Initial Experience with the Solitaire X 3 mm Stent Retriever for the Treatment of Distal Medium Vessel Occlusions

Distal medium vessel occlusions; Endovascular thrombectomy; StrokeOclusiones de vasos distales medianos; Trombectomía endovascular; IctusOclusió dels vasos distals mitjans; Trombectomia endovascular; IctusEndovascular therapy (EVT) is the standard treatment for ischemic stroke caused by a large vessel occlusion (LVO). The effectiveness of EVT for distal medium vessel occlusions (MDVOs) is still uncertain, but newer, smaller devices show potential for EVT in MDVOs. The new Solitaire X 3 mm device offers a treatment option for MDVOs. Our study encompassed consecutive cases of primary and secondary MDVOs treated with the Solitaire X 3 mm stent-retriever as first-line EVT device between January and December 2022 at 12 European stroke centers. The primary endpoint was a first-pass near-complete or complete reperfusion, defined as a modified treatment in cerebral infarction (mTICI) score of 2c/3. Additionally, we examined reperfusion results, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores at 24 h and discharge, device malfunctions, complications and procedural technical parameters. Sixty-eight patients (38 women, mean age 72 ± 14 years) were included in our study. Median NIHSS at admission was 11 (IQR 6–16). In 53 (78%) cases, a primary combined approach was used as the frontline technique. Among all enrolled patients, first-pass mTICI 2c/3 was achieved in 22 (32%) and final mTICI 2c/3 in 46 (67.6%) patients after a median of 1.5 (IQR 1–2) passes. Final reperfusion mTICI 2b/3 was observed in 89.7% of our cases. We observed no device malfunctions. Median NIHSS at discharge was 2 (IQR 0–4), and no symptomatic intracranial hemorrhages were reported. Based on our analysis, the utilization of the Solitaire X 3 mm device appears to be both effective and safe for performing EVT in cases of MDVO stroke

Stroke and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Review

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease that involves collagen tissue throughout the body. Several previous studies have shown that the risk of ischaemic and haemorrhagic stroke is significantly higher in SLE when compared to the general population, particularly in young individuals, representing one of the principal causes of death in these patients. Though the precise pathophysiology behind this increased risk is still poorly understood, several mechanisms are suggested to play a role. The high burden of cerebral small vessel disease features noted on brain neuroimaging studies, as well as the accelerated process of atherosclerosis identified in these patients, are likely to be responsible for at least some of the ischaemic strokes occurring in the SLE population. Repeated episodes of arterial and venous thrombosis secondary to antiphospholipid syndrome are likewise important. Less is known regarding the exact pathophysiological relationship between SLE and the high incidence of haemorrhagic stroke, though thrombocytopenia and a greater susceptibility to form typical and atypical brain aneurysms, which may then rupture, are thought to be the main mechanisms responsible for the occurrence of intracerebral and subarachnoid haemorrhage, respectively. Both inflammatory and noninflammatory events, all involving the immune system, are responsible for several pathological changes affecting cerebral vessels of every calibre in SLE, as confirmed by histopathology. In this context, endothelial activation and dysfunction play a critical role. This review will briefly analyse the most important factors responsible for the higher ischaemic and haemorrhagic stroke risk in the SLE population, with a particular focus on brain vascular changes

Intravenous Thrombolysis and Three Mechanical Thrombectomies in 15 Days in a Patient with Carotid Web. a Case Report

We report the case of a woman with acute ischemic stroke due to recurrent occlusion of the left middle cerebral artery, which occurred three times in 15 days. Only after the third event, digital subtraction angiography detected carotid web (CW) in the left internal carotid artery. Management of CW is still debated and varies from medical therapy to endovascular and surgical approaches, in order to avoid recurrences and outcome worsening. Early arterial reocclusion is associated with poor outcome compared with persistent recanalization. According to the current data, repeated endovascular treatment appears to be a viable option for recurrences and should not be withheld. Intravenous were needed to ensure good outcome in our patient

MRI patient selection for endovascular thrombectomy in acute ischemic stroke: correlation between pretreatment diffusion weighted imaging and outcome scores

Introduction: Eligibility for endovascular treatment (EVT) in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) depends, amongst other factors, on CT- or MR-based scores. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of Alberta Stroke Program Early CT score based on diffusion weighted imaging (MR-ASPECT) in the assessment of brain damage pre-EVT, patient selection for EVT and outcome. Materials and methods: We included in this study patients with National Institute of Health stroke score (NIHSS) at admission ≥ 8, MR-ASPECT ≥ 5 and anterior AIS, who were treated with EVT in our hospital. All patients were clinically evaluated at admission, post-EVT, discharge and at 3-month follow-up. We used MR-ASPECT to establish infarct core extension at admission. We evaluated ASPECT score at admission (CT-ASPECT-IN), 24 h after EVT and at discharge, NIHSS, modified Ranking Scale (mRS), Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction scale (TICI), onset-to-intervention-delay (OTID) and Collateral Circulation Score (CCS). Results: 68 patients (mean age 78 ± 11.9 years) were included in this study. 54.4 and 64.7% of patients had strong clinical improvement after 24 h from EVT and at discharge, respectively. NIHSS evaluated 24 h after EVT correlated with CCS, TICI and OTID. We observed a favourable outcome (mRS 0–2) in 52.9% of patients at 3-month follow-up. MR-ASPECT score correlated with post-EVT outcome better than CT-ASPECT-IN scores. Conclusion: MR-ASPECT score based on diffusion weighted imaging is useful for the selection of patients with AIS that can have a favourable outcome from EVT. A prompt EVT has huge impact on patient outcome

Initial Experience with the Solitaire X 3 mm Stent Retriever for the Treatment of Distal Medium Vessel Occlusions.

