Background and Purpose: The efficiency of prehospital care chain response and the adequacy of hospital resources are challenged amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak, with suspected consequences for patients with ischemic stroke eligible for mechanical thrombectomy (MT). Methods: We conducted a prospective national-level data collection of patients treated with MT, ranging 45 days across epidemic containment measures instatement, and of patients treated during the same calendar period in 2019. The primary end point was the variation of patients receiving MT during the epidemic period. Secondary end points included care delays between onset, imaging, and groin puncture. To analyze the primary end point, we used a Poisson regression model. We then analyzed the correlation between the number of MTs and the number of COVID-19 cases hospitalizations, using the Pearson correlation coefficient (compared with the null value). Results: A total of 1513 patients were included at 32 centers, in all French administrative regions. There was a 21% significant decrease (0.79; [95%CI, 0.76–0.82]; P <0.001) in MT case volumes during the epidemic period, and a significant increase in delays between imaging and groin puncture, overall (mean 144.9±SD 86.8 minutes versus 126.2±70.9; P <0.001 in 2019) and in transferred patients (mean 182.6±SD 82.0 minutes versus 153.25±67; P <0.001). After the instatement of strict epidemic mitigation measures, there was a significant negative correlation between the number of hospitalizations for COVID and the number of MT cases ( R 2 −0.51; P =0.04). Patients treated during the COVID outbreak were less likely to receive intravenous thrombolysis and to have unwitnessed strokes (both P <0.05). Conclusions: Our study showed a significant decrease in patients treated with MTs during the first stages of the COVID epidemic in France and alarming indicators of lengthened care delays. These findings prompt immediate consideration of local and regional stroke networks preparedness in the varying contexts of COVID-19 pandemic evolution.

Background The first-pass effect, defined as a complete or near-complete recanalization after one pass (first-pass effect) of a mechanical thrombectomy device, has been related to better clinical outcome than good recanalization after more than one pass in acute ischemic stroke. We searched for predictors of first-pass effect by analyzing the results within a large prospective multicentric registry. Methods We included patients treated by mechanical thrombectomy for isolated anterior intracranial occlusions. A multi-variate logistic regression analysis was carried out to search for predictors of first-pass effect. We also analyzed the percentage of patients with 90-day modified Rankin Scale score 0 to 2, excellent outcome (90-day modified Rankin Scale 0 to 1), 24-h NIHSS change, and 90-day all-cause mortality. Results Among the 1832 patients included, clinical outcome at 90 days was significantly better in first-pass effect patients (50.6% vs. 38.9% in patients without first-pass effect), with a center-adjusted OR associated with first-pass effect of 1.74 (95%CI, 1.24 to 1.77). Older age, a lower systolic blood pressure, an MCA-M1 occlusion, higher DWI-ASPECTS at admission, mechanical thrombectomy under local anesthesia, and combined first-line device strategy were independent predictors of first-pass effect. Conclusions In this study, a strategy combining thrombectomy and thrombo-aspiration was more effective than other strategies in achieving first-pass effect. In addition, we confirm that clinical outcome was better in patients with first-pass effect compared to non-first-pass effect patients.

Background and Purpose: Although the efficacy of endovascular treatment (EVT) in patients with anterior circulation ischemic stroke (AIS) is well documented, early neurological deterioration after EVT remains a serious issue associated with poor outcome. Besides obvious causes, such as lack of reperfusion, procedural complications, or parenchymal hemorrhage, early neurological deterioration may remain unexplained (UnEND). Our aim was to investigate predictors of UnEND after EVT in patients with AIS. Methods: Patients who underwent EVT for AIS, with an initial National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score>5, Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score ≥6, and included in a multicenter prospective observational registry were analyzed. Predictors of UnEND, defined as ≥4-point increase in the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score between baseline and day 1 after EVT, were determined via center-adjusted analyses. Results: Among the 1925 included in the analysis, 128 UnEND (6.6%) were recorded. In multivariate analysis, predictors of UnEND were diabetes mellitus (odds ratio [OR], 2.17[95% CI,1.32–3.56]), prestroke modifiedRankinScale score≥2 (OR, 2.22[95% CI,1.09–4.55]), general anesthesia (OR, 2.55[95% CI,1.51–4.30]), admission systolic blood pressure (OR, 1.10[95% CI,1.01–1.20]), age (OR, 1.38[95% CI,1.14–1.67]), number of passes (OR, 1.16[95% CI,1.04–1.28]), direct admission or not to a comprehensive stroke center (OR, 0.49 [95% CI,0.30–0.81]), and initial National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score (OR, 0.65 [95% CI,0.52–0.81]). Conclusions: Severely impaired AIS patients with nonmodifiable factors are more likely to develop UnEND. Some modifiable predictors of UnEND such as the number of EVT passes could be the object of improvement in AIS management.

