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Background and Objective: Whether intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) detected using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) affects the clinical outcomes of patients with large-vessel occlusion (LVO) treated with mechanical thrombectomy (MT) remains unclear. This study investigated the clinical features of ICH after MT detected solely by MRI., Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of patients with acute ischemic stroke and occlusion of the internal carotid artery or middle cerebral artery treated with MT between April 2011 and March 2021. Among 632 patients, patients diagnosed with no ICH using CT, with a pre-morbid modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score ≤ 2, and those who underwent MRI including T2* and computed tomography (CT) within 72 h from MT were enrolled. The main outcomes were the association between ICH detected solely by MRI and clinical outcomes at 90 days. Poor clinical outcomes were defined as mRS score > 2 at 90 days after onset., Results: Of the 246 patients, 29 (12%) had ICH on MRI (MRI-ICH(+)), and 217 (88%) were MRI-ICH(-). There was no significant difference between number of patients with MRI-ICH(+) experiencing poor (10 [12%]) and favorable (19 [12%]) outcomes. The mRS score at 90 days between patients with MRI-ICH (+) and MRI-ICH(-) was not significantly different (2 [1-4] vs. 2 [1-4], respectively). Higher age and lower ASPECTS were independent risk factors for poor outcomes, as shown by multivariate regression analysis. MRI-ICH(+) status was not associated with poor outcomes., Conclusions: ICH detected by MRI alone did not influence clinical outcomes in patients with LVO treated with MT., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest Kazumi Kimura received lecture fees from Bristol-Myers Squibb Co., Ltd., Nippon Boehringer Ingelheim Co., Ltd., Bayer Healthcare Co., Ltd., and Daiichi Sankyo Co.; research funding from Nippon Boehringer Ingelheim Co., Ltd., Daiichi Sankyo Co., Pfizer Japan Inc., Medtronic Co., Ltd., and Teijin Pharma Ltd.; and personal funding from the 38th Mihara Cerebrovascular Disorder Research Promotion Fund, Ltd., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Background and Purpose: We investigated whether the signal change on fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) can serve as a tissue clock that predicts the clinical outcome after endovascular thrombectomy (EVT), independently of the onset-to-admission time., Methods: Consecutive patients with acute stroke treated with EVT between September 2014 and December 2018 were enrolled. Based on the parenchymal signal change on FLAIR, patients were classified into FLAIR-negative and FLAIR-positive groups. The clinical characteristics, imaging findings, EVT parameters, and the intracranial hemorrhage defined as Heidelberg Bleeding Classification ≥1c hemorrhage (parenchymal hemorrhage, intraventricular hemorrhage, subarachnoid hemorrhage, and/or subdural hemorrhage) were compared between the 2 groups. A modified Rankin Scale score 0 to 1 at 3 months was considered to represent a good outcome., Results: Of the 227 patients with EVT during the study period, 140 patients (62%) were classified into the FLAIR-negative group and 87 (38%) were classified into the FLAIR-positive group. In the FLAIR-negative group, the patients were older (P=0.011), the onset-to-image time was shorter (P<0.001), the frequency of cardioembolic stroke was higher (P=0.006), and the rate of intravenous thrombolysis was higher (P<0.001) in comparison to the FLAIR-positive group. Although the rate of complete recanalization after EVT did not differ between the 2 groups (P=0.173), the frequency of both any-intracranial hemorrhage and Heidelberg Bleeding Classification ≥1c hemorrhage were higher in the FLAIR-positive group (P=0.004 and 0.011). At 3 months, the percentage of patients with a good outcome (FLAIR-negative, 41%; FLAIR-positive, 27%) was significantly related to the FLAIR signal change (P=0.047), while the onset-to-image time was not significant (P=0.271). A multivariate regression analysis showed that a FLAIR-negative status was independently associated with a good outcome (odds ratio, 2.10 [95% CI, 1.02–4.31], P=0.044)., Conclusions: A FLAIR-negative status may predict the clinical outcome more accurately than the onset-to-admission time, which may support the role of FLAIR as a tissue clock.

