum benefits from the changes in workflow for treatment of patient's acute ischemic stroke. Just as in clinical triage of acute ischemic stroke, correct and timely diagnosis of patients with CRAO may help in preventing visual loss. The approach to acute ocular ischemia should mimic that used for acute brain ischemia. Comprehensive stroke centers would be ideal triage centers for these patients in view of availability of multidisciplinary participation from vascular neurology, neuroendovascular surgery, and ophthalmology. Time is Retina!

Background Intracranial atherosclerotic disease (ICAD) is one of the most common causes of stroke worldwide and is associated with a high risk of stroke recurrence. We sought to perform a literature review of the epidemiology, pathophysiology, and treatment options. Methods A literature review on recent studies evaluating the epidemiology, risk factors, clinical presentation, and treatment was reviewed. ICAD is particularly common in Africa and Asia. Results Although the medical management of ICAD has improved over the past decade, a subgroup of patients with ICAD remains at significantly high risk of stroke recurrence, and newer studies that aim at improving our understanding of ICAD and evaluating new treatment methods are currently under way. Conclusion ICAD remains a common cause of stroke worldwide; further studies evaluating treatment options to prevent stroke recurrence are urgently needed.

Objective We present our initial experience with the off-label use of the Woven EndoBridge (WEB) device. Methods We performed a retrospective study from 2 institutions of patients with intracranial aneurysms who underwent treatment with the WEB device alone or in conjunction with stenting and/or coiling in an off-labeled location. Results Eleven patients with 12 aneurysms were included. Four (30.8%) aneurysms presented ruptured. Off-labeled locations included 3 aneurysms in the posterior communicating artery, 3 in the supraclinoid ophthalmic artery, 2 in the pericallosal artery, 2 in the posterior inferior cerebellar artery, 1 at the vertebrobasilar junction, and 1 in the cavernous internal carotid artery. Mean dome-to-neck ratio was 1.91 ± 0.9. Average duration of the procedure was 63.9 ± 29.6 minutes. Femoral route was used in 61.5%, and radial access in 48.5% of cases. Five procedures (41.7%) were performed under monitored anesthesia care. We had 1.33 attempts per aneurysm. WEB embolization was supplemented with coiling in 2 cases (16.67%) and stenting in 1 case (8.3%). Based on the O'Kelly-Marotta (“OKM”) grading scale, we report a rate of 0% for grade 1, 33.3% for grade 2, and 33.3% for grade 3. Postprocedural occlusion was complete in 4 (33.3%) and adequate in 8 (66.6%) patients. No procedure-related deaths or symptomatic complications were reported. Conclusions The WEB device was successfully deployed in off-labeled locations, including posterior communicating artery, ophthalmic artery, and pericallosal aneurysms. The efficacy of this usage must be evaluated in multicenter prospective studies, but our preliminary results are promising. Correct characterization of the aneurysm size/morphology, as well as awareness of possible adjunct treatments, are crucial for successful intervention.

Aseptic meningitis as an initial and isolated manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is extremely rare. About a third of patients with SLE have neuropsychiatric manifestations; however, less than 2% develop aseptic meningitis. Therefore, SLE as a cause of aseptic meningitis is commonly overlooked and leads to delayed or even missed diagnosis. We report a case of aseptic meningitis that was later discovered to be SLE and where instituting appropriate treatment led to clinical improvement.

BackgroundThe role of mechanical thrombectomy in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) has been further expanded by recent trials which relied on the results of CT perfusion (CTP) imaging. However, CTP parameters for ischemia and infarct can vary significantly across different vendors.MethodsWe compared the outcomes of the Siemens CTP software against the clinically validated RAPID software in 45 consecutive patients with suspected AIS. Both perfusion softwares initially processed images using vendor defined parameters for hypoperfusion and non-viable tissue. The software thresholds on the Siemens software were decrementally altered to see if concordant results between softwares could be attained.ResultsAt baseline settings, the mean values for core infarct and hypoperfusion were different (mean of 30/69 mL, respectively, for RAPID and 49/77 mL for Siemens). However, reducing the threshold values for the later software showed a concordance of values at a relative cerebral blood flow ConclusionEquivalent CTP results between vendor softwares may be attainable by altering the thresholds for hypoperfused and non-viable tissue, despite differences in acquisition techniques, post-processing, and scanners.

