Ghozy, Sherief

Background Ischemic stroke is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in children, yet no clinical trials have evaluated mechanical thrombectomy (MT) in this population. Consequently, in contrast to adults, pediatric MT remains an off-label intervention. This meta-analysis aimed to assess its safety and efficacy and compare outcomes with medical management (MM). Methods MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched to identify original studies reporting outcomes of MT, with or without intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) in pediatric ischemic stroke. In studies that concurrently reported MT±IVT and MM±IVT within the same study, outcomes from the MM arms were also extracted for comparative analysis. Results Eighteen studies encompassing 612 pediatric patients were included. The pooled successful recanalization rate (thrombolysis in cerebral infarction (TICI) 2b–3) after mechanical thrombectomy was 88.9% (95% confidence interval (CI) 85.65 to 92.06), and 43.9% (95% CI, 38.67 to 49.09) achieved complete recanalization (TICI 3). Favorable functional outcomes (modified Rankin Scale (mRS) 0–2) occurred in 78.6% (95% CI, 69.58 to 87.61) of patients, with mortality and symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH) rates of 3.9% (95% CI, 1.88 to 5.92) and 1.3% (95% CI, 1.07 to 2.58), respectively. Shift analysis demonstrated a significant overall improvement in functional outcomes with MT±IVT compared with MM±IVT (common (OR), 0.43; 95% CI, 0.30 to 0.63; P<0.001). Conclusion Our findings suggest that MT has a favorable safety and efficacy profile, resulting in a more favorable mRS shift compared with MM in pediatric ischemic stroke. Further research is needed to identify the pediatric stroke patients who are likely to benefit from MT.

Background Breast arterial calcifications (BAC) are commonly observed as an incidental finding on screening mammography and have been linked to cardiovascular disease. Whether BAC is independently associated with stroke risk remains uncertain. Methods We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis in accordance with PRISMA 2020 guidelines. PubMed, Embase, and Scopus were searched from inception to May 2024 for cohort studies evaluating the association between BAC and stroke. Eligible studies included women undergoing mammography with documented BAC status and subsequent stroke outcomes. Data on patient characteristics and vascular risk factors were extracted. Study quality was appraised using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Critical Appraisal Checklist. Random-effects meta-analyses with restricted maximum likelihood (REML) estimation were performed to pool risk ratios (RRs) and mean differences (MDs). Heterogeneity was assessed with the I 2 statistic, and publication bias with Egger’s test. Results Ten cohort studies including 52,413 women were analyzed. The presence of BAC was associated with more than a twofold increased risk of stroke (RR 2.09, 95% CI 1.58–2.75; I 2 = 64.4%). This association persisted after adjustment for age, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and menopausal status. Compared with BAC-negative women, those with BAC were significantly older (MD 7.07 years, 95% CI 5.44–8.70) and more frequently hypertensive (RR 1.48, 95% CI 1.23–1.78), diabetic (RR 1.67, 95% CI 1.38–2.02), hyperlipidemic (RR 1.27, 95% CI 1.07–1.51), and postmenopausal (RR 1.26, 95% CI 1.00–1.59). Interestingly, BAC was less common among smokers (RR 0.62, 95% CI 0.45–0.86). Egger’s test showed no evidence of publication bias ( p = 0.143). Conclusion BAC detected on screening mammography is independently associated with an increased risk of stroke, even after accounting for traditional risk factors. These findings support BAC as a promising, underutilized imaging biomarker of cerebrovascular risk in women and highlight the need for standardized reporting and prospective validation.

Background: In younger patients (<60 years) with cryptogenic stroke presumed to be patent foramen ovale (PFO)-related, the standard approach involves transcatheter PFO closure combined with antithrombotic therapy (ATA). However, due to their exclusion from randomized clinical trials, no formal recommendations exist for patients ≥60 years. This study investigates whether PFO closure benefits patients ≥60 years with prior cryptogenic stroke or if ATA remains the preferred option. Methods: We searched the PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and ScienceDirect databases to obtain articles in all languages from January 2004 until July 2025. The primary outcome was a risk of recurrent stroke during follow-up and secondary outcomes were risk of new-onset atrial fibrillation (AF), all-cause mortality and in-hospital complications. PROSPERO registration ID: CRD420250652870. Results: One post hoc evaluation of the DEFENSE-PFO trial and eleven observational studies were included. Compared to ATA, PFO closure was associated with a reduced risk of recurrent stroke (HR=0.60; 95% CI: 0.45 to 0.80, p<.001) and mortality (HR=0.41; 95% CI: 0.19 to 0.90, p=.02; I2 = 43.8%) with no difference in risk of new-onset AF (HR=1.13, 95%CI: 0.53 to 2.44, p=.74). When compared with patients <60 years, individuals ≥60 years had a higher risk of recurrent stroke (HR = 2.68; 95% CI 1.40–5.13; p=.002), new-onset AF (HR = 4.12; 95% CI 1.90–8.95; p<0.001) and mortality during follow-up (HR = 8.24; 95% CI 3.49–19.46; p<.0001). In-hospital complications after PFO closure were comparable between two age groups. Conclusion: While PFO closure may reduce ischemic stroke risk in older patients with cryptogenic stroke, this benefit is offset by higher absolute risks for recurrent stroke, new-onset AF, and mortality. Therefore, highly individualized patient selection and age-specific risk tools are crucial. Further long-term randomized trials are essential to optimize PFO closure in this population.