Door to groin puncture time is one of the determinants of clinical outcome in patients treated with endovascular thrombectomy (EVT). We have recently initiated a protocol, direct transfer to angiographic site, for patients transferred from outside hospitals. In this retrospective study, we investigated whether our new protocol had succeeded in shortening the door to groin puncture time. Data on consecutive patients with an occlusion at internal carotid artery or middle cerebral artery treated with EVT transferred from outside hospital between July 2012 and December 2018 were studied. Good outcome was defined as modified Rankin Scale score (mRS) ≤1 at 3 months. Forty (46%) patients were directly transferred to angiographic suite, 27 (19%) were indirectly transferred after CT, and 20 (23%) were after MRI. Onset to admission time was similar among the 3 groups (P = 0.711), while door to groin puncture time was significantly shorter in patients directly transferred to angiographic suite compared to those after CT as well as MRI (median 22 [25%-75%, 16-31] minutes vs. 31 [27-40], vs. 84 [58-124], P < 0.001). The rates of reperfusion with ≥ Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction 2b were similar among the 3 groups (88% vs. 85% vs. 90%, P = 0.886). The incidences of symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage were also similar as 8% vs. 4% vs. 5% (P = 0.796). At 3 months after stroke, 16 (40%) patients in the 11 (41%) in those after CT, and 9 (45%) in those after MRI had the good outcome (P = 0.931). Direct transfer to angiography suite can shorten the onset to groin puncture time with safety.

Background: National institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score and the presence of successful recanalization are crucial determinants of clinical outcome in patients with major artery occlusion. However, it is unknown whether successful recanalization rate after endovascular therapy (EVT) depends on NIHSS score., Methods: From our prospective EVT registry, data on patients with an occlusion at the internal carotid artery or middle cerebral artery were analyzed. Successful recanalization was judged as positive when reperfusion of the thrombolysis in cerebral infarction (TICI) scale ≥2b was observed. Successful recanalization rate was also evaluated based on the NIHSS score subgroups: 0-8, 9-16, 17-24, and >24. Multivariate regression analysis was used to evaluate the impact of NIHSS score on successful recanalization., Results: We studied 183 patients (age 76 [68-83], male 110 [60%], NIHSS score 19 [14-24]). One hundred and forty-six (80%) patients had the successful recanalization. Patients achieved the recanalization had lower NIHSS score as 18 (12-23), contrary those failed it had higher NIHSS score as 24 (20-27) (p < .001). Successful recanalization rate was correlated to the NIHSS score grade; 100% in the NIHSS 0-8 group, 88% in 9-16, 81% in 17-24, and only 60% in >24 (p < .001). Multivariate regression analysis showed NIHSS score was an independent parameter of recanalization (odds ratio 0.905 [95%CI 0.837-0.979], p = .013)., Conclusion: NIHSS score may serve as a predictor of successful recanalization. Recanalization is relatively easier in mild stroke than in those with severe stroke., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Rapid adaption of endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) is essential for patients with large arterial occlusion (LAO). Although patients transferred need longer transportation, they have an advantage of preadmission diagnosis regarding arterial occlusion. The aim of the present study is to evaluate whether optimizing the assessment at comprehensive center for patients transferred may improve the clinical outcome after EVT. Data on consecutive patients treated with EVT between September 2014 and May 2017 were studied. Generally, we have two distinct protocols for EVT candidates: 1) the transfer group, patients are directly taken to the CT and escorted to the angiography room; and 2) the direct group, patients receive the routine emergent evaluation and examined with MRI/MRA. Good outcome was defined as modified Rankin Scale score ≤1 at 3 months. Thirty-one (29%) patients were classified into the transfer group and the 77 (71%) were into the direct group. Although the onset to door time was longer in the transfer group (175 [137-275] min. vs. 76 [51-260] min, P = 0.001), the rate of good outcome was similar between the 2 groups (41% vs. 25%, P = 0.205). By multivariate regression analysis, the onset to reperfusion time was the independent factor (odds ratio 0.982, 95%CI: 0.967-0.998, P = 0.026) associated with good outcome, while transfer itself was not the independent parameter (odds ratio 0.732, 95%CI: 0.125-4.291, P = 0.730). Regarding time parameters, door to picture time (11 [7-24] min vs. 27 [21-39] min., P < 0.001) and picture to puncture time (27 [18-60] min. vs. 54 [39-78] min, P < 0.001) were shorter in the transfer group. Thus, the onset to puncture time (234 [177-299] min. vs. 170 [125-367] min, P = 0.063) and the onset to reperfusion time (271 [208-352] min. vs. 237 [159-382] min., P = 0.183) were similar between the 2 groups. Shortening the initial evaluation at comprehensive stroke center can provide a good outcome for patients transferred.