Introduction: Due to advancements in the field of endovascular neurosurgery, use of intracranial stenting and flow diversion (ISFD) in the treatment of acute aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) is on the rise. ISFD requires dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT), which poses a challenge when patients undergo placement of an external ventricular drain (EVD) or ventriculo-peritoneal-shunt (VPS). We describe our experience with the use of intravenous tirofiban in similar settings. Methods: Patients with aSAH between July 2017 and June 2018 requiring intravenous tirofiban for ISFD after EVD placement and subsequent VPS were included in our retrospective study. Patients were started on intravenous tirofiban at maintenance dose prior to IFSD and continued until transitioned to DAPT after removal of EVD with or without VPS. Intravenous tirofiban was held 4 hours prior to EVD removal/VPS placement and resumed 2 hours later followed by loading dose of DAPT. Patients were monitored in ICU and CT head obtained 24-hours after the procedure. Results: 15 patients (mean age 55 years, 14 females and 1 male) with aSAH who required ISFD and were placed on intravenous tirofiban for 3-18 days. In total, 21 procedures were performed with placement of 16 EVDs (one patient had bilateral EVDs) and 5 VPS. Two patients had clinically asymptomatic small track hemorrhages and 1 patient had a retroperitoneal hemorrhage and thrombocytopenia. No thromboembolic complications were reported. We encountered an 18% risk of hemorrhages, which compares favorably to our previously published 22% risk of all hemorrhages with DAPT. Conclusions: The continuous infusion of tirofiban in patients with aSAH who require ISFD is feasible and has hemorrhagic complication rate similar to the use of DAPT.

Objective: To evaluate pre and postop cerebral hemodynamics and the effects it has on neurocognitive outcomes in patients with chronically occluded internal carotid artery (COICA) who have undergone successful recanalization. Methods: Patients with symptomatic COICA who underwent revascularization technique using either angioplasty and stenting (AS) or a hybrid of carotid endarterectomy and AS are included in this analysis. Results: From January 2016 to June of 2018, 31 subjects underwent revascularization. Only 5 subjects (6 COICA) had CTP and MoCA scores pre and post revascularization. All 5 subjects had very large penumbra involving the ipsilateral hemisphere, which has resolved postop. No permanent complications were associated with the procedure. All patients have objective improvement in their neurocognitive outcomes (pre MoCA: 19.8±2.4, post MoCA: 27±1.6; p-0.0038). Conclusions: CTP can guide in patient selections for recanalization. Successful recanalization lead to improvement in CTP parameters and neurocognitive functions.

A 43-year-old woman presented to the hospital with severe low back pain and paresthesias in the bilateral lower extremities. MRI of the spine revealed spinal subarachnoid and subdural hemorrhage extending from T11 to L5-S1. A diagnostic spinal angiogram demonstrated a dissecting, partially thrombosed aneurysm of the artery of Adamkiewicz.At four weeks from the sentinel event, her symptoms had completely resolved with resolution on imaging.Isolated artery of Adamkiewicz aneurysms, which are most often dissecting, fusiform aneurysms are extremely rare and management controversial.

