Ghozy, Sherief

Background The Woven EndoBridge (WEB) device is used to treat wide-neck bifurcation aneurysms (WNBAs). We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine the retreatment rate strategies following aneurysmal recurrence of WEB device treated WNBAs. Methods This study is reported following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. We conducted a systematic review of the literature using PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science. Data were pooled using a random-effects model. We calculated pooled prevalence and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results We included 11 studies. The overall retreatment rate was 171/1875 aneurysms (10.3%; 95% CI = 8.3–12.9). Stent-assisted coiling was used to treat 59 aneurysms (36.7%; 95% CI = 26.4–48.5), and flow diverters were used to treat 44 aneurysms (18.7%; 95% CI = 9.9–32.5). Following retreatment, the complete occlusion rate was 57/91 aneurysms (62.8%; 95% CI = 48.2–75.3) and the adequate occlusion rate was 24/91 aneurysms (26.4%; 18.4%–36.4%). The most common aneurysmal recurrence site was the anterior communicating artery (44/136 aneurysms, 32.4%; 95% CI = 25.0–40.7). Conclusions Roughly 10% of WNBAs initially treated with the WEB device will undergo retreatment. Retreatment is an effective strategy for WEB-treated aneurysms, with high rates of adequate and complete occlusion. Future studies should work to identify risk factors for aneurysmal recurrence.

Background Smoking represents a leading risk factor for acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Previous literature has described a “smoking paradox”, wherein smokers experience better outcomes following intravenous thrombolysis for AIS. It is unclear whether such a phenomenon exists in smokers undergoing endovascular therapy (EVT) for AIS. To assess outcomes in smokers following EVT for AIS, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods Following the PRISMA guidelines, a systematic literature review of the English language literature was conducted using PubMed, Embase Web of Science, and Scopus. Outcomes of interest included 90-day modified Rankin Scale (mRS) 0–2, thrombolysis in cerebral infarction (TICI) score 2b-3, symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH), and mortality. We calculated mean difference (MD), pooled odds ratios (ORs) and their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results Eight studies with 2633 patients comprised our analysis. On average, smokers were 10.14 years (MD = 10.14, [95% CI = −14.49 to −5.79], P-value < 0.001) younger than non-smokers. Smokers achieved mRS 0–2 (OR = 1.82, [95% CI, 1.34–2.48], P-value < 0.001) and TICI 2b-3 (OR = 1.61, [95% CI, 1.19–2.19], P-value = 0.002) at a higher rate than non-smokers. sICH rates were comparable between smokers and non-smokers (OR = 1.07, [95% CI, 0.62–1.85], P-value = 0.81). Smokers had a lower rate of 90-day mortality than non-smokers (OR = 0.54, [95% CI, 0.41–0.71], P-value < 0.001). Conclusions In this meta-analysis of eight studies, we found that smokers with AIS undergoing EVT experienced better 90-day outcomes and higher rates of TICI 2b-3. This may be due to baseline differences between smokers and non-smokers, but future studies should explore alternative reasons that could explain this relationship between smoking and AIS treated with EVT.

Acute ischemic stroke (AIS) due to distal, medium vessel occlusion (DMVO) is increasingly recognized as the next frontier for mechanical thrombectomy. Distal, medium vessel occlusions are typically defined as an occlusion in the following arteries: anterior cerebral artery, M2–M4 segments of the middle cerebral artery, posterior cerebral artery, posterior inferior cerebellar artery, anterior inferior cerebellar artery, and superior cerebellar artery. It is estimated that 25–40% of all AIS is due to DMVO. Because of the large burden of DMVO, the frequency of literature published regarding these occlusions has greatly increased in recent years. Furthermore, treatment modalities have been created specifically for DMVOs. Due to the rapidly evolving literature on this topic, remaining up to date on DMVO definitions, anatomy, management, imaging, and clinical course is difficult. In this review article, we synthesized existing literature regarding the aforementioned topics and discussed future directions.

