Cardiac Imaging Within Emergency CT Angiography for Acute Stroke Can Detect Atrial Clots

Cardiac embolism is presumed to cause a significant portion of cryptogenic strokes. Transesophageal echocardiography may detect intracardiac thrombi, but this remains a rare finding, possibly because remnant clots dissolve spontaneously or following thrombolysis. Cardiac imaging within cerebral CT angiography might offer an alternative method for thrombus detection within hyperacute stroke assessment. In a proof-of-concept study we analyzed records of patients aged ≥ 60 years that presented with suspected stroke and underwent extended cerebral CT angiography as part of their emergency assessment. CT imaging of patients with ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) and atrial fibrillation and of those with embolic strokes of undetermined source (ESUS) was reviewed for intracardiac clots and other cardiac or aortic pathology. Over a period of 3 months 59 patients underwent extended CT angiography for suspected stroke, 44 of whom received a final diagnosis of ischemic stroke or TIA. Of those, 17 had atrial fibrillation, and four fulfilled ESUS criteria. Thrombi were detected within atrial structures on CT angiography in three cases. In two ESUS patients complex atheromatosis of the proximal ascending aorta with irregular and ulcerating plaques was detected. Cardiac imaging within emergency cerebral CT angiography is feasible and can provide valuable diagnostic information in a patient group that might not routinely undergo transesophageal echocardiography. A small change to emergency assessment could potentially uncover cardioembolic pathology in cases that would have remained cryptogenic otherwise

Prädiktiver Wert der Standard-Gerinnungsparameter bezüglich des postoperativen Blutverlustes nach 6h und 24h bei herzchirurgischen Patienten

In der Herzchirurgie ist der Einsatz der Herz-Lungen-Maschine unerlässlich. Das Problem in der postoperativen Phase besteht darin, dass die Blutgerinnung bei einzelnen Patienten erheblich gestört ist, was zu erhöhtem postoperativen Blutverlust führen kann. Basierend auf der oben beschriebenen Problematik hatte die vorliegende, prospektive, randomisierte Verlaufsuntersuchung zum Ziel, folgende Frage zu klären: Lässt sich mit den Standard-Gerinnungsparametern ATIII, Fibrinogen, PTT, Quick und TZ der postoperative Blutverlust in der Herzchirurgie vorhersagen? Zur Beantwortung dieser Fragen wurden bei 150 herzchirurgischen Patienten zu drei verschiedenen Zeitpunkten die Gerinnungsparameter ATIII, Fibrinogen, PTT, Quick und TZ bestimmt. Bei allen Patienten wurde der postoperative Blutverlust nach 6 h und 24 h gemessen. Für keinen der untersuchten Parameter wurde eine signifikante Korrelation mit dem postoperativen Blutverlust bestimmt

Dual-energy CT of liver metastases in patients with uveal melanoma

Objective: To investigate the value of different kVp images of dual-energy CT (DECT) for the detection of liver metastases. Methods: 20 Patients with uveal melanoma were investigated with DECT of the liver. In each patient contrast-enhanced DECT imaging with arterial delay was performed. Number and size of metastases were documented on arterial phase 80-kVp images, virtual 120-kVp images and following angiographic images (DSA) as part of hepatic chemoperfusion. Attenuation of metastases and several anatomic regions, subjective (image noise, image quality) and objective (SNR, CNR) parameters were documented. Results: The mean number of liver metastases detected was significant higher on 80-kVp images than on virtual 120-kVp/DSA images (5.6 ± 2.1 vs. 4.1 ± 1.8/4.3 ± 1.6); (p 20 mm: 56 vs. 42, p 20 mm: 56 vs. 41, p 20 mm were measured statistically equally. Noise, SNR and CNR of 80 kVp images were higher compared to 120 kVp images. Image quality of 120 kVp images was higher compared to 80 kVp images. Conclusion: Low-kVp images of DECT datasets are more sensitive in detecting liver metastases of patients with uveal melanoma than virtual 120 kVp- and DSA images. Keywords: Dual energy CT, Liver, Uveal melanoma, Angiography, Stagin

Treatment response after radioembolisation in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma—An evaluation with dual energy computed-tomography

Purpose: The aim of this prospective study was to examine the diagnostic value of dual-energy CT (DECT) in the assessment of response of HCC after radioembolisation (RE). Material and methods: 40 HCC patients with 82 measurable target lesions were included in this study. At baseline and follow-up examination target lesions were evaluated with (IU), AASLD and Choi measurement criteria. Disease control was defined as the sum of complete response (CR), partial response (PR), progression disease (PD) and stable disease (SD). Results: With Choi and IU more patients were considered than PR and less than PD and SD. According to AASLD more patients were measured as SD and PD than PR. 26/40 patients were classified as PR with IU. In contrast measurements with AASLD in only 8/26 patients were also classified as PR. 6/12 SD patients measured with IU were measured as PD with AASLD. 4/26 patients classified with IU as PR were described as SD with CHOI, 10/14 SD patients measured with CHOI were SD according to IU, the other 4 patients were PR with IU. 2/4 PD patients according to CHOI were SD with IU. Conclusion: More patients by IU were classified as SD versus PD and PR versus SD. We attribute this to the more detailed consideration of the HU differences between the virtual native and contrast-enhanced series generated by DECT. Iodine uptake (IU) in HCC measured and visualized with DECT is a promising imaging method for the assessment of treatment response after radioembolisations. Key points: —dual energy CT of hypervascular tumors such as HCC allows to quantify contrast enhancement without native imaging.—this can be used to evaluate the therapy response after Radioembolization. Keywords: Liver, Radioembolisation, Dual energy, CT stagin

When Can an Emergency CTA Be Dispensed with for TIA Patients?