Endovascular therapy (EVT) is the standard treatment for ischemic stroke caused by a large vessel occlusion (LVO). The effectiveness of EVT for distal medium vessel occlusions (MDVOs) is still uncertain, but newer, smaller devices show potential for EVT in MDVOs. The new Solitaire X 3 mm device offers a treatment option for MDVOs. Our study encompassed consecutive cases of primary and secondary MDVOs treated with the Solitaire X 3 mm stent-retriever as first-line EVT device between January and December 2022 at 12 European stroke centers. The primary endpoint was a first-pass near-complete or complete reperfusion, defined as a modified treatment in cerebral infarction (mTICI) score of 2c/3. Additionally, we examined reperfusion results, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores at 24 h and discharge, device malfunctions, complications and procedural technical parameters. Sixty-eight patients (38 women, mean age 72 ± 14 years) were included in our study. Median NIHSS at admission was 11 (IQR 6-16). In 53 (78%) cases, a primary combined approach was used as the frontline technique. Among all enrolled patients, first-pass mTICI 2c/3 was achieved in 22 (32%) and final mTICI 2c/3 in 46 (67.6%) patients after a median of 1.5 (IQR 1-2) passes. Final reperfusion mTICI 2b/3 was observed in 89.7% of our cases. We observed no device malfunctions. Median NIHSS at discharge was 2 (IQR 0-4), and no symptomatic intracranial hemorrhages were reported. Based on our analysis, the utilization of the Solitaire X 3 mm device appears to be both effective and safe for performing EVT in cases of MDVO stroke

Acute Stroke Treatment in Patients with Basilar Artery Occlusion: A Single-Center Observational Study

Background: Acute ischemic stroke (AIS) due to basilar artery occlusion (BAO) represents 1-4% of all ischemic strokes. BAO results in strokes associated with a high risk of a poor functional outcome and, in 86-95% of the untreated cases, it results in death because of the vital cerebral structures involved. Diagnosis can be delayed because of the variability in presenting symptoms, and acute treatment is often attempted even beyond 6 h from symptoms onset because of the high risk of a fatal prognosis. Objective: In this observational study, we retrospectively analyzed patients with AIS due to BAO referred to the stroke center of the University Hospital of Messina. We aimed to assess prognostic factors and to evaluate the association between clinical outcome and posterior circulation Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score (pc-ASPECTS) and collateral status. Method: BAO was confirmed by cerebral computed tomography (CT) angiography or cerebral angiography. All patients underwent CT scan and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). We assessed the pc-ASPECTS on diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) MR images and the Posterior Circulation Collateral Score (PC-CS) for every patient. Functional outcome was assessed at 3 months using the modified Rankin Scale (mRS). Results: The study population consisted of 27 patients; 16 males and 11 females. The mean age was 66 (±14) years. We observed a favorable outcome (mRS 0-3) in 40.7% of cases, 25.9% reached mRS 0-2, and 29.6% had a poor clinical outcome (mRS 4-5). Patient survival was 70.4%, whereas 8 patients died (29.6%). In 7 patients, pc-ASPECTS was ≥7. According to the PC-CS, 33.3% had moderate collaterals and 63.0% had good collateral status prior to receiving the treatment. Favorable outcome was significantly associated with age, NIHSS score at admission, pc-ASPECTS, hypercholesterolemia, and female sex but not with the other risk factors. Conclusions: In our study, we found that younger age, low NIHSS score at admission, and high pc-ASPECTS, but not onset to treatment time, are associated with a favorable clinical outcome. Transferred patients did not have a significantly poorer outcome. These findings confirm that acute stroke treatment improves clinical outcome in BAO patients, in spite of a delayed diagnosis and an extended therapeutic window, considering lesion volume and localization in DWI MRI

Posterior Circulation Endovascular Thrombectomy for Large Vessels Occlusion in Patients Presenting with NIHSS Score ≤ 10

Mechanical thrombectomy (MT) is currently the gold standard treatment for ischemic stroke due to large vessel occlusion (LVO). However, the evidence of clinical usefulness of MT in posterior circulation LVO (pc-LVO) is still doubtful compared to the anterior circulation, especially in patients with mild neurological symptoms. The database of 10 high-volume stroke centers in Europe, including a period of three year and a half, was screened for patients with an acute basilar artery occlusion or a single dominant vertebral artery occlusion (“functional” BAO) presenting with a NIHSS ≤10, and with at least 3 months follow-up. A total of 63 patients were included. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that female gender (adjusted OR 0.04; 95% CI 0–0.84; p = 0.04) and combined technique (adj OR 0.001; 95% CI 0–0.81; p = 0.04) were predictors of worse outcome. Higher pc-ASPECTS (adj OR 4.75; 95% CI 1.33–16.94; p = 0.02) and higher Delta NIHSS (adj OR 2.06; 95% CI 1.16–3.65; p = 0.01) were predictors of better outcome. Delta NIHSS was the main predictor of good outcome at 90 days in patients with posterior circulation LVO presenting with NIHSS score ≤ 10