Background and Purpose— Nonagenarians represent a growing stroke population characterized by a higher frailty. Although endovascular therapy (ET) is a cornerstone of the management of acute ischemic stroke related to large vessel occlusion, the benefit of reperfusion among nonagenarians is poorly documented. We aimed to assess the impact of ET-related reperfusion on the functional outcome of reperfusion in this elderly population. Methods— A retrospective analysis of clinical and imaging data from all patients aged over 90 included in the ETIS (Endovascular Treatment in Ischemic Stroke) registry between October 2013 and April 2018 was performed. Association between post-ET reperfusion and favorable (modified Rankin Scale [0–2] or equal to prestroke value) and good (modified Rankin Scale [0–3] or equal to prestroke value) outcome were evaluated. Demographic and procedural predictors of functional outcome, including the first-pass effect, were evaluated. Results were adjusted for center, admission National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale, and use of intravenous thrombolysis. Results— Among the 124 nonagenarians treated with ET, those with successful reperfusion had the lowest 90-day modified Rankin Scale (odds ratio, 3.26; 95% CI, 1.04–10.25). Only patients with successful reperfusion after the first pass (n=53, 56.7%) had a reduced 90-day mortality (odds ratio, 0.15; 95% CI, 0.05–0.45) and an increased rate of good outcome (odds ratio, 4.55; 95% CI, 1.38–15.03). No increase in the rate of intracranial hemorrhage was observed among patients successfully reperfused. Conclusions— Successful reperfusion improves the functional outcome of nonagenarians who should not be excluded from ET. The first-pass effect should be considered in the procedural management of this frail population.

Background and Purpose: Endovascular therapy for tandem occlusion strokes of the anterior circulation is an effective and safe treatment. The best treatment approach for the cervical internal carotid artery (ICA) lesion is still unknown. In this study, we aimed to compare the functional and safety outcomes between different treatment approaches for the cervical ICA lesion during endovascular therapy for acute ischemic strokes due to tandem occlusion in current clinical practice. Methods: Individual patients’ data were pooled from the French prospective multicenter observational ETIS (Endovascular Treatment in Ischemic Stroke) and the international TITAN (Thrombectomy in Tandem Lesions) registries. TITAN enrolled patients from January 2012 to September 2016, and ETIS from January 2013 to July 2019. Patients with acute ischemic stroke due to anterior circulation tandem occlusion who were treated with endovascular therapy were included. Patients were divided based on the cervical ICA lesion treatment into stent and no-stent groups. Outcomes were compared between the two treatment groups using propensity score methods. Results: A total of 603 patients were included, of whom 341 were treated with acute cervical ICA stenting. In unadjusted analysis, the stent group had higher rate of favorable outcome (90-day modified Rankin Scale score, 0–2; 57% versus 45%) and excellent outcome (90-day modified Rankin Scale score, 0–1; 40% versus 27%) compared with the no-stent group. In inverse probability of treatment weighting propensity score–adjusted analyses, stent group had higher odds of favorable outcome (adjusted odds ratio, 1.09 [95% CI, 1.01–1.19]; P =0.036) and successful reperfusion (modified Thrombolysis in Cerebral Ischemia score, 2b-3; adjusted odds ratio, 1.19 [95% CI, 1.11–1.27]; P <0.001). However, stent group had higher odds of any intracerebral hemorrhage (adjusted odds ratio, 1.10 [95%, 1.02–1.19]; P =0.017) but not higher rate of symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage or parenchymal hemorrhage type 2. Subgroup analysis demonstrated heterogeneity according to the lesion type (atherosclerosis versus dissection; P for heterogeneity, 0.01), and the benefit from acute carotid stenting was only observed for patients with atherosclerosis. Conclusions: Patients treated with acute cervical ICA stenting for tandem occlusion strokes had higher odds of 90-day favorable outcome, despite higher odds of intracerebral hemorrhage; however, most of the intracerebral hemorrhages were asymptomatic.