Objective We aimed to evaluate the safety and feasibility of carotid artery stenting (CAS) performed in the hyperacute period. Methods We analyzed a retrospective database of CAS patients from our center. We included patients with symptomatic isolated ipsilateral extracranial carotid stenosis and acute tandem occlusions who underwent CAS. Hyperacute CAS (HCAS) and acute CAS (ACAS) groups were defined as CAS within 48 hours and >48 hours to 14 days from symptoms onset, respectively. The primary outcome was a composite of any stroke, myocardial infarction, or death at 3 months of follow-up. Secondary outcomes were periprocedural complications and restenosis or occlusion rates. Results We included 97 patients, 39 with HCAS and 58 with ACAS. There was no significant difference between groups for the primary outcome (HCAS 3.3% vs. ACAS 6.1%; p = 1). There were no differences in the rate of perioperative complications between groups although a trend was observed (HCAS 15.3% vs. ACAS 3.4%; p = .057). The rate of restenosis or occlusion between groups (HCAS 8.1% vs. ACAS 9,1%; log-rank test p = .8) was similar with a median time of follow-up of 13.7 months. Conclusion Based on this study, CAS may be feasible in the hyperacute period. However, there are potential higher rates of perioperative complications in the hyperacute group, primarily occurring in MT patients with acute tandem occlusion. A larger multicenter study may be needed to further corroborate our findings.

Background and purposeTo evaluate the accuracy and inter-observer variability when CT angiography is used to identify unruptured intracranial aneurysm growth.MethodsTwo silicone phantom models were used in this study. Each phantom had eight aneurysms of variable size. The size and location of aneurysms in phantom 1 were representative of real patient aneurysms who presented to our institution. Phantom 2 contained aneurysms in the same locations, but with enlargement in various directions. Three blinded board-certified neuroradiologists were asked to identify the size of each aneurysm in three dimensions using CT angiography. The individual enlargement detection rates and inter-observer agreement rates of aneurysm enlargement among the three experts were calculated.ResultsThe detection rate of aneurysm enlargement in one dimension was 58.3% among the three observers. Accurate detection of enlargement in all dimensions was 12.5% among the three observers. Detection accuracy was not related to the size of enlargement. Significant inter-observer measurement variability was present.ConclusionThe use of CT angiography was associated with a poor ability to identify aneurysm enlargementaccurately. Further human studies are required to confirm our findings.

Tandem occlusion (TO) is defined as the presence of concurrent large intracranial and extracranial artery occlusion causing an acute ischemic stroke (AIS). The stroke mechanism is usually an artery-to-artery embolization of a thrombus formed at the site of cervical carotid obstruction, which may be caused by atherosclerotic disease or dissection. The cervical carotid occlusion poses additional challenges to mechanical thrombectomy (MT) of the acute intracranial artery occlusion. Treatment of the intracranial occlusion usually requires crossing and often treating the cervical occlusion. Although the optimal endovascular treatment strategy for TO remains uncertain, we provide a review of current evidence-based recommendations to manage these patients, as well as practical tips.

OBJECTIVERevascularization of a symptomatic, medically refractory, cervical chronically occluded internal carotid artery (COICA) using endovascular techniques (ETs) has surfaced as a viable alternative to extracranial-intracranial bypass. The authors aimed to assess the safety, success, and neurocognitive outcomes of recanalization of COICA using ETs or hybrid treatment (ET plus carotid endarterectomy) and to identify candidate radiological markers that could predict success.METHODSThe authors performed a retrospective analysis of their prospectively collected institutional database and used their previously published COICA classification to assess the potential benefits of ETs or hybrid surgery to revascularize symptomatic patients with COICA. Subjects who had undergone CT perfusion (CTP) imaging and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) testing, both pre- and postprocedure, were included. The authors then performed a review of the literature on patients with COICA to further evaluate the success and safety of these treatment alternatives.RESULTSThe single-center study revealed 28 subjects who had undergone revascularization of symptomatic COICA. Five subjects had CTP imaging and MoCA testing pre- and postrevascularization and thus were included in the study. All 5 patients had very large penumbra involving the entire hemisphere supplied by the ipsilateral COICA, which resolved postoperatively. Significant improvement in neurocognitive outcome was demonstrated by MoCA testing after treatment (preprocedure: 19.8 ± 2.4, postprocedure: 27 ± 1.6; p = 0.0038). Moreover, successful revascularization of COICA led to full restoration of cerebral hemodynamics in all cases. Review of the literature identified a total of 333 patients with COICA. Of these, 232 (70%) showed successful recanalization after ETs or hybrid surgery, with low major and minor complication rates (3.9% and 2.7%, respectively).CONCLUSIONSETs and hybrid surgery are safe and effective alternatives to revascularize patients with symptomatic COICA. CTP imaging could be used as a radiological marker to assess cerebral hemodynamics and predict the success of revascularization. Improvement in CTP parameters is associated with significant improvement in neurocognitive functions.