Background: Transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) and minor strokes are often precursors of a major stroke. Therefore, diagnostic work-up of the TIA is essential to reduce the patient’s risk of further ischemic events. Purpose: With the help of this retrospective study, we aim to determine for which TIA patients a CT angiography (CTA) is not immediately necessary in order to reduce radiation exposure and nephrotoxicity. Material and Methods: Clinical and imaging data from patients who presented as an emergency case with a suspected diagnosis of TIA at a teaching hospital between January 2016 and December 2021 were evaluated. The included 1526 patients were divided into two groups—group 1, with major pathologic vascular findings in the CTA, and group 2, with minor vascular pathologies. Results: Out of 1821 patients with suspected TIA on admission, 1526 met the inclusion criteria. In total, 336 (22%) had major vascular pathologies on CTA, and 1190 (78%) were unremarkable. The majority of patients with major vascular pathologies were male and had a history of arterial hypertension, coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, TIA, atherosclerotic peripheral vascular disease, smoking, antiplatelet medication, had a lower duration of TIA symptoms, and had lower ABCD2 scores. Conclusions: We were able to demonstrate a direct correlation between major CTA pathologies and a history of smoking, age, hyperlipidemia, history of peripheral arterial disease, and a history of stroke and TIA. We were able to prove that the ABCD2 score is even reciprocal to CTA pathology. This means that TIA patients without described risk factors do not immediately require a CTA and could be clarified in the course of treatment with ultrasound or MRI

Cardiac imaging within emergency CT angiography for acute stroke can detect atrial clots

Cardiac embolism is presumed to cause a significant portion of cryptogenic strokes. Transesophageal echocardiography may detect intracardiac thrombi, but this remains a rare finding, possibly because remnant clots dissolve spontaneously or following thrombolysis. Cardiac imaging within cerebral CT angiography might offer an alternative method for thrombus detection within hyperacute stroke assessment. In a proof-of-concept study we analyzed records of patients aged $\geq$ 60 years that presented with suspected stroke and underwent extended cerebral CT angiography as part of their emergency assessment. CT imaging of patients with ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) and atrial fibrillation and of those with embolic strokes of undetermined source (ESUS) was reviewed for intracardiac clots and other cardiac or aortic pathology. Over a period of 3 months 59 patients underwent extended CT angiography for suspected stroke, 44 of whom received a final diagnosis of ischemic stroke or TIA. Of those, 17 had atrial fibrillation, and four fulfilled ESUS criteria. Thrombi were detected within atrial structures on CT angiography in three cases. In two ESUS patients complex atheromatosis of the proximal ascending aorta with irregular and ulcerating plaques was detected. Cardiac imaging within emergency cerebral CT angiography is feasible and can provide valuable diagnostic information in a patient group that might not routinely undergo transesophageal echocardiography. A small change to emergency assessment could potentially uncover cardioembolic pathology in cases that would have remained cryptogenic otherwise

Mechanical thrombectomy for acute ischemic stroke in COVID-19 patients: multicenter experience in 111 cases

Background Data on the frequency and outcome of mechanical thrombectomy (MT) for large vessel occlusion (LVO) in patients with COVID-19 is limited. Addressing this subject, we report our multicenter experience. Methods A retrospective cohort study was performed of consecutive acute stroke patients with COVID-19 infection treated with MT at 26 tertiary care centers between January 2020 and November 2021. Baseline demographics, angiographic outcome and clinical outcome evaluated by the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) at discharge and 90 days were noted. Results We identified 111 out of 11 365 (1%) patients with acute or subsided COVID-19 infection who underwent MT due to LVO. Cardioembolic events were the most common etiology for LVO (38.7%). Median baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score and Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score were 16 (IQR 11.5-20) and 9 (IQR 7-10), respectively. Successful reperfusion (mTICI >= 2b) was achieved in 97/111 (87.4%) patients and 46/111 (41.4%) patients were reperfused completely. The procedure-related complication rate was 12.6% (14/111). Functional independence was achieved in 20/108 (18.5%) patients at discharge and 14/66 (21.2%) at 90 days follow-up. The in-hospital mortality rate was 30.6% (33/108). In the subgroup analysis, patients with severe acute COVID-19 infection requiring intubation had a mortality rate twice as high as patients with mild or moderate acute COVID-19 infection. Acute respiratory failure requiring ventilation and time interval from symptom onset to groin puncture were independent predictors for an unfavorable outcome in a logistic regression analysis. Conclusion Our study showed a poor clinical outcome and high mortality, especially in patients with severe acute COVID-19 infection undergoing MT due to LVO