No abstract

Background and Purpose:The role of CT perfusion (CTP)in the evaluation of acute basilar artery occlusion (aBAO) patients undergoing endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) is unclear. We investigated the association of individual CTP parameters with functional outcomes in aBAO patients undergoing EVT.Methods: A health system's prospectively collected code stroke registry was used in this retrospective analysis of aBAO patients treated with EVT presenting between January 2017 and February 2021 with pre-EVT CTP. The primary outcome measure was modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score 0-2 at 90 days. Factors with a univariate association (p < .05) with mRS 0-2 were combined in a multivariable regression model to determine independent predictors of 90-day favorable functional outcome.Results: Forty-six subjects, with median age 67 years and median National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale 16, were included, of whom 17 (37%) achieved mRS 0-2 at 90 days.In the multivariable logistic regression model, CTP cerebral blood volume (CBV) index (per 0.1-point increase, odds ratio = 1.843; 95% confidence interval: 1.039, 3.268; p-value .0365) was independently associated with a favorable 90-day outcome. Conclusions:CBV index was independently associated with a favorable 90-day outcome in aBAO patients treated with EVT, a novel finding in this patient population. CBV index may assist in treatment and prognosis discussions and inform future studies investigating the role of CTP in aBAO.

Despite randomized trials showing a functional outcome benefit in favor of endovascular therapy (EVT), large artery occlusion acute ischemic stroke is associated with high mortality. We performed a retrospective analysis from a prospectively collected code stroke registry and included patients presenting between November 2016 and April 2019 with internal carotid artery and/or proximal middle cerebral artery occlusions. Ninety-day mortality status from registry follow-up was corroborated with the Social Security Death Index. A multivariable logistic regression model was fitted to determine demographic and clinical characteristics associated with 90-day mortality. Among 764 patients, mortality rate was 26%. Increasing age (per 10 years, OR 1.48, 95% CI 1.25–1.76; p < 0.0001), higher presenting NIHSS (per 1 point, OR 1.05, 95% CI 1.01–1.09, p = 0.01), and higher discharge modified Rankin Score (per 1 point, OR 4.27, 95% CI 3.25–5.59, p < 0.0001) were independently associated with higher odds of mortality. Good revascularization therapy, compared to no EVT, was independently associated with a survival benefit (OR 0.61, 95% CI 0.35–1.00, p = 0.048). We identified factors independently associated with mortality in a highly lethal form of stroke which can be used in clinical decision-making, prognostication, and in planning future studies.

Introduction Prognostic factors for functional outcome after basilar artery occlusion (BAO) treated with modern endovascular therapy (EVT) are sparse. We investigated the association between clinical characteristics, readily available imaging variables, and outcome in BAO patients treated with EVT. Methods Retrospective analysis from a large healthcare system’s prospectively collected code stroke registry of acute BAO patients treated with EVT between January 2017–January 2020. The primary outcome measure was a favorable 90-day modified Rankin score (mRS) of 0-2. Results 65 patients (median age 67 years, 57% male, median NIHSS 16) met the study inclusion criteria. Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction (TICI) 2 b-3 revascularization was achieved in 57/65 patients (88%) with a median time to revascularization of 445 minutes [IQR 302-840]. Ninety-day good outcome was seen in 35% (23/65) of patients. In a univariate analysis, age, history of ischemic stroke, baseline NIHSS, BAO site, and discharge mRS were associated with significant differences between the good and poor outcome groups. A multivariable logistic regression analysis demonstrated an independent association with 90-day good outcome and younger age (per 1-year, OR 0.79, 95% CI 0.64, 0.98) and good discharge mRS (0-2) (OR > 999.99, 95% CI 13.26, > 999.99). Conclusions Patients presenting with an acute BAO treated with modern EVT have a good 90-day outcome in over one-third of cases. Age and discharge mRS are independently associated with good 90-day outcome. Additional studies may focus on factors that can enhance discharge function after BAO, a novel prognostic indicator for favorable 90-day outcome in our study.

Objective Stroke severity screens typically include cortical signs, such as field cut, aphasia, neglect, gaze preference, and dense hemiparesis (FANG‐D). The accuracy and reliability of these signs, when assessed by emergency physicians, to identify patients with anterior circulation large vessel occlusion (ACLVO) acute ischemic stroke (AIS) is unknown. We hypothesized that the FANG‐D screen applied by emergency physicians would be sensitive and reliable for identifying ACLVO AIS. Methods We conducted a prospective cohort study enrolling consecutive patients with suspected AIS presenting within 4.5 hours of last known well to the emergency department (ED). Emergency physicians performed the FANG‐D screen prior to, and blinded to the results of, imaging. The imaging standard was defined as a non‐contrast computed tomography (CT) for identifying hemorrhage and CT angiography for identifying large vessel occlusion. ACLVO was defined as an occlusion of the internal carotid artery, the middle cerebral artery, or its first branch. A convenience sample of patients had a duplicate FANG‐D screen performed by a second emergency physician to assess interobserver agreement. Results We performed 608 FANG‐D assessments on 491 patients presenting to the ED, of whom 64 (10%) had an ACLVO. FANG‐D had a sensitivity of 91% (confidence interval [CI] = 81%–96%) and a specificity of 35% (CI = 31%–39%) for identifying ACLVO. Interobserver agreement was tested on 133 patients and was found to be substantial, with a Fleiss’ kappa of 0.77 (CI = 0.64–0.88). Conclusions The FANG‐D screen is a sensitive test for identifying ACLVO when performed by emergency physicians and demonstrates substantial interrater reliability.