Nogueira, Raul G

Background The middle meningeal artery (MMA) has emerged as an endovascular route for treating chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH), meningioma, and refractory headaches. The third ARISE roundtable convened experts from neurology, neurosurgery, neuroradiology, industry, and regulatory agencies to develop consensus guidance on current evidence for MMA-based therapies Methods Over 50 experts participated in a multi-stakeholder discussion. Evidence from randomized and observational studies, early-phase interventional series, and preclinical work was reviewed. Breakout groups focused on four domains: (1) MMA embolization (MMAE) for CSDH, (2) preoperative embolization of meningiomas, (3) MMA-targeted therapies for headache, and (4) transvascular access for endovascular drainage of subdural hematomas. Consensus recommendations were developed by a writing committee Results Randomized trials support MMAE as an adjunct to surgery or medical management for selected patients with non-acute, symptomatic CSDH to reduce recurrence, progression, and reoperation. Evidence remains insufficient to support MMAE for acute or asymptomatic subdural hematomas. For meningioma, observational data suggest that preoperative embolization in experienced centers can reduce blood loss and operative time and may delay recurrence in large, hypervascular tumors with predominant dural or external carotid supply; primary embolization and intra-arterial oncologic therapies remain investigational. Early series of MMA-directed lidocaine infusion for refractory migraine, status migrainosus, and post-subarachnoid hemorrhage headache show short-term benefit, highlighting the need for controlled trials. Preclinical and first-in-human studies of combined MMAE and transvascular drainage for CSDH demonstrate high technical success, rapid radiographic and clinical improvement, and no early recurrences Conclusion The MMA represents a vascular pathway for an expanding spectrum of neurointerventional therapies.

BACKGROUND: The EXCELLENT registry aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the EMBOTRAP Revascularization Device in an all-comer population in a real-world setting, with a focus on the composition of retrieved clots. METHODS: EXCELLENT is a prospective, global registry of patients with acute ischemic stroke treated with EMBOTRAP as the first-line mechanical thrombectomy device conducted at 34 sites (25 sites contributing clot) from September 2018 to March 2021, utilizing core imaging and central histology laboratories blinded to clinical data, independent 90-day modified Rankin Scale assessment and Clinical Events Committee. RESULTS: After screening 3799 patients, a total of 997 subjects (mean age, 70.0±14.2 years; 51.8% women; 19.7% non-White) were included. The first-pass modified Treatment in Cerebral Infarction (mTICI) ≥2b rate was 64.5% (623/966), first-pass mTICI ≥2c was 39.1% (378/966), and final mTICI ≥2b was 94.5% (931/985). A total of 427/912 (46.8%) patients achieved a 90-day modified Rankin Scale of 0 to 2 or ≤baseline. Embolization to a new territory occurred in 0.2% (2/984), and symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage at 24 hours in 1.6% (16/997). The 90-day mortality was 19.1% (175/918). Device- and/or procedure-related serious adverse events occurred in 5.9% (54/912) through 90 days. The mean RBC percentage of retrieved clots was 45.62±21.372. Among patients who achieved mTICI ≥2b with the first pass, 15.7% (52/331) and 9.7% (32/331), respectively, had RBC-poor (<25%) and RBC-rich (>75%) clots. Patients with no clot retrieved in any procedural pass had a lower percentage of hyperdense or susceptibility vessel sign on baseline imaging (58.9% versus 74.7%; P <0.001), pointing to a potential preprocedure indicator of challenging clot. CONCLUSIONS: The EXCELLENT registry informs real-world practices in mechanical thrombectomy and sheds light on the range of clots effectively retrieved by current technology. This is the first report of detailed patient characteristics where mechanical thrombectomy maneuvers failed to remove any clot material. Although the composition of nonretrievable clots cannot be assessed histologically, the results support the notion that no retrieval may be correlated with imaging findings suggesting clots lower in RBC. REGISTRATION: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov ; Unique identifier: NCT03685578.

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.