Background Hemorrhagic complications are a major concern for aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage patients treated with stenting or stent-assisted coiling and undergoing additional procedures such as shunting, ventriculostomy placement, and craniotomies/craniectomies. Objective To assess the safety and efficacy of using a continuous infusion of tirofiban as a monoantiplatelet therapy in the management of ruptured aneurysms in the setting of either stent-assisted coiling (SAC) or flow diversion devices (FDD) in patients requiring either an external ventricular drain (EVD) or ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS). Methods Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) patients between July 2017 and September 2018 who were treated with SAC or FDD were started on a continuous tirofiban infusion protocol (0.10 μg/kg/min) with no preceding loading dose as a monoantiplatelet therapy. Safety analysis was performed retrospectively to assess the complication rate, hemorrhagic rate, and rate of ischemic events. There were no hemorrhages related to the VPS surgery. Results Nineteen subjects were included in the series. The patients received a total of 25 procedures that included 19 EVDs and 6 VPSs. Two patients (8.3%) developed small asymptomatic track hemorrhages after EVD placement. One patient developed a large retroperitoneal hemorrhage due to renal artery branch injury during procedure, and another patient developed an idiosyncratic transient thrombocytopenia which resolved after stopping the medication. One patient (4%) developed a transient ischemic attack, which resolved after a bolus of tirofiban. Conclusion Our study suggests that long-term use of intravenous tirofiban monotherapy in aSAH subjects for endovascular SAC or FDD is safe in the perioperative setting.

Primary central nervous system angiitis (PCNSA) is a rare disease. Varying clinical pictures coupled with lack of sensitive and specific diagnostic tests lead to challenges in management of these patients. This unfortunately may lead to both under- or over-diagnosis and unnecessary treatment. It is important to recognize the different conditions that may mimic the clinical and radiologic presentation. We present a contemporary literature review that should update physicians who encounter this patient population. Recent additions to the literature in form of case reports and single-center series show that digital subtraction angiography was the most widely used test to diagnose PCNSA. It is also important to note that brain biopsy is still considered “gold standard” and should be pursued as it not only has information that establishes the diagnosis but also may help in ruling out the diagnosis from mimics. In around 39% of suspected cases, an alternate diagnosis was eventually confirmed highlighting the importance of a comprehensive work-up. For treatment, almost all the literature supports the use of glucocorticoids as the initial treatment and if the patient has a relapse or develops steroid toxicity then the second most commonly used agent was cyclophosphamide. There are increasing reports of benefits with other agents such as methotrexate, azathioprine, mycophenolate, infliximab, and etanercept. The diagnosis and management of PCNSA continues to be a challenge. Formation of prospective patient registries with continued immunologic research for novel targets and immunomodulatory modalities may hold promise for future care of these patients.

Acute ischemic stroke (AIS) remains a leading cause of death and long-term disability. The paradigms on prehospital care, reperfusion therapies, and postreperfusion management of patients with AIS continue to evolve. After the publication of pivotal clinical trials, endovascular thrombectomy has become part of the standard of care in selected cases of AIS since 2015. New stroke guidelines have been recently published, and the time window for mechanical thrombectomy has now been extended up to 24 hours. This review aims to provide a focused up-to-date review for the early management of adult patients with AIS and introduce the new upcoming areas of ongoing research.

Telemedicine uses video communication to evaluate patients at an originating site by a distant physician. Telestroke was developed to apply telemedicine for the delivery of stroke expertise to hospitals with limited or no available stroke capability. This chapter reviews the most commonly used models of telestroke networks. It discusses the evidence for telestroke, including its value in managing patients with ischemic stroke who are candidates for intravenous alteplase and endovascular thrombectomy, as well as patients with intracerebral hemorrhage. Economic, legislative, and legal issues of treating patients within a telestroke network are also reviewed. Future advances in telemedicine will continue to deliver expert care in a way that brings comprehensive care to patient’s doorstep.