Background Vertebrobasilar junction (VBJ) aneurysms represent a relatively rare and often anatomically complex subgroup of saccular aneurysms. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of endovascular treatment (EVT) of VBJ aneurysms. Methods PubMed, Web of Science, Ovid Medline, Ovid Embase, and Scopus were searched from inception to 20 December 2022. We included primary studies assessing the long-term clinical and angiographic outcomes for VBJ aneurysms treated with endovascular techniques. We excluded surgically managed studies. All data were analyzed using R software version 4.2.1. We calculated pooled prevalence rates and their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results In this meta-analysis, a total of 76 VBJ aneurysms from seven studies were included for quantitative analysis. The results showed that the rate of adequate occlusion (complete + near complete occlusion) was 94.1% (95% CI = 76.71–98.71), and the rate of complete occlusion was 77.7% (95% CI = 63.07–87.65). A modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score of 0–2 was achieved in 93.9% of patients (95% CI = 67.65–99.14). The mortality rate was found to be 5.9% (95% CI = 0.97–28.55), and the retreatment rate was 4.6% (95% CI = 1.50–13.36). The overall ischemic complication rate was 4.7% (95% CI = 0.73–25.4), while the overall hemorrhagic complication rate was 4.6% (95% CI = 1.5–13.36). Conclusions The treatment of VBJ aneurysms with EVT is effective in achieving curative treatment and is associated with good clinical outcomes and low mortality rates. These findings provide important insights into the clinical and angiographic outcomes and the complication rates of EVT for VBJ aneurysms.

Background Procedural success following mechanical thrombectomy for acute ischemic stroke is assessed using the thrombolysis in cerebral infarction scale. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine whether outcomes differed between first pass thrombolysis in cerebral infarction 2b and multiple pass thrombolysis in cerebral infarction 2c-3. Methods We conducted a systematic review of the literature using PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science. We included original studies in which outcomes were stratified based on first pass thrombolysis in cerebral infarction 2b and multiple pass thrombolysis in cerebral infarction 2c-3. The primary outcome of interest was the rate of modified Rankin Scale 0-2. Secondary outcomes of interest were rates of modified Rankin Scale 0-1, symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage, and mortality. We calculated odds ratios and corresponding 95% confidence intervals. Results Four studies with 1554 patients were included in the quantitative analysis. Rate of modified Rankin Scale 0–2 (odds ratio = 0.91, 95% confidence interval = 0.70–1.18; P -value = 0.49), modified Rankin Scale 0–1 (odds ratio = 1.21, 95% confidence interval = 0.86–1.71; P -value = 0.27), symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (odds ratio = 1.36, 95% confidence interval = 0.47–3.98; P -value = 0.57), and mortality (odds ratio = 0.91, 95% confidence interval = 0.67–1.25; P -value = 0.56) did not differ between first pass thrombolysis in cerebral infarction 2b and multiple pass thrombolysis in cerebral infarction 2c-3. There was no heterogeneity among included studies for modified Rankin Scale 0–2, modified Rankin Scale 0–1, or mortality; however, there was moderate heterogeneity among studies for symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage ( I 2 = 53%, P -value = 0.12). Conclusions Clinical and safety outcomes did not differ between first pass thrombolysis in cerebral infarction 2b and multiple pass thrombolysis in cerebral infarction 2c-3. Future prospective studies and clinical trials should determine whether first pass thrombolysis in cerebral infarction 2b is a viable endpoint to thrombolysis in cerebral infarction 2c-3.

