Aspiration versus stent retriever for posterior circulation stroke: A meta‐analysis

AimsNew thrombectomy strategies have emerged recently. Differences between posterior circulation stroke management via aspiration and stent retriever remain to be evaluated. We compared the safety and efficacy of aspiration and stent retriever in treating posterior circulation stroke.MethodsThree databases (PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library) were systematically searched for studies comparing aspiration and stent retriever in patients with posterior circulation stroke. The modified Newcastle‐Ottawa scale was used to assess the risk of bias. A random‐effects model was used.ResultsFifteen cohort studies with 1451 patients were included. Pooled results showed a significant difference in total complication (odds ratio [OR] 0.48, 95% confidence interval [CI] [0.30, 0.76], p = 0.002). successful recanalization (1.85, [1.30, 2.64], p = 0.0006), favorable outcome (1.30, [1.02, 1.67], p = 0.04), procedure duration (−22.10, [−43.32, −0.88], p = 0.04), complete recanalization (4.96, [1.06, 23.16], p = 0.009), and first‐pass effect (2.59, [1.55, 4.32], p = 0.0003) between the aspiration and stent retriever groups, and in favor of aspiration. There was no significant difference in the outcomes of rescue therapy (1.42, [0.66, 3.05], p = 0.37) between the two groups.ConclusionPatients with posterior circulation stroke receiving treatment with aspiration achieved better recanalization, first‐pass effect, and shorter procedure time. Aspiration may be more secure than a stent retriever.     

抽吸取栓和支架取栓治疗急性缺血性脑卒中的疗效对比分析

目的比较抽吸取栓和支架取栓治疗急性缺血性前循环大血管闭塞的临床效果。 方法回顾性分析普宁市人民医院神经外科自2017年1月至2019年12月采用血管内介入取栓术治疗的97例急性缺血性前循环大血管闭塞患者的临床资料。根据术中采取的取栓技术将患者分为抽吸组和支架组。比较2组患者的基线资料、手术开通效果及预后情况,采用单因素和多因素Logistic回归分析影响出院时预后的独立影响因素。 结果本组纳入的97例急性缺血性前循环大血管闭塞患者中,抽吸组39例,支架组58例,2组患者的血管再通率比较,差异有统计学意义（P>0.05）;出院时,19例（48.7%）抽吸组患者恢复良好,15例（25.9%）支架组患者恢复良好,差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）。多因素分析结果显示高ASPECT评分和抽吸技术是出院时良好预后的独立影响因素。出院后90 d随访,结果显示抽吸组和支架组的预后良好率分别是60.0%和45.8%,差异无统计学意义（P>0.05）。 结论高ASPECT评分和抽吸技术是良好临床结果的独立预测因素。相比支架取栓,抽吸取栓能获得更好的影像学和远期临床结果。     

Hybrid mechanical thrombectomy for acute ischemic stroke using an intermediate aspiration catheter and Trevo stent simultaneously

PurposeTo overcome the limitations of traditional mechanical thrombectomy (MT), including catheter aspiration and stent retrievers, such as thrombus fragmentation or migration, we designed hybrid MT using an intermediate aspiration catheter and a Trevo stent simultaneously. We retrospectively compared hybrid MT with the traditional MT.MethodsFrom January 2017 to January 2019, we performed MT on 91 occlusions, including internal carotid artery bifurcation (n = 17), M1 segment (n = 53) and M2 segment (n = 21), using hybrid MT (n = 42) and traditional MT (n = 49).ResultsHybrid MT had a shorter procedure time (52.4 ± 22.0 vs. 73.0 ± 36.2 min, p = 0.002) and fewer attempts (1.50 ± 0.86 vs. 1.92 ± 1.10 times, p = 0.049) than traditional MT did. Hybrid MT achieved more good clinical outcome (3-month modified Rankin Scale score, 2 or less) and better successful recanalization (Thrombolysis In Cerebral Infarction grade, 2b or 3) than traditional MT did, but the difference was not significant (61.9% vs. 55.1%, p = 0.531, 92.9% vs. 87.8%, p = 0.498). Hybrid MT showed a higher first pass successful recanalization rate than traditional MT did (69.0% vs. 40.8%, p = 0.011). Multivariable logistic regression analysis demonstrated that first pass successful recanalization is related to the M1 segment rather than other segments (adjusted odds ratio (OR); 3.277, confidence interval (CI); 1.227–8.749, p = 0.018) and hybrid MT rather than traditional MT (adjusted OR; 4.995, CI; 1.725–14.460, p = 0.003).ConclusionsHybrid MT can be used as a first-line MT modality, particularly in M1 occlusion, based on our high first pass successful recanalization results.     

Ischaemic posterior circulation stroke in State of Qatar

Background:  Ischaemic stroke features may show regional differences. Posterior circulation stroke (PCS) is of special interest, as symptomatology, course and outcome are usually different and complex. No significant studies or registries have reported on the characteristics and outcomes of PCS in our region.
Methods:  We prospectively collected data of 116 patients with PCS admitted from 2005 through 2008 in the only stroke admitting hospital in Qatar. Demographics, risk factors, clinical signs/symptoms, pattern of presentation, aetiology, imaging features, complications and outcome at discharge and follow-up were recorded.
Results:  Mean age was 53 years with 25% aged ≤45, 85% were males. Demographically 47% were Arabs and 51% of South-Asian origin. Mean duration from onset to presentation was 29 h. Major risk factors were obesity (66%) and hypertension (61%). Minimal or fluctuating symptoms were present in 64%, while 9% had maximal deficit at onset. Thirty nine per cent had lesions in proximal territory and 23% in multiple territories. Around 41% had no occlusion, 16% had vertebro-basilar, 16% vertebral, 8% basilar occlusion. Etiologically 53% patients had large artery disease, 16% small vessel disease, and 17% cardioembolism. Seventy per cent of patients were discharged home, while 10% expired. Modified Rankin score (mRS) at discharge was ≤2 in 53% and ≥4 in 13% patients. At 30-day follow-up, 68% had mRS of ≤2. Ninety-day survival status showed 89% alive with mRS ≤ 2 in 73%.
Conclusion:  The aetiology and lesion topography of PCS in this heterogeneous population differs from the pattern observed in other populations.     