Low serum albumin levels have been reported to be an independent predictor of increased morbidity and mortality in multiple disease conditions. The aim of our study was to identify the impact of low serum albumin levels on mortality and outcomes at discharge in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage. We retrospectively reviewed our prospective database of patients with intracerebral hemorrhage from January 2010 to December 2011. Patients were dichotomized into two groups based on their serum albumin levels upon admission. Hypoalbuminemia was defined as serum albumin levels ≤3.4 g/dl. The two groups were compared using Fisher's exact test for categorical variables and t test for continuous variables. Poor outcome was defined as death or discharge to a long-term nursing facility (modified Rankin Score 4-6). Out of 97 patients admitted with intracerebral hemorrhage, 90 met our inclusion criteria (42 had normal levels and 48 had hypoalbuminemia). The baseline characteristics, risk factors, etiology, location and volume of intracerebral hemorrhage, admission blood glucose, white cell count, length of hospital stay, length of intensive care unit stay, and complications were similar between both groups. Although admission hypoalbuminemia did not impact in-hospital mortality (28 vs 24 %, p = 0.635), there was a significant increase in poor outcomes at discharge (59 vs 31 %, p = 0.009) (OR 1.8; 95 % CI; 1.2-2.8). Similar to other diseases, hypoalbuminemia was associated with poor functional outcomes in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage. This will need to be confirmed in larger prospective studies before adopting therapeutic and preventive strategies in future.

Introduction: Our understanding of the epidemiology, outcomes and management of spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage (sSAH) in pregnancy is limited by small, single center series, which suggest a slightly higher morbidity and mortality. Larger population studies are needed to accurately estimate the risk of sSAH during pregnancy, and the associated morbidity and mortality. Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed utilizing the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) and Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project for the years 2002–2014. NIS is one of the largest administrative database and is designed to produce nationally weighted estimates. Female patients age 15-49 with spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage were identified with International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) code 430.Pregnancy and maternal diagnosis were identified using pregnancy related ICD codes validated by previous studies. Cochran-Armitage trend test and parametric tests were utilized to analyze temporal trends and group comparisons. Results: There were 73,692 admissions for sSAH occurred in women age group of 15-49 years from 2002-14, of which 3,978 (5.4%) were in pregnant women. Over the 12 years of study period, proportion of sSAH during pregnancy increased from 4.16 % to 6.33% {p-trend Conclusion: There is an upward trend in the pregnancy related spontaneous SAH from 2002 to 2014. African American race and 20-29 years’ age group have higher preponderance of pregnancy related spontaneous SAH. Clinical outcomes of spontaneous SAH in pregnant women were better than in non-pregnant women.

Background & Purpose: In the mechanical thrombectomy (MT) era, it is imperative to ensure that patients with stroke have a fair access to advanced ground ambulances (AGA) or the more rapid Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) to avoid disparities in functional outcomes. In this study we investigated racial/ethnic disparities in the use of AGA or HEMS for inter-hospital transfer of stroke patients in the US. Methods: We used Medicare claims for years 2010-2013 for Medicare beneficiaries with a new diagnosis of atrial fibrillation. Cases were patients with a primary diagnosis of ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke that underwent an inter-hospital transfer between acute facilities within the day of the stroke. Transportation was categorized as basic ground, AGA or HEMS. A multinomial logit model was used to adjust for confounders such as patient’s characteristics, distance and geographical location. Results: A total of 11,172 acute hospital to hospital transfers were analyzed. In unadjusted analysis, 17.7% of black, 20.9% of Hispanic and 21.7% of white patients were transferred by HEMS, and 73.7% of black, 67.3% of Hispanic and 69.9% of white patients were transferred by AGA (p=0.003). These differences, however, disappeared after controlling for confounders. The exception were Hispanic patients, who remain less likely to be transported by HEMS (OR=0.64; 0.45-0.90; p=0.01) or AGA than white patients (OR=0.74; 0.55-1.00; p=0.048) Conclusion: Hispanic patients with stroke undergoing an acute inter-facility transfer are less likely to be transported by HEMS or advance ground ambulances after adjusting for all possible confounders, including distance and insurance. This unacceptable disparity is a barrier to timely access to a thrombectomy-capable hospital and best care en-route for these patients, which may result in worse outcomes after MT.