Background Collateral blood flow markers have been associated with outcomes after thrombectomy in patients presenting with acute ischemic stroke due to large vessel occlusion (AIS-LVO). Hypoperfusion intensity ratio (HIR), a metric reflecting tissue level collaterals, is one such marker with the potential to delineate patients who do and do not do well after thrombectomy. We determined if HIR correlated with successful reperfusion after thrombectomy. Methods Using Nested Knowledge, we screened literature for studies comparing patients with favorable versus unfavorable HIR, distinguished by a cutoff of 0.4, who underwent thrombectomy triage. The primary outcome was reperfusion success, as measured by thrombolysis in cerebral infarction ≥2b and secondary outcomes included rate of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage, mortality at 90 days, and modified Rankin scale scores 0–2 at 90 days. A random effects model was used to compute pooled prevalence rates and their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results Three studies with 973 patients, 496 with favorable HIR, and 477 with unfavorable HIR were included in this meta-analysis. The odds of reperfusion success were not significantly different between patients who had favorable versus unfavorable HIR (OR 0.96, 95% CI: 0.31–3.04) across two of the studies. Analysis of the remaining outcome variables was precluded by significant heterogeneity in data element reporting. Conclusions This meta-analysis was considerably limited by heterogeneity. Future meta-analyses on this topic, and other topics in the field of neurointervention would benefit from improved harmonization of study design and data element reporting.

Background Flow diverter treatment may inevitably require jailing of the branch vessels. While the patency of covered branch arteries and associated safety risks have been a topic of substantial interest, the question of whether the characteristics of branch vessels affect flow diversion's efficacy remains unanswered. In this study, we aimed to assess the impact of branch arteries on the efficacy of endoluminal flow diverters, specifically focusing on posterior communicating artery (Pcomm) aneurysms. Methods Following PRISMA guidelines, we systematically searched the MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane databases with predefined keywords. Studies providing data for flow diversion outcomes in Pcomm aneurysms were included. Outcomes of interest included complete and adequate aneurysm obliteration, ischemic and hemorrhagic complications, and Pcomm occlusion in the follow-up period. A random or fixed effects model was used to calculate the odds ratios (ORs) and pooled event rates with their corresponding confidence intervals (CI). Results The overall complete and adequate aneurysm occlusion rates were 72.25% (95% CI: 64.46–78.88%) and 88.37% (95% CI: 84.33–92.6), respectively. Fetal-type Pcomm aneurysms had significantly lower complete aneurysm occlusion rates than the nonfetal-type Pcomm aneurysms (OR: 0.12, 95% CI: 0.05–0.29). Overall ischemic and hemorrhagic complication rates were 2.62% (95% CI = 0.71–5.32) and 0.71% (95% CI: 0–2.24), respectively. There were no significant associations between Pcomm morphology and complications (OR: 3.61, 95% CI = 0.42–31.06 for ischemic complications and OR: 2.31, 95% CI = 0.36–14.6 for hemorrhage). Overall Pcomm occlusion rate was 32.04% (95% CI = 19.96–47.13), and the Pcomm patency was significantly lower in nonfetal-type Pcomm aneurysms (OR: 0.10, 95% CI = 0.02–0.44). Conclusion Our meta-analysis suggests that flow diversion is a safe treatment option for Pcomm aneurysms, regardless of fetal-type Pcomm morphology. However, on the other hand, our findings indicate that Pcomm anatomy or the presence of jailed large branches can affect the efficacy of flow diverter treatment.

Background For acute proximal intracranial artery occlusions, contact aspiration may be more effective than stent‐retriever for first‐line reperfusion therapy. Due to the lack of data regarding medium vessel occlusion thrombectomy, we evaluated outcomes according to first‐line technique in a large, multicenter registry. Methods Imaging, procedural, and clinical outcomes of patients with acute proximal medium vessel occlusions (M2, A1, or P1) or distal medium vessel occlusions (M3, A2, P2, or further) treated at 37 sites in 10 countries were analyzed according to first‐line endovascular technique (stent‐retriever versus aspiration). Multivariable logistic regression and propensity‐score matching were used to estimate the odds of the primary outcome, expanded Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction score of 2b–3 (“successful recanalization”), as well as secondary outcomes (first‐pass effect, expanded Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction 2c‐3, intracerebral hemorrhage, and 90‐day modified Rankin scale, 90‐day mortality) between treatment groups. Results Of the 440 included patients (44.5% stent‐retriever versus 55.5% aspiration), those treated with stent‐retriever had lower baseline Alberta Stroke Program Early Computed Tomography Scale scores (median 8 versus 9; P <0.01), higher National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale scores (median 13 versus 11; P =0.02), and nonsignificantly fewer medium‐distal occlusions (M3, A2, P2, or other: 17.4% versus 23.8%; P =0.10). Use of a stent‐retriever was associated with 15% lower odds of successful recanalization (odds ratio [OR], 0.85; [95% CI 0.74–0.98]; P =0.02), but this was not significant after multivariable adjustment in the total cohort (adjusted OR, 0.88; [95% CI 0.72–1.09]; P =0.24), or in the propensity‐score matched cohort (n=105 in each group) (adjusted OR, 0.94; [95% CI 0.75–1.18]; P =0.60). There was no significant association between technique and secondary outcomes in the propensity‐score matched adjusted models. Conclusion In this large, diverse, multinational medium vessel occlusion cohort, we found no significant difference in imaging or clinical outcomes with aspiration versus stent‐retriever thrombectomy.

