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Intravenous thrombolysis (IVT)-ineligible patients undergoing direct thrombectomy tended to have poorer functional outcome as compared with IVT-eligible patients undergoing bridging therapy. We aimed to assess radiological and functional outcomes in large vessel occlusion-related stroke patients receiving direct thrombectomy in the presence of absolute exclusion criteria for IVT vs relative exclusion criteria for IVT and vs non-exclusion criteria for IVT. A cohort study on prospectively collected data from 2282 patients enrolled in the Italian Registry of Endovascular Treatment in Acute Stroke cohort for treatment with direct thrombectomy (n = 486, absolute exclusion criteria for IVT alone; n = 384, absolute in combination with relative exclusion criteria for IVT; n = 777, relative exclusion criteria for IVT alone; n = 635, non-exclusion criteria for IVT). After adjustment for unbalanced variables (model 1), ORs for 3-month death was higher in the presence of absolute exclusion criteria for IVT alone (vs relative exclusion criteria for IVT alone) (1.595, 95% CI 1.042–2.440) and in the presence of absolute exclusion criteria for IVT alone (vs non-exclusion criteria for IVT) (1.235, 95% CI 1.014–1.504). After adjustment for predefined variables (model 2: age, sex, pre-stroke mRS ≤ 1, NIHSS, occlusion in the anterior circulation, onset-to-groin time, and procedure time), ORs for 3-month death was higher in the presence of absolute exclusion criteria for IVT alone (vs relative exclusion criteria for IVT alone) (1.235, 95% CI 1.014–1.504) and in the presence of absolute exclusion criteria for IVT alone (vs non-exclusion criteria for IVT) (1.246, 95% CI 1.039–1.495). No significant difference was found between the groups as regards any type of intracerebral hemorrhage and parenchymal hematoma within 24 h, successful and complete recanalization after procedure, and modified Rankin Scale score 0–2 at 3 months. After adjustment for predefined variables of model 2, ORs for death were higher in the presence of recent administration of IV heparin (OR: 2.077), platelet count

Purpose: Intracranial carotid artery occlusion represents an underinvestigated cause of acute ischemic stroke as well as an indication for mechanical thrombectomy. We investigated baseline and procedural characteristics, outcomes and predictors of outcome in patients with acute ischemic stroke secondary to intracranial carotid artery occlusion. Methods: A retrospective analysis of the Italian Registry of Endovascular Treatment in Acute Stroke was performed. Patients with intracranial carotid artery occlusion (infraclinoid and supraclinoid) with or without cervical artery occlusion but with patent intracranial arteries were included. The 3‑month functional independence, mortality, successful reperfusion and symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage were evaluated. Results: Intracranial carotid artery occlusion with patent intracranial arteries was diagnosed in 387 out of 4940 (7.8%) patients. The median age was 74 years and median baseline National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) was 18. Functional independence was achieved in 130 (34%) patients, successful reperfusion in 289 (75%) and symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage in 33 (9%), whereas mortality occurred in 111 (29%) patients. In univariate analysis functional independence was associated with lower age, lower NIHSS at presentation, higher rate of successful reperfusion and lower rate of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage. Multivariable regression analysis found age (odds ratio, OR:1.03; P = 0.006), NIHSS at presentation (OR: 1.07; P < 0.001), diabetes (OR: 2.60; P = 0.002), successful reperfusion (OR:0.20; P < 0.001) and symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (OR: 4.17; P < 0.001) as the best independent predictors of outcome. Conclusion: Our study showed a not negligible rate of intracranial carotid artery occlusion with patent intracranial arteries, presenting mostly as severe stroke, with an acceptable rate of 3‑month functional independence. Age, NIHSS at presentation and successful reperfusion were the best independent predictors of outcome. © 2020, Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.