Background Delayed aneurysm rupture (DAR) is a potentially devastating complication after flow-diverters (FD) deployment and their exact mechanisms are still unclear. The purpose of this meta-analysis is to synthesize the latest evidence on DAR after FD treatment and identify predictive factors. Methods A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted according to established protocols. Searches were conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase databases up to June 2024 using variations of “aneurysm “and “delayed aneurysm rupture” terms. Original studies reporting DAR and including more than five patients were included. All analyses were conducted in R software (version 4.4.2), employing the “meta” and “tableone” packages. Results 64 studies with 9820 patients were included, large aneurysm size (OR=1.08, 95% CI (1.02, 1.14), P value=0.008), intra-aneurysmal thrombus (OR=1.05, 95% CI (1.01, 1.09), P value=0.010) and posterior circulation location (OR=1.02, 95% CI (1.00, 1.04), P value=0.014) were significant risk factors for DAR. The pooled prevalence of DAR was 1.40%, with a rate of 1.18% after removing outliers. DAR occurred within 30 days in 66.7% of cases, with a mortality rate of 73.3% at discharge. Conclusion DAR following flow diversion treatment is an uncommon but devastating complication and remains a limitation of the technique. It is influenced by factors such as large aneurysm size, intra-aneurysmal thrombosis, and posterior circulation involvement. The first 30 days post-procedure represent a particularly high-risk period. Despite advancements in FD technology, significant gaps remain, highlighting the need for further research to improve risk assessment and treatment strategies.

Introduction Mechanical thrombectomy (MT) is a well‐established treatment for acute ischemic stroke (AIS) due to large vessel occlusion (LVO). However, its role in cervical artery dissection‐related (CeAD) LVO remains debated due to anatomical complexities and procedural challenges. This systematic review and meta‐analysis aims to evaluate the safety, efficacy, and clinical outcomes of MT in patients with AIS due to CeAD‐related LVO, compared with other AIS etiologies. Methods PubMed, Embase, and Scopus were systematically searched from inception through March 2025. Comparative observational studies evaluating the use of MT in adult patients with AIS due to LVO were included, specifically those comparing outcomes in those with CeAD versus non‐CeAD etiologies. Most studies were retrospective and multicentric. Eligible interventions included stent retriever thrombectomy, direct aspiration (ADAPT), or combined approaches. Results Nine studies with a total of 4889 patients were included, comprising 446 CeAD‐related and 4443 non‐CeAD LVO cases. MT for CeAD‐related AIS showed no statistically significant difference in successful recanalization compared with non‐CeAD cases (OR:0.81, CI: [0.63,1.04], p=0.10). However, CeAD patients had significantly higher rates of 90‐day functional independence (mRS 0‐2) (OR:2.17, CI: [1.55, 3.05], p < 0.0001) and lower 90‐day mortality (OR:0.34, CI: [0.22, 0.53], p < 0.0001). Rates of distal embolization (OR:1.60, CI: [0.69, 3.70], p = 0.27), symptomatic ICH (OR:0.84, CI: [0.51, 1.38], p=0.49), or iatrogenic dissection (OR:1.58, CI: [0.59, 4.22], p=0.36) did not differ significantly. Conclusions Mechanical thrombectomy in CeAD‐related LVO is safe and associated with clinical outcomes comparable to patients with non‐CeAD acute ischemic causes. They demonstrated a similar patient safety profile, such as functional outcomes and mortality.