Mechanical thrombectomy in acute ischemic stroke due to large vessel occlusion in the anterior circulation and low baseline National Institute of Health Stroke Scale score: a multicenter retrospective matched analysis

Background and Purpose The benefit of mechanical thrombectomy (MT) in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) due to large vessel occlusion (LVO) and baseline mild neurological symptoms remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of MT in this subgroup of patients. Methods The databases of 9 high-volume Italian stroke centers were retrospectively screened for patients with LVO in the anterior circulation and a baseline National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score <= 5 that received either immediate MT or best medical management (BMM) with the possibility of rescue MT upon neurological worsening. Primary outcome measure was a modified Rankin Scale score of 0-1 at 90 days. Propensity score matching (PSM) analysis was used to estimate the treatment effect of immediate MT compared to BMM/rescue MT. Results Two hundred and seventy-two patients received immediate MT (MT group). The BMM/rescue MT group included 41 patients. The primary outcome was achieved in 78.6% (n = 246) of overall patients, with a higher proportion in the MT group (80.5% vs. 65.9%, p = 0.03) in unadjusted analysis. After PSM, patients in the MT group had a 19.5% higher chance of excellent outcome at 90 days compared to the BMM/Rescue MT group with a similar risk of death from any cause. Conclusions Our experience is in favor of a potential benefit of MT also in patients with LVO and a NIHSS score <= 5 at the time of groin puncture. Nonetheless, this issue waits for a clear-cut recommendation in a dedicated clinical trial

Initial Experience with the Solitaire X 3 mm Stent Retriever for the Treatment of Distal Medium Vessel Occlusions

Endovascular therapy (EVT) is the standard treatment for ischemic stroke caused by a large vessel occlusion (LVO). The effectiveness of EVT for distal medium vessel occlusions (MDVOs) is still uncertain, but newer, smaller devices show potential for EVT in MDVOs. The new Solitaire X 3 mm device offers a treatment option for MDVOs. Our study encompassed consecutive cases of primary and secondary MDVOs treated with the Solitaire X 3 mm stent-retriever as first-line EVT device between January and December 2022 at 12 European stroke centers. The primary endpoint was a first-pass near-complete or complete reperfusion, defined as a modified treatment in cerebral infarction (mTICI) score of 2c/3. Additionally, we examined reperfusion results, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores at 24 h and discharge, device malfunctions, complications and procedural technical parameters. Sixty-eight patients (38 women, mean age 72 ± 14 years) were included in our study. Median NIHSS at admission was 11 (IQR 6–16). In 53 (78%) cases, a primary combined approach was used as the frontline technique. Among all enrolled patients, first-pass mTICI 2c/3 was achieved in 22 (32%) and final mTICI 2c/3 in 46 (67.6%) patients after a median of 1.5 (IQR 1–2) passes. Final reperfusion mTICI 2b/3 was observed in 89.7% of our cases. We observed no device malfunctions. Median NIHSS at discharge was 2 (IQR 0–4), and no symptomatic intracranial hemorrhages were reported. Based on our analysis, the utilization of the Solitaire X 3 mm device appears to be both effective and safe for performing EVT in cases of MDVO stroke

Mechanical thrombectomy in minor stroke due to isolated M2 occlusion: a multicenter retrospective matched analysis

Background The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of mechanical thrombectomy (MT) in patients with isolated M2 occlusion and minor symptoms and identify possible baseline predictors of clinical outcome. Methods The databases of 16 high-volume stroke centers were retrospectively screened for consecutive patients with isolated M2 occlusion and a baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score <= 5 who received either early MT (eMT) or best medical management (BMM) with the possibility of rescue MT (rMT) on early neurological worsening. Because our patients were not randomized, we used propensity score matching (PSM) to estimate the treatment effect of eMT compared with the BMM/rMT. The primary clinical outcome measure was a 90-day modified Rankin Scale score of 0-1. Results 388 patients were initially selected and, after PSM, 100 pairs of patients receiving eMT or BMM/rMT were available for analysis. We found no significant differences in clinical outcome and in safety measures between patients receiving eMT or BMM/rMT. Similar results were also observed after comparison between eMT and rMT. Concerning baseline predicting factors of outcome, the involvement of the M2 inferior branch was associated with a favorable outcome. Conclusion Our multicenter retrospective analysis has shown no benefit of eMT in minor stroke patients with isolated M2 occlusion over a more conservative therapeutic approach. Although our results must be viewed with caution, in these patients it appears reasonable to consider BMM as the first option and rMT in the presence of early neurological deterioration