Iatrogenic arterial vasospasm during mechanical thrombectomy requiring treatment with intra‐arterial nimodipine might be associated with worse outcomes

International audienceAbstract Background and Purpose Vasospasm is a common iatrogenic event during mechanical thrombectomy (MT). In such circumstances, intra‐arterial nimodipine administration is occasionally considered. However, its use in the treatment of iatrogenic vasospasm during MT has been poorly studied. We investigated the impact of iatrogenic vasospasm treated with intra‐arterial nimodipine on outcomes after MT for large vessel occlusion stroke. Methods We conducted a retrospective analysis of the multicenter observational registry Endovascular Treatment in Ischemic Stroke (ETIS). Consecutive patients treated with MT between January 2015 and December 2022 were included. Patients treated with medical treatment alone, without MT, were excluded. We also excluded patients who received another in situ vasodilator molecule during the procedure. Outcomes were compared according to the occurrence of cervical and/or intracranial arterial vasospasm requiring intraoperative use of in situ nimodipine based on operator's decision, using a propensity score approach. The primary outcome was a modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score of 0–2 at 90 days. Secondary outcomes included excellent outcome (mRS score 0–1), final recanalization, mortality, intracranial hemorrhage and procedural complications. Secondary analyses were performed according to the vasospasm location (intracranial or cervical). Results Among 13,678 patients in the registry during the study period, 434 received intra‐arterial nimodipine for the treatment of MT‐related vasospasm. In the main analysis, comparable odds of favorable outcome were observed, whereas excellent outcome was significantly less frequent in the group with vasospasm requiring nimodipine (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.78, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.63–0.97). Perfect recanalization, defined as a final modified Thrombolysis In Cerebral Infarction score of 3 (aOR 0.63, 95% CI 0.42–0.93), was also rarer in the vasospasm group. Intracranial vasospasm treated with nimodipine was significantly associated with worse clinical outcome (aOR 0.64, 95% CI 0.45–0.92), in contrast to the cervical location (aOR 1.37, 95% CI 0.54–3.08). Conclusion Arterial vasospasm occurring during the MT procedure and requiring intra‐arterial nimodipine administration was associated with worse outcomes, especially in case of intracranial vasospasm. Although this study cannot formally differentiate whether the negative consequences were due to the vasospasm itself, or nimodipine administration or both, there might be an important signal toward a substantial clinical impact of iatrogenic vasospasm during MT

Iatrogenic arterial vasospasm during mechanical thrombectomy requiring treatment with intra‐arterial nimodipine might be associated with worse outcomes

International audienceAbstract Background and Purpose Vasospasm is a common iatrogenic event during mechanical thrombectomy (MT). In such circumstances, intra‐arterial nimodipine administration is occasionally considered. However, its use in the treatment of iatrogenic vasospasm during MT has been poorly studied. We investigated the impact of iatrogenic vasospasm treated with intra‐arterial nimodipine on outcomes after MT for large vessel occlusion stroke. Methods We conducted a retrospective analysis of the multicenter observational registry Endovascular Treatment in Ischemic Stroke (ETIS). Consecutive patients treated with MT between January 2015 and December 2022 were included. Patients treated with medical treatment alone, without MT, were excluded. We also excluded patients who received another in situ vasodilator molecule during the procedure. Outcomes were compared according to the occurrence of cervical and/or intracranial arterial vasospasm requiring intraoperative use of in situ nimodipine based on operator's decision, using a propensity score approach. The primary outcome was a modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score of 0–2 at 90 days. Secondary outcomes included excellent outcome (mRS score 0–1), final recanalization, mortality, intracranial hemorrhage and procedural complications. Secondary analyses were performed according to the vasospasm location (intracranial or cervical). Results Among 13,678 patients in the registry during the study period, 434 received intra‐arterial nimodipine for the treatment of MT‐related vasospasm. In the main analysis, comparable odds of favorable outcome were observed, whereas excellent outcome was significantly less frequent in the group with vasospasm requiring nimodipine (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.78, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.63–0.97). Perfect recanalization, defined as a final modified Thrombolysis In Cerebral Infarction score of 3 (aOR 0.63, 95% CI 0.42–0.93), was also rarer in the vasospasm group. Intracranial vasospasm treated with nimodipine was significantly associated with worse clinical outcome (aOR 0.64, 95% CI 0.45–0.92), in contrast to the cervical location (aOR 1.37, 95% CI 0.54–3.08). Conclusion Arterial vasospasm occurring during the MT procedure and requiring intra‐arterial nimodipine administration was associated with worse outcomes, especially in case of intracranial vasospasm. Although this study cannot formally differentiate whether the negative consequences were due to the vasospasm itself, or nimodipine administration or both, there might be an important signal toward a substantial clinical impact of iatrogenic vasospasm during MT

Successful Thrombectomy Improves Functional Outcome in Tandem Occlusions with a Large Ischemic Core

International audienceBackground: Emergent stenting in tandem occlusions and mechanical thrombectomy (MT) of acute ischemic stroke related to large vessel occlusion (LVO-AIS) with a large core are tested independently. We aim to assess the impact of reperfusion with MT in patients with LVO-AIS with a large core and a tandem occlusion and to compare the safety of reperfusion between large core with tandem and nontandem occlusions in current practice. Methods: We analyzed data of all consecutive patients included in the prospective Endovascular Treatment in Ischemic Stroke Registry in France between January 2015 and March 2023 who presented with a pretreatment ASPECTS (Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score) of 0–5 and angiographically proven tandem occlusion. The primary end point was a favorable outcome defined by a modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score of 0–3 at 90 days. Results: Among 262 included patients with a tandem occlusion and ASPECTS 0–5, 203 patients (77.5%) had a successful reperfusion (modified Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction grade 2b-3). Reperfused patients had a favorable shift in the overall mRS score distribution (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.57 [1.22–2.03]; P < 0.001), higher rates of mRS score 0–3 (aOR, 7.03 [2.60–19.01]; P < 0.001) and mRS score 0–2 at 90 days (aOR, 3.85 [1.39–10.68]; P = 0.009) compared with nonreperfused. There was a trend between the occurrence of successful reperfusion and a decreased rate of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (aOR, 0.5 [0.22–1.13]; P = 0.096). Similar safety outcomes were observed after large core reperfusion in tandem and nontandem occlusions. Conclusions: Successful reperfusion was associated with a higher rate of favorable outcome in large core LVO-AIS with a tandem occlusion, with a safety profile similar to nontandem occlusion