Background and Purpose Spinal cord hemorrhages are rare conditions that can be classified based on the primary location of bleeding into intramedullary (hematomyelia), subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), subdural hemorrhage, and epidural hemorrhage. We conducted a literature review to better understand the presenting symptoms, etiology, diagnosis, and treatment of spinal cord hemorrhages. Methods We performed a literature search using PubMed with the key words spinal hemorrhage, hematomyelia, spinal subarachnoid hemorrhage, spinal subdural hematoma, and spinal epidural hematoma Results Most commonly, spinal hematomas present with acute onset of pain and myelopathy but a more insidious course also may occur. Spinal SAH may be especially difficult as it may cause cerebral symptoms. The etiologies vary based on the type (location). The most common causes are trauma, iatrogenic causes, vascular malformations, and bleeding diatheses. Management is often aimed toward rapid surgical decompression and correction of the underlying etiology if possible. Conservative management, including administration of large doses of corticosteroids, reversal of anticoagulation, and close monitoring, has been used as bridging for surgical procedure or as the mainstay of treatment for patients with mild or improving symptoms. Conclusions The variable and overlapping presentations of spinal cord hemorrhages make the diagnosis challenging. Maintaining high levels of clinical suspicion and utilizing magnetic resonance imaging may help in making the right diagnosis. Future studies should aim to create standardized outcome grading system and management guidelines for patients with spinal hemorrhage.

Background and Purpose— In patients identified at referring facilities with acute ischemic stroke caused by a large vessel occlusion, bypassing the emergency department (ED) with direct transport to the neuroangiography suite may safely shorten reperfusion times. Methods— We conducted a single-center retrospective review of consecutive patients transferred to our facility for consideration of endovascular therapy. Patients were identified as admitted directly to the neuroangiography suite (DAN), transferred to the ED before intra-arterial therapy (ED-IA), and transferred to the ED but did not receive IA therapy (ED-IV). Results— A retrospective review of a prospectively maintained database of transfer patients between January 2013 and October 2016 with large vessel occlusions identified 108 ED-IV patients and 261 patients who underwent mechanical thrombectomy (DAN=111 patients and ED-IA=150 patients). There were no differences in baseline characteristics among the 3 groups. The median computed tomography ASPECTS (Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score) was lower in the ED-IV group versus the ED-IA and DAN groups (8 versus 9; P =0.001). In the DAN versus ED-IA cohort, there were comparable rates of TICI2b/3 recanalization and access to recanalization time. There was significantly faster hospital arrival to groin access time in the DAN cohort (81 minutes versus 22 minutes; P =0.001). Functional independence at 90 days was comparable in the DAN versus ED-IA cohorts but worse in the ED-IV group (43% versus 44% versus 22%; P =0.001). Conclusions— DAN is safe, feasible, and associated with faster times of hospital arrival to recanalization. The clinical benefit of this approach should be assessed in a prospective randomized trial.

Background: The incidence of Intracranial Hemorrhage (ICrH) in HIV patients is on the rise in the United States, especially after the development of newer antiretroviral drugs. This study determines the trends of ICrH in HIV patients in the United States. Design/Methods: Data from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) and Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) were analyzed for years 2002-2012.Hospitalizations with HIV positive status were identified using International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) codes 042, V08 and ICrH by 430.xx-432.xx. Cochrane Armitage trend test and multivariate regression were used to analyze temporal trends and the potential reasons for temporal changes over the years. Results: A total of 2,584,548 hospitalizations with HIV status were made from 2002 to 2012. Of these, 10,292 (0.40%) admissions were due to ICrH or developed ICrH during hospitalization. Concurrent trend of ICrH and HIV increased from 0.34% to 0.45% in 2012 (p trend Conclusions: These data suggest that the incidence of ICrH among hospitalized adults with HIV infection continue to increase. This increasing ICrH was explained by an aging HIV population, changing demographics and chronic comorbidities, but questions still remain regarding unexplained factors which merit in-depth study.