Background Limited randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have been performed comparing endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) to medical therapy (MEDT) for acute ischemic stroke with extensive baseline ischemic injury (AIS-EBI). We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs reporting EVT for AIS-EBI. Methods Using the Nested Knowledge AutoLit software, we conducted a systematic literature review from inception to 12 February 2023 within Web of Science, Embase, Scopus, and PubMed databases. Results of the TESLA trial were included on 10 June 2023. We included RCTs that compared EVT to MEDT for AIS with large ischemic core volume. The primary outcome of interest was a modified Rankin Score (mRS) 0-2. Secondary outcomes of interest included early neurological improvement (ENI), mRS 0-3, thrombolysis in cerebral infarction (TICI) 2b-3, symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH), and mortality. A random-effects model was used to calculate risk ratios (RRs) and their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results We included four RCTs with 1310 patients, 661 of whom underwent EVT and 649 of whom were treated with MEDT. EVT was associated with greater rates of mRS 0-2 (RR = 2.33, 95% CI = 1.75–3.09; P -value < 0.001), mRS 0-3 (RR = 1.68, 95% CI = 1.33–2.12; P -value < 0.001), and ENI (RR = 2.24, 95% CI = 1.55–3.24; P -value < 0.001). Rates of sICH (RR = 1.99, 95% CI = 1.07–3.69; P -value = 0.03) were greater in the EVT group. Mortality (RR = 0.98, 95% CI = 0.83–1.15; P -value = 0.79) was comparable between the EVT and MEDT groups. The rate of successful reperfusion in the EVT group was 79.9% (95% CI = 75.6–83.6). Conclusions Although the rate of sICH was greater in the EVT group, EVT conferred a greater clinical benefit to MEDT for AIS-EBI based on available RCTs.

Background The Woven EndoBridge (WEB) has been specifically developed to manage wide neck bifurcation intracranial aneurysms. A wide range of aneurysm occlusion rates and device-related complications are reported in different papers, and a lack of collective evidence in this regard. Objective To clarify the long-term efficacy and safety outcomes of intracranial aneurysm treatment with WEB devices. Methods A systematic literature search was performed on PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase databases on April 25, 2023. Considering the eligibility criteria, all the studies reporting the outcomes of the intracranial aneurysm treatment with WEB device at 1 and/or more than 1 year were included. Data elements of interest were extracted and analyzed using R software version 4.2.1. Results Twenty-seven articles were included. Complete occlusion rate was 56.85%, 67.10%, and 56.34% at one year, beyond one year, and at/beyond two years of follow-up, respectively. Adequate occlusion rate was 87.11% at one year, 91.16% beyond one year, and 88.87% at/beyond two years of follow-up. WEB compression and aneurysm recurrence rates increased from 17.62% and 0.58% at one year to 42.59% and 18.99% beyond one year of follow-up, respectively. An increase in retreatment rate from 3.45% at one year to 7.15% beyond one year of follow-up was found. Conclusion The current study supports the long-term efficacy of WEB devices for the treatment of intracranial aneurysms. However, an increase in WEB compression, aneurysm recurrence, and retreatment rates beyond one year reveals the importance of follow-ups after the first year of WEB placement.