Dmytriw, Adam A.

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 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 Funding may impact the quality and findings of systematic reviews (SRs). We aimed to compare the methodological quality of funded and non-funded SRs that investigated the outcomes in ischemic stroke patients undergoing mechanical thrombectomy. Methods We conducted a comprehensive search strategy in different databases, including Ovid Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Ovid Embase, Ovid Medline (including epub ahead of print, in-process & other non-indexed citations), PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science Core Collection to retrieve all relevant SRs. Random sequence generation matched each funded SR with a non-funded one. A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews (AMSTAR)-2 tool was used to assess the bias and quality of the included SRs. We also used uni- and multivariate analysis to perform our analysis, and results were expressed in odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). Results We retrieved 150 articles, which were randomized and matched into 100 SRs, including 50 funded and 50 non-funded studies. By multivariate analysis, we found that including randomized clinical trials (RCTs) (OR: 5.7; 95% CI: 1.8–17.8; p = 0.003) and reporting conflict of interests (OR: 5.2; 95 CI: 1.1–24; p = 0.036) were the only significant differences between funded and non-funded SRs. No significant differences were found regarding the overall confidence for low-quality (OR: 0.54; 95% CI: 0.09–3.2; p = 0.49) and moderate/high-quality SRs (OR: 0.17; 95% CI: 0.02–1.87; p = 0.14). Conclusion Funded studies tend to include RCTs more often and report conflict of interests with no significant impact on overall confidence.

Background: Despite the well-established potent benefit of mechanical thrombectomy (MT) for large vessel occlusion (LVO) stroke, access to MT has not been studied globally. We conducted a worldwide survey of countries on 6 continents to define MT access (MTA), the disparities in MTA, and its determinants on a global scale. Methods: Our survey was conducted in 75 countries through the Mission Thrombectomy 2020+ global network between November 22, 2020, and February 28, 2021. The primary end points were the current annual MTA, MT operator availability, and MT center availability. MTA was defined as the estimated proportion of patients with LVO receiving MT in a given region annually. The availability metrics were defined as ([current MT operators×50/current annual number of estimated thrombectomy-eligible LVOs]×100 = MT operator availability) and ([current MT centers×150/current annual number of estimated thrombectomy-eligible LVOs]×100= MT center availability). The metrics used optimal MT volume per operator as 50 and an optimal MT volume per center as 150. Multivariable-adjusted generalized linear models were used to evaluate factors associated with MTA. Results: We received 887 responses from 67 countries. The median global MTA was 2.79% (interquartile range, 0.70–11.74). MTA was <1.0% for 18 (27%) countries and 0 for 7 (10%) countries. There was a 460-fold disparity between the highest and lowest nonzero MTA regions and low-income countries had 88% lower MTA compared with high-income countries. The global MT operator availability was 16.5% of optimal and the MT center availability was 20.8% of optimal. On multivariable regression, country income level (low or lower–middle versus high: odds ratio, 0.08 [95% CI, 0.04–0.12]), MT operator availability (odds ratio, 3.35 [95% CI, 2.07–5.42]), MT center availability (odds ratio, 2.86 [95% CI, 1.84–4.48]), and presence of prehospital acute stroke bypass protocol (odds ratio, 4.00 [95% CI, 1.70–9.42]) were significantly associated with increased odds of MTA. Conclusions: Access to MT on a global level is extremely low, with enormous disparities between countries by income level. The significant determinants of MT access are the country’s per capita gross national income, prehospital LVO triage policy, and MT operator and center availability.

Background The Woven EndoBridge (WEB) device is a novel intrasaccular flow disruptor tailored for bifurcation aneurysms. We aim to describe the degree of aneurysm occlusion at the latest follow-up, and the rate of complications of aneurysms treated with the WEB device stratified according to rupture status. Methods Our data were taken from the WorldWideWeb Consortium, an international multicenter cohort including patients treated with the WEB device. Aneurysms were classified into two groups: ruptured and unruptured. We compared clinical and radiologic outcomes of both groups. Propensity score matching (PSM) was done to match according to age, gender, bifurcation, location, prior treatment, neck, height, dome width, daughter sac, incorporated branch, pretreatment antiplatelets, and last imaging follow-up. Results The study included 676 patients with 691 intracranial aneurysms (529 unruptured and 162 ruptured) treated with the WEB device. The PSM analysis had 55 pairs. In both the unmatched (85.8% vs 84.3%, p=0.692) and matched (94.4% vs 83.3%, p=0.066) cohorts there was no significant difference in the adequate occlusion rate at the last follow-up. Likewise, there were no significant differences in both ischemic and hemorrhagic complications between the two groups. There was no documented aneurysm rebleeding after WEB device implantation. Conclusion There was no significant difference in both the radiologic outcomes and complications between unruptured and ruptured aneurysms. Our findings support the feasibility of treatment of ruptured aneurysms with the WEB device.

AbstractBackgroundStroke has been linked to a lack of physical activity; however, the extent of the association between inactive lifestyles and stroke risk has yet to be characterized across large populations.PurposeThis study aimed to explore the association between activity‐related behaviors and stroke incidence.MethodsData from 1999 to 2018 waves of the concurrent cross‐sectional National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) were extracted. We analyzed participants characteristics and outcomes for all participants with data on whether they had a stroke or not and assessed how different forms of physical activity affect the incidence of disease.ResultsOf the 102,578 individuals included, 3851 had a history of stroke. A range of activity‐related behaviors was protective against stroke, including engaging in moderate‐intensity work over the last 30 days (OR = 0.8, 95% CI = 0.7–0.9; P = 0.001) and vigorous‐intensity work activities over the last 30 days (OR = 0.6, 95% CI = 0.5–0.8; P < 0.001), and muscle‐strengthening exercises (OR = 0.6, 95% CI = 0.5–0.8; P < 0.001). Conversely, more than 4 h of daily TV, video, or computer use was positively associated with the likelihood of stroke (OR = 11.7, 95% CI = 2.1–219.2; P = 0.022).ConclusionDifferent types, frequencies, and intensities of physical activity were associated with reduced stroke incidence, implying that there is an option for everyone. Daily or every other day activities are more critical in reducing stroke than reducing sedentary behavior duration.