Background and Purpose— None of the randomized trials of intravenous tissue-type plasminogen activator reported vascular imaging acquired before thrombolysis. Efficacy of tissue-type plasminogen activator in stroke without arterial occlusion on vascular imaging remains unknown and speculative. Methods— We performed a retrospective, multicenter study to collect data of patients who presented to participating centers during a 5-year period with ischemic stroke diagnosed by clinical examination and MRI and with imaging evidence of no vascular occlusion. These patients were divided into 2 groups: those who received thrombolytic therapy and those who did not. Primary outcome measure of the study was excellent clinical outcome defined as modified Rankin Scale of 0 to 1 at 90 days from stroke onset. Secondary outcome measures were good clinical outcome (modified Rankin Scale, 0–2) and perfect outcome (modified Rankin Scale, 0). Safety outcome measures were incidence of symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage and poor outcome (modified Rankin Scale, 4–6). Results— A total of 256 patients met study criteria, 103 with thrombolysis and 153 without. Logistic regression analysis showed that patients who received thrombolysis had more frequent excellent outcomes with odds ratio of 3.79 ( P P =0.04). Thrombolysis led to more frequent excellent outcome in nonlacunar group with odds ratio 4.90 ( P P Conclusions— This study provides crucial data that patients with ischemic stroke who do not have visible arterial occlusion at presentation may benefit from thrombolysis.

In April 2015, CADISS (Cervical Artery Dissection in Stroke Study), the first and only randomized trial to date that compares the two most commonly used treatment modalities—antiplatelet versus anticoagulation—in acute cervical arterial dissection, was published. This clinical trial was conducted in 46 specialized stroke centers, 39 in the United Kingdom and 7 in Australia. CADISS was a randomized, open-label, parallel randomized trial, which enrolled patients from inpatient and outpatient settings with suspicion of carotid or vertebral arterial dissections. Although ultrasound was an accepted diagnostic modality before randomization, confirmation with magnetic resonance imaging angiography, computed tomography angiography or conventional angiography was necessary. The primary end point in outcome was ipsilateral stroke or death within 3 months of randomization in the intention-to-treat population. Secondary end points were ipsilateral transient ischemic attack, stroke, death, any stroke, or major bleeding. A total of 250 patients were included and randomized in two balanced groups: antiplatelet group (n 1⁄4 126) and anticoagulation group (n 1⁄4 124). Intracranial cerebral artery dissection, contraindications to the use of antiplatelet or anticoagulation, and pregnancy were among factors that led to exclusion of 25 patients in the antiplatelet and 28 patients in the anticoagulation groups. It was estimated that a sample size of 2800 would be required for a definite trial. For the feasibility phase, for which the results published represent, 250 patients were enrolled. The most common presenting symptoms were cerebral ischemic events in 95% of the patients and local symptoms like headache, neck pain, and Horner syndrome in others (Table 1). In the antiplatelet group, 22% received acetyl salicylic acid (ASA) alone, 33% received Plavix alone, 28% received dual antiplatelet with ASA and Plavix, and 16% received ASA and dipyridamole. In comparison, the anticoagulation group was more homogenous with 90% receiving heparin and warfarin and 10% receiving warfarin alone. Overall 2% (n 1⁄4 4/250) had a stroke recurrence (all ipsilateral), 3 in the antiplatelet group and 1 in the anticoagulation group. Additionally, ipsilateral transient ischemic attacks occurred in 2 patients in the antiplatelet group, compared with 4 patients in anticoagulation group. Regarding adverse events, 1 patient in the anticoagulation group developed