The Society of Vascular and Interventional Neurology (SVIN) Mechanical Thrombectomy Registry: Methods and Primary Results

Background A better understanding of real‐world practice patterns in the endovascular treatment for large vessel occlusion acute ischemic stroke is needed. Here, we report the methods and initial results of the Society of Vascular and Interventional Neurology (SVIN) Registry. Methods The SVIN Registry is an ongoing prospective, multicenter, observational registry capturing patients with large vessel occlusion acute ischemic stroke undergoing endovascular treatment since November 2018. Participating sites also contributed pre‐SVIN Registry data collected per institutional prospective registries, and these data were combined with the SVIN Registry in the SVIN Registry+ cohort. Results There were 2088 patients treated across 11 US centers included in the prospective SVIN Registry and 5372 in SVIN Registry+. In the SVIN Registry cohort, the median number of enrollments per institution was 160 [interquartile range 53–243]. Median age was 67 [58–79] years, 49% were women, median National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale 16 [10–21], Alberta stroke program early CT score 9 [7–10], and 20% had baseline modified Rankin scale (mRS)≥2. The median last‐known normal to puncture time was 7.7 [3.1–11.5] hours, and puncture‐to‐reperfusion was 33 [23–52] minutes. The predominant occlusion site was the middle cerebral artery‐M1 (45%); medium vessel occlusions occurred in 97(4.6%) patients. The median number of passes was 1 [1–3] with 93% achieving expanded Treatment In Cerebral Ischemia2b50–3 reperfusion and 51% expanded Treatment In Cerebral Ischemia3/complete reperfusion. Symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage occurred in 5.3% of patients, with 37.3% functional independence (mRS0–2) and 26.4% mortality rates at 90‐days. Multivariable regression indicated older age, longer last‐normal to reperfusion, higher baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale and glucose, lower Alberta stroke program early CT score, heart failure, and general anesthesia associated with lower 90‐day chances of mRS0–2 at 90‐days. Demographic, imaging, procedural, and clinical outcomes were similar in the SVIN Registry+. A comparison between AHA Guidelines‐eligible patients from the SVIN Registry against the Highly Effective Reperfusion evaluated in Multiple Endovascular Stroke Trials study population demonstrated comparable clinical outcomes. Conclusions The prospective SVIN Registry demonstrates that satisfactory procedural and clinical outcomes can be achieved in real‐world practice, serving as a platform for local quality improvement and the investigation of unexplored frontiers in the endovascular treatment of acute stroke

Maximum intravenous alteplase dose for obese stroke patients is not associated with greater likelihood of worse outcomes

Background: IV alteplase is a primary treatment for acute ischemic stroke (AIS) at a weight-based dose (WBD) of 0.9 mg/kg and maximum dose (MD) of 90 mg. There are conflicting data regarding outcomes for those weighing ≥100 kg. There is also a paucity of data in Hispanics. The prevalence of adult obesity in the US has progressively increased; hence, the percentage of patients receiving the maximum dose also is expected to rise. We examined differences between patients treated with WBD vs. MD. Methods: A retrospective review of our center\u27s Get With The Guidelines-Stroke database was performed for IV alteplase cases between October 2013–February 2017. Selection criteria included age ≥18 years, IV alteplase administration, and a recorded measured weight. Patients were dichotomized into WBD group weighing ≥100 kg. Categorical variables were analyzed using Chi square tests and continuous variables were analyzed using independent samples t-tests. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to determine whether MD in combination with other variables was associated with poor outcomes. Results: There were 328 patients included in the study, 38 (11.6%) received MD. Proportions of younger, male, and non-Hispanic were higher in the MD group. There were no statistically significant differences for initial NIHSS, discharge modified Rankin Scale (mRS), 90-day mRS, symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (sICH), or systemic hemorrhage between groups. Conclusion: One in ten patients thrombolysed for the treatment of AIS received MD. In a predominantly Hispanic population, those who received MD and WBD had similar rates of sICH, discharge disposition, and functional outcome (mRS) at discharge and at 90 days. Limitations include small sample size and attrition for the 90-day mRS

Endovascular Treatment of Giant Intracranial Aneurysms.

