No abstract

Background: Selection of patients for endovascular stroke treatment has traditionally been based on time since symptom onset. CT perfusion (CTP) imaging has raised the possibility of patient selection on objective measures other than time from stroke onset. However, previous studies have failed to show significant outcome improvement in patients selected for endovascular stroke treatment based on CTP, but have been limited by small sample size, lack of outcomes past time of discharge, or lack of control group. Objective: To determine if endovascular stroke treatment selection with the aid of CTP is associated with improved clinical outcomes at 90 days as compared to patients undergoing endovascular stroke treatment without the aid of CTP. Methods: This study retrospectively reviewed a prospectively collected database of all patients who underwent endovascular stroke treatment at Penn State Hershey Medical Center between 1/1/2009 and 12/31/2011. Patients with posterior circulation strokes and those enrolled in other treatment trials were excluded. Patients were divided into two groups based on whether they had undergone a CTP study prior to endovascular stroke treatment or not. The variables measured included age, sex, and NIHSS on admission. Outcome data measured from the patients 90 day post stroke follow up appointments included an NIHSS improvement by 4 or more, a modified Rankin Score (mRS) of 2 or less, and mortality. Results: Of 41 patients included in the study, there was no significant difference in outcomes at 90 days as measured by an improvement of NIHSS of 4 or more (p=0.106) or modified Rankin score of 0-2 (p=0.475). Table 1 summarizes the results. Conclusion: Endovascular stroke treatment selection with the use of CTP was not associated with improved clinical outcomes at 90 days as measured by NIHSS improvement of 4 or more or a mRS of 0-2.