Background and Purpose: As numerous questions remain about the best anesthetic strategy during thrombectomy, we assessed functional and radiological outcomes in stroke patients treated with thrombectomy in presence of general anesthesia (GA) versus conscious sedation (CS) and local anesthesia (LA). Methods: We conducted a cohort study on prospectively collected data from 4429 patients enrolled in the Italian Registry of Endovascular Treatment in Acute Stroke. Results: GA was used in 2013 patients, CS in 1285 patients, and LA in 1131 patients. The rates of 3-month modified Rankin Scale score of 0–1 were 32.7%, 33.7%, and 38.1% in the GA, CS, and LA groups: GA versus CS: odds ratios after adjustment for unbalanced variables (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]), 0.811 (95% CI, 0.602–1.091); and GA versus LA: aOR, 0.714 (95% CI, 0.515–0.990). The rates of modified Rankin Scale score of 0–2 were 42.5%, 46.6%, and 52.4% in the GA, CS, and LA groups: GA versus CS: aOR, 0.902 (95% CI, 0.689–1.180); and GA versus LA: aOR, 0.769 (95% CI, 0.566–0.998). The rates of 3-month death were 21.5%, 19.7%, and 14.8% in the GA, CS, and LA groups: GA versus CS: aOR, 0.872 (95% CI, 0.644–1.181); and GA versus LA: aOR, 1.235 (95% CI, 0.844–1.807). The rates of parenchymal hematoma were 9%, 12.6%, and 11.3% in the GA, CS, and LA groups: GA versus CS: aOR, 0.380 (95% CI, 0.262–0.551); and GA versus LA: aOR, 0.532 (95% CI, 0.337–0.838). After model of adjustment for predefined variables (age, sex, thrombolysis, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale, onset-to-groin time, anterior large vessel occlusion, procedure time, prestroke modified Rankin Scale score of Conclusions: GA during thrombectomy was associated with worse 3-month functional outcomes, especially when compared with LA. The inclusion of an LA arm in future randomized clinical trials of anesthesia strategy is recommended.

Background There are limited data concerning procedure-related complications of endovascular thrombectomy for large vessel occlusion strokes. Aims We evaluated the cumulative incidence, the clinical relevance in terms of increased disability and mortality, and risk factors for complications. Methods From January 2011 to December 2017, 4799 patients were enrolled by 36 centers in the Italian Registry of Endovascular Stroke Treatment. Data on demographic and procedural characteristics, complications, and clinical outcome at three months were prospectively collected. Results The complications cumulative incidence was 201 per 1000 patients undergoing endovascular thrombectomy. Ongoing antiplatelet therapy (p Conclusions Complications globally considered are not uncommon and may result in poor clinical outcome. Early recognition of risk factors might help to prevent complications and manage them appropriately in order to maximize endovascular thrombectomy benefits.

A 76-year-old hypertensive man with previous bilateral iliac stenting was admitted in our center for acute stroke with an NIH score of 20 at 6 h from symptoms onset. The common carotid occlusion with a huge thrombus and a very calcified plaque has been successfully recanalyzed with a combination of coronary total occlusion technique, filter-aided coronary manual thrombectomy and Penumbra vacuum thrombectomy systems.

Although Broca's aphasia (BA) may mimic different neurological illness, its sudden onset often requires an emergency approach. In this paper, the management of a case of intermittent BA occurred in a young woman without history of neurological, cardiovascular and arrhythmic diseases is discussed. Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging showed two areas of hypoperfusion in the terminal branches of the left medial cerebral artery not previously diagnosed by computed tomography. Although there were no eligibility criteria for thrombolysis, patient received intravenous treatment with recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator (rt-PA) over 1 h and at the end of rt-PA infusion aphasia completely disappeared without neurological sequelae. Transesophageal echocardiography revealed a thrombus in the left atrial appendage not previously detected by transthoracic echocardiography. In the month following the cardioembolic stroke, heart rhythm was monitored for 30 days by an external loop recorder and during this test two episodes of silent lone atrial fibrillation were collected.

BACKGROUND Recurrent central neurocytoma is very rare and to the authors' knowledge data regarding its response to chemotherapy currently are not available. METHODS Three patients with progressive neurocytoma received chemotherapy after their informed consent was obtained. Disease recurred in two patients after surgery and radiotherapy and in one patient after surgery. The treatment regimen was comprised of etoposide, 40 mg/m2/day, for 4 days; cisplatin, 25 mg/m2/day, for 4 days; and cyclophosphamide, 1000 mg/m2, on Day 4; this cycle was repeated every 4 weeks. RESULTS Stabilization of disease was observed in 2 patients and complete remission was observed in 1 patient; at last follow-up, these responses had been maintained for 15 months, 18 months, and 36 months, respectively. CONCLUSIONS In this small series, this therapeutic regimen led to long term disease reduction, and merits further study. Cancer 2000;88:169–74. © 2000 American Cancer Society.

The present study designed and developed blood vessel substitutes (BVSs) composed of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) cryogels. The in vitro results demonstrated that the coating of the polymer with lyophilized decellularized vascular matrix (DVM) greatly enhanced the adhesion of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). However, when PVA̸DVM BVSs were implanted into the abdominal aorta of Sprague‑Dawley rats, DVM was identified as a highly thrombogenic surface resulting in the mortality of all animals 3‑4 days after surgery. By contrast, all rats implanted with PVA survived and were sacrificed after 12 months. The luminal surface of the explanted grafts was completely covered by endothelial cells and the inner diameter was similar to that of the original vessel. In conclusion, the present study indicated that PVA may be considered as a promising biomaterial for the fabrication of artificial vessels.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the influence of a decellularization protocol on the structure and the mechanical behavior of small-diameter (