Objective Giant intracranial aneurysms (GIAs) are associated with a high risk of rupture and have a high mortality rate when they rupture (65-100%). The traditional microsurgical approach to secure these lesions is challenging, and as such endovascular embolization has been increasingly selected as a treatment option. Methods We performed a retrospective analysis of consecutive patients with ruptured and unruptured GIAs at three medical centers from October 2008 to April 2016. Clinical follow-up and digital subtraction angiography were conducted at six months post-treatment. Chi-square analysis was used to determine differences in outcomes between anterior and posterior circulation aneurysms and if a pipeline embolization device (PED) provided favorable outcomes in unruptured GIAs. Results A total of 45 consecutive patients (mean/median age = 57/59; range: 16-82 years) were included. The mean/median aneurysm size was 29.9/28.3 mm (range: 25-50 mm). Eight (18%) patients presented with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage and 37 (82%) with unruptured GIAs. Twenty-eight (62%) were treated with a PED: 11 (24.4%) with one PED, 1 (2.2%) with PED + coils, 11 (24.4%) with more than one PED, and 5 (13.5%) with multiple PED + coils. The overall mortality rate was 3/45 (6.7%). No deaths were procedure-related. Five (11.1%) patients experienced ischemic stroke but only 2 had a 90-day modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score of ≥3. Of 33 patients available for six-month angiography, Raymond scale (RS) scores were 1, 2, and 3 for 23/45 (70%), 7/45 (20.9%), and 3/45 (9.1%), respectively. Chi-square test demonstrated that overall, anterior circulation GIAs had better clinical (mRS score) and radiographic (RS score) outcomes than posterior GIAs. PED alone provided similar clinical mRS outcomes but had a higher rate of complete occlusion at six months compared with PED + coils and coils alone in unruptured GIAs (p < 0.05). Conclusions Endovascular embolization using PED or PED + coils appears to be a moderately safe and effective treatment option for patients with GIAs

The Effect of a County Prehospital FAST-ED Initiative on Endovascular Treatment Times

Background: Acute stroke outcomes depend on timely reperfusion. In 3/2017, local EMS agencies implemented a prehospital triage algorithm with hospital bypass and field activation of the neurointerventional team using the Field Assessment Stroke Triage for Emergency Destination (FAST-ED). A score ≥4 bypasses to a comprehensive stroke center (CSC) and a score ≥6 also has the interventional team field activated off-hours. Aim: We analyzed effects of this initiative on volume, acute stroke transfers, treatment times, and outcomes and determined the tool\u27s ability to predict large vessel occlusion. Methods: Stroke cases brought to our center by EMS during 3/2016-2/2018 were analyzed, which included one year before and after FAST-ED implementation. Treatment times were compared on- vs. off-hours and to those with field activation. Results: Of 1153 patients, 761 (67%) were coded as stroke and 235 (20%) underwent reperfusion. Age, sex, race/ethnicity, stroke severity, length of stay, door-to-needle, and 90-d mRS were comparable between periods. Scale compliance was 85%. Concordance rate of ±1 between EMS and calculated score was 53%. Compared to the previous year, door-to-puncture (DTP) improved by 17 min (p \u3c 0.01) overall, 25 min (p \u3c 0.001) off-hours, and 33 min (p \u3c 0.05) with field activation. A cutoff of 4 vs. 6 would have led to 140% increase in field activations but only 36% increase in procedures. Conclusions: This prehospital initiative led to faster DTP by up to 33 min. The highest impact was off-hours with field activation. Only 1/3 of activations led to endovascular treatment. FAST-ED≥6 appears to be appropriate for field activation

The Effect of a County Prehospital FAST-ED Initiative on Endovascular Treatment Times

Background: Acute stroke outcomes depend on timely reperfusion. In 3/2017, local EMS agencies implemented a prehospital triage algorithm with hospital bypass and field activation of the neurointerventional team using the Field Assessment Stroke Triage for Emergency Destination (FAST-ED). A score ≥4 bypasses to a comprehensive stroke center (CSC) and a score ≥6 also has the interventional team field activated off-hours. Aim: We analyzed effects of this initiative on volume, acute stroke transfers, treatment times, and outcomes and determined the tool\u27s ability to predict large vessel occlusion. Methods: Stroke cases brought to our center by EMS during 3/2016-2/2018 were analyzed, which included one year before and after FAST-ED implementation. Treatment times were compared on- vs. off-hours and to those with field activation. Results: Of 1153 patients, 761 (67%) were coded as stroke and 235 (20%) underwent reperfusion. Age, sex, race/ethnicity, stroke severity, length of stay, door-to-needle, and 90-d mRS were comparable between periods. Scale compliance was 85%. Concordance rate of ±1 between EMS and calculated score was 53%. Compared to the previous year, door-to-puncture (DTP) improved by 17 min (p \u3c 0.01) overall, 25 min (p \u3c 0.001) off-hours, and 33 min (p \u3c 0.05) with field activation. A cutoff of 4 vs. 6 would have led to 140% increase in field activations but only 36% increase in procedures. Conclusions: This prehospital initiative led to faster DTP by up to 33 min. The highest impact was off-hours with field activation. Only 1/3 of activations led to endovascular treatment. FAST-ED≥6 appears to be appropriate for field activation