Introduction For large vessel occlusion (LVO) ischemic strokes, three major techniques of mechanical thrombectomy have demonstrated efficacy. In this study, we compared stent retrievers (SR),contact aspiration (Asp), and a combined approach to provide an updated comparison of key outcomes for each strategy. Methods We followed PRISMA guidelines to conduct a systematic review and meta‐analysis across PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, and Web of Science databases up to September 2024. Studies were included if they included outcomes for patients with ischemic stroke who underwent mechanical thrombectomy using a stent retriever, contact aspiration, or a combination of both techniques. Results Twenty‐four studies comprising a total of 12,845 patients were included in the analysis. Compared to the Asp technique alone, the combined mechanical thrombectomy (MT) approach was associated with a higher risk of arterial dissection (RR: 2.00; 95% CI [1.15, 3.44]), longer procedure duration (MD: 13.35 minutes; 95% CI [5.87, 20.83]) and associated with a lower risk of arterial dissection (RR: 0.50; 95% CI [0.29, 0.87]). However, Asp was associated with a lower rate of first‐pass effect (FPE) compared to combined MT (RR: 0.67; 95% CI [0.46, 0.96]). Additionally, stent retriever (SR) use was linked to a higher procedure duration compared to Asp(MD: 13.39 minutes; 95% CI [5.55, 21.22]) and a lower FPE rate (RR: 0.75; 95% CI [0.59,0.96]). No significant differences were observed between groups in terms of successful recanalization, 90‐day functional outcomes, or mortality. Conclusion In our analysis, all three techniques demonstrated similar recanalization rates and functional outcomes. However, aspiration was associated with shorter procedure times and fewer arterialdis section complications, while the combination technique showed a higher first pass effect. Given the comparable overall efficacy, the choice of technique should be guided by the physician's preference, expertise, and confidence, tailored to the individual patient's profile.

Background The Woven EndoBridge (WEB) device is an effective treatment for wide‐neck aneurysms (WNA). This study aims to identify and compare anatomical and procedural factors that predicts the aneurysm occlusion, both adequate and inadequate after WEB device treatment. Methods A systematic review and meta‐analysis were conducted using PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science, including studies up to October 25, 2024. Data on angiographic outcomes of WEB occlusion were extracted and analyzed using R version 4.4.2 Results Nine studies (790 patients) were included. Female patients were 1.64 times more likely to achieve adequate occlusion than males (OR: 1.64, 95% CI: [1.06, 2.52], p = 0.026). Regular‐shaped aneurysms had a 2.44‐fold higher likelihood of adequate occlusion compared to irregular ones (OR: 0.41, 95% CI: [0.23, 0.74]). Aneurysm neck size was significantly smaller in the adequate occlusion group (3.9 mm vs. 4.4 mm, MD: ‐0.48 mm, 95% CI: [‐0.78, ‐0.18], p = 0.002). Maximum aneurysm diameter was also smaller in the adequate occlusion group (5.7 mm vs. 6.8 mm, MD: ‐1.13 mm, 95% CI: [‐1.69, ‐0.57], p < 0.001). Aneurysm height was also significantly lower than the inadequate occlusion group (5.4 mm vs. 6.3 mm, MD: ‐0.92 mm, 95% CI: [‐1.55, ‐0.29], p = 0.004). Conclusion Smaller aneurysm dimensions, regular shape, and female gender were associated with higher adequate occlusion rates after WEB treatment. These findings may guide patient selection strategies for optimizing aneurysm occlusion. Further high‐quality studies are needed to confirm these associations. image image

Background Mechanical thrombectomy (MT) is a well-established treatment for acute ischemic stroke (AIS) due to large vessel occlusion (LVO). However, its role in cervical artery dissection-related (CeAD) LVO remains debated due to anatomical complexities and procedural challenges. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to evaluate the safety, efficacy, and clinical outcomes of MT in patients with AIS due to CeAD-related LVO compared with other AIS etiologies. Methods PubMed, Embase, and Scopus were systematically searched from inception to March 2025. Comparative observational studies evaluating the use of MT in adult patients with AIS due to LVO were included, specifically those comparing outcomes in patients with CeAD versus non-CeAD etiologies. Results MT for CeAD-related AIS showed no statistically significant difference in successful recanalization compared with non-CeAD cases (OR 0.81 (95% CI 0.63 to 1.04), P=0.10). However, patients with CeAD-related AIS had significantly higher rates of 90-day functional independence (modified Rankin Scale score 0–2) (OR 2.17 (95% CI 1.55 to 3.05), P<0.01) and lower 90-day mortality (OR 0.34 (95% CI 0.22 to 0.53), P<0.01). Rates of distal embolization (OR 1.60 (95% CI 0.69 to 3.70), P=0.27), symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (OR 0.84 (95% CI 0.51 to 1.38), P=0.49), or iatrogenic dissection (OR 1.58 (95% CI 0.59 to 4.22), P=0.36) did not differ significantly between patient groups. Conclusions MT in patients with CeAD-related LVO is safe, effective, and associated with improved functional outcomes and lower mortality compared with patients with non-CeAD acute ischemic causes.