Navalkele, Digvijaya

Background Basal ganglia infarcts are thought to carry worse clinical outcomes compared with other infarct patterns. We aimed to investigate whether pretreatment topographic infarct patterns including complete basal ganglia involvement versus other infarct patterns help predict mechanical thrombectomy outcomes. Methods This was a review of a prospectively collected database of consecutive mechanical thrombectomy patients with anterior circulation large vessel occlusion strokes between January 2014 and November 2018. Patients were categorized into the following 2 groups: (1) total basal ganglia (TBG) strokes defined as infarcts affecting both the caudate and lentiform nuclei regardless of cortical involvement and (2) other infarct patterns. Infarct location was assessed on preprocedure noncontrast computed tomography using an automated software (e‐ASPECTS). Baseline characteristics and outcome measures were compared. Results A total of 1011 patients were analyzed of which 234 (23.12%) had TBG strokes. Patients with TBG strokes were younger ( P =0.01); had higher National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) ( P =0.006), lower e‐ASPECTS ( P <0.001), and lower systolic blood pressure ( P =0.024); and had diabetes less often ( P =0.01). Baseline characteristics were otherwise comparable between groups. Involvement of the caudate or lentiform nucleus alone was observed in 237 (30.5%) and 21 (2.7%) patients, respectively, in the other infarct patterns group. No internal capsule involvement was detected in either group. There were no differences in terms of 90‐day functional outcomes whether dichotomized (modified Rankin Scale score≤2: TBG=44.6% versus other=50.1%; P =0.14) or looking at the entire spectrum of the scale (shift analysis; P =0.74). However, TBG strokes had significantly higher rates of any parenchymal hematomas (15.4% versus 8.2%; P =0.001), an association that held true in multivariable analysis (adjusted odds ratio, 2.57 [95% CI, 1.41–4.62]; P =0.002). Conclusions Despite increased rates of hemorrhagic transformation, ganglionic infarcts carry similar functional outcomes after mechanical thrombectomy compared with other stroke patterns.

Background and Purpose: Field Assessment Stroke Triage for Emergency Destination (FAST-ED) scale is a helpful tool to triage patients with stroke in the field. However, data on its reliability in the prehospital setting are lacking. We aim to test the reliability of FAST-ED scale when used by paramedics in a mobile stroke unit covering a metropolitan area. Methods: As part of standard operating mobile stroke unit procedures, paramedics initially evaluated patients. If the event characterized a stroke alert, the FAST-ED score was determined by the paramedic upon patient contact (in-person) and then independently by a vascular neurologist (VN) immediately after paramedic evaluation (remotely/telemedicine). This allowed testing of the interrater agreement of the FAST-ED scoring performance between on-site prehospital providers and remotely located VN. Results: Of a total of 238 patients transported in the first 15 months of the mobile stroke unit’s activity, 173 were included in this study. Median age was 63 (interquartile range, 55.5–75) years and 52.6% were females. A final diagnosis of ischemic stroke was made in 71 (41%), transient ischemic attack in 26 (15%), intracranial hemorrhage in 15 (9%), whereas 61 (35%) patients were stroke mimics. The FAST-ED scores matched perfectly among paramedics and VN in 97 (56%) instances, while there was 0 to 1-point difference in 158 (91.3%), 0 to 2-point difference in 171 (98.8%), and 3 or more point difference in 2 (1.1%) patients. The intraclass correlation between VN and paramedic FAST-ED scores showed excellent reliability, intraclass correlation coefficient 0.94 (95% CI, 0.92–0.96; P <0.001). When VN recorded FAST-ED score ≥3, paramedics also scored FAST-ED≥3 in majority of instances (63/71 patients; 87.5%). A large vessel occlusion was identified in 16 (9.2%) patients; 13 occlusions were identified with a FAST-ED≥3 while 3 were missed. All of the latter patients had National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score ≤5. Conclusions: We demonstrate excellent reliability of FAST-ED scale performed by paramedics when compared with VN, indicating that it can be accurately performed by paramedics in the prehospital setting.

Introduction: Ticagrelor with aspirin has been recently shown to reduce the risk of stroke or death compared to aspirin alone in patients with high risk TIAs and mild strokes. However, this benefit is offset by increased risk of severe bleeding. We sought to evaluate the safety of ticagrelor in patients with moderate to severe ischemic stroke. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of adults discharged on ticagrelor after presenting with acute ischemic stroke and NIHSS > 5 from January 2016 to December 2019 at a large, urban, academic comprehensive stroke center. Patients were excluded if they underwent carotid or intracranial angioplasty and/or stenting, or carotid endarterectomy during admission. Baseline clinical characteristics, imaging, and outcomes were reviewed. Data was organized into continuous and categorical variables. Results: Sixty-one patients met inclusion and exclusion criteria. Median age was 61 (IQR, 52-68) years; 33 (54%) were men, and 33 (54%) were African American. Median NIHSS was 11 (IQR, 8-15). Fourteen (23%) patients received IV Alteplase and 35 (57%) patients underwent mechanical thrombectomy. Five (8%) patients received both IV Alteplase and mechanical thrombectomy. Median ticagrelor start date was hospital day 1 (IQR, 0-3). Large artery atherosclerosis was presumed etiology in 53 (87%) patients. No patients experienced neurologic worsening, recurrent stroke, sICH, or major bleeding during inpatient stay. Sixty (98%) patients were on aspirin and ticagrelor at discharge. Follow-up information was available for 53 (87%) patients for a median duration of 3 (IQR, 2-6) months. Following discharge, 3 (5%) patients experienced recurrent ischemic stroke despite being compliant. One (2%) patient experienced major bleeding—gastrointestinal hemorrhage requiring transfusion—two months after hospital discharge. Conclusions: This study highlights the potential expanding role for ticagrelor in secondary stroke prevention in patients with moderate to severe stroke. Early ticagrelor use did not result in sICH during inpatient stay—and only 1 major bleeding event on follow-up—in our cohort. While further research in this area is needed, these findings present an exciting opportunity for future prospective studies.