Preexisting Depression and Ambulatory Status After Stroke: Florida-Puerto Rico Collaboration to Reduce Stroke Disparities

Stroke is a global public health burden, and therefore it is critical to identify modifiable risk factors to reduce stroke incidence and improve outcomes. Depression is such a risk factor; however, the association between preexisting depression and stroke outcomes, such as independent ambulation, is not well studied, especially among racial-ethnic minority groups. To address this gap in the literature, effects of preexisting depression on ambulatory status at hospital discharge after stroke were evaluated among individuals participating in the racially and ethnically diverse Florida-Puerto Rico Collaboration to Reduce Stroke Disparities project. Data were analyzed from a total of 42,031 ischemic stroke patients, who were independently ambulatory prior to their stroke, after discharge from 84 hospitals between 2014 and 2017. Preexisting depression was confirmed by medical history or antidepressant medication use. Multilevel multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to assess the association of preexisting depression with independent ambulation at hospital discharge. Effects of sex and race-ethnicity on this association were examined. Of 42,031 participants (mean±SD age=70.4±14.2 years; 48% were female; race-ethnicity: 16% Black, 12% Hispanic living in Florida, and 7% Hispanic living in Puerto Rico), 6,379 (15%) had preexisting depression. Compared with participants without depression, those with preexisting depression were older, were more likely to be female and non-Hispanic White, and had a greater burden of vascular risk factors or comorbid conditions. Independent ambulation at hospital discharge was less frequent among women, Black participants, and individuals with vascular risk factors or comorbid conditions. In multivariate models, preexisting depression decreased the likelihood of independent ambulation at discharge (odds ratio=0.88, 95% CI=0.81, 0.97). No interactions were found between preexisting depression and race-ethnicity or sex. Preexisting depression was independently associated with dependent ambulation at hospital discharge after stroke, regardless of sex and race-ethnicity. Treating depression may contribute to primary stroke prevention and could improve ambulatory status at discharge

Differential alteration of the effects of MDMA (ecstasy) on locomotor activity and cocaine conditioned place preference in male adolescent rats by social and environmental enrichment

RATIONALE: Ecstasy (MDMA) is used predominately by adolescents and young adults. Young MDMA users are more likely than non-users to use other drugs, including cocaine. The response to stimulant drugs can be affected by environmental factors; however, little information exists about the role that housing plays in mediating effects of MDMA in adolescence. OBJECTIVES: The present experiment examined whether social and environmental factors alter effects of MDMA on activity and cocaine reward. METHODS: Male adolescent rats were housed on PND 23. Isolated rats were housed alone (1 rat/cage) in an impoverished environment with no toys (II) or enriched with toys (IE). Social rats were housed three/cage with (SE3) or without (SI3) toys. Starting on PND 29, 5 mg/kg MDMA or saline was injected and activity was measured for 60 min once daily for five consecutive days. On PND 36–40, cocaine CPP was conducted. RESULTS: Saline vehicle-induced activity of II rats was higher than other groups, and all groups became sensitized to the locomotor-stimulant effects of MDMA. In II rats, maximal CPP was increased after MDMA pre-exposure compared to vehicle. Environmental enrichment blocked this; however, dose–effect curves for cocaine CPP shifted to the left in both IE and SE3 rats. In rats with just social enrichment, there were no effects of MDMA on cocaine CPP. CONCLUSION: Drug prevention and treatment strategies should take into account different environments in which adolescents live. These findings show that MDMA increases cocaine reward in male adolescents, and social enrichment diminishes, while environmental enrichment enhances this