支架取栓技术与接触抽吸技术治疗急性颅内大血管闭塞的Meta分析

目的 系统评价接触抽吸技术与支架取栓技术治疗发病6 h内颅内大血管闭塞的有效性和安全性。方法 计算机检索Pubmed、Embase、ClinicalTrials.gov以及Cochrane数据库,收集支架取栓术与接触抽吸术治疗大血管闭塞的随机对照研究,应用Review Manager 5.3软件进行Meta分析。结果 共纳入9项研究,共2 851例病人。Meta分析结果显示:两组术后血管再灌注成功率（OR=1.17;95% CI:0.57~2.41;P=0.66）、术后24 h内脑出血发生率（OR=0.97;95% CI:0.68~1.39;P=0.89）、术后90 d预后良好率（OR=7.59;95% CI:1.94~29.72;P=0.82）均无统计学差异,但是支架取栓组病死率明显高于接触抽吸组（OR=7.59;95% CI:1.94~29.72;P=0.004）。结论 对于急性颅内大血管闭塞,接触抽吸技术在血管再灌注成功率、术后脑出血风险、预后良好率方面与支架取栓技术相近,但接触抽吸相比较支架取栓的病死率更低。     

后循环颅内支架置入过程中同轴双导管应用★

背景：后循环动脉管径细、行程长、生理弯曲多、血管内支架置入治疗相当困难。 目的：观察应用同轴双导管技术对后循环颅内支架置入后成功率的影响。 设计、时间及地点：回顾性分析，病例来自2004-12/2008-02郧阳医学院附属人民医院神经内科。 对象：选择神经内科住院患者21例，男11例，女10例，年龄50~76岁。 方法：21例患者均存在后循环缺血症状，经数字减影血管造影、磁共振血管造影或CT血管造影检查确诊为后循环颅内段狭窄，狭窄程度大于70%。均行脑血管支架置入，先用单导管技术进行支架输送，输送失败后改用同轴双导管技术，单导管技术成功者为常规组，双导管技术成功者为双导管组。 主要观察指标：21例患者的治疗结果及置入物的生物相容性。 结果：①21例患者均首先使用单导管技术，仅有6例患者取得了成功，成功率为29%。其他15例患者采用同轴双导管技术后支架才顺利到位，并释放成功。15例释放成功的患者中1例发生V4段破裂出血，立即用鱼精蛋白中和肝素，降低血压，置入后患者轻微头痛，恢复良好，未遗留后遗症。置入成功率为93%。经χ2检验，双导管技术较常规技术支架置入成功率显著提高(P < 0.05)。②除1例发生V4段血管破裂出血外，无其他不良反应发生。所有支架完全覆盖狭窄性病变，与血管壁贴合良好，无排斥反应发生，与宿主的生物相容性良好。 结论：同轴双导管技术能增加支撑力，提高后循环颅内支架手术成功率，具有较高安全性及可行性。     

Direct Aspiration versus Stent Retriever Thrombectomy for Acute Stroke: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis in 9127 Patients

Background: The two most common approaches to thrombectomy of emergent large vessel occlusion (direct aspiration and primary stent retriever thrombectomy) have been extensively studied; however, the detailed benefit and risk comparison is largely unknown. Objective: To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to compare radiographic and clinical outcomes between the use of primary stent retrievers and direct aspiration in management of acute ischemic stroke. Methods: PubMed database was searched for studies between September 1, 2012 and December 31, 2017 with acute ischemic stroke patients. Results: We identified 64 studies with 6875 patients in the primary stent retriever group and 25 studies with 2252 patients in the aspiration group. Primary aspiration alone, without the need of rescue stent retriever devices within the aspiration cohort, was performed in 65% of 2252 patients. There was no difference in the distribution of emergent large vessel occlusion based on occlusion site, age, baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale, or the use of intravenous tPA (P?=?.19, .051, .23, and .093, respectively). Successful recanalization rates, defined as thrombolysis in cerebral Infarction 2b/3, were significantly higher in the aspiration group than the primary stent retriever group (89% versus 80%, P < .0001). No significant difference in good clinical outcome, defined as modified Rankin scale 0-2 (aspiration 52% versus stent 48%, P?=?.13), symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (aspiration 5.6% versus stent 7.2%, P?=?.07), and mortality at 3 months (aspiration 15% versus stent 19%, P?=?.10). Conclusions: Both aspiration-first (including the subsequent use of stent retriever) and primary stent retriever thrombectomy approaches are equally effective in achieving good clinical outcomes. Our study suggests that direct aspiration with or without subsequent use of stent retriever is a safe and effective alternative to primary stent retriever in acute ischemic stroke.     

The Catch Mini stent retriever for mechanical thrombectomy in distal intracranial occlusions

Objective

Mechanical thrombectomy (MTB) is a treatment of reference for acute ischemic stroke due to large brain vessel occlusion but some concerns remain about its use in small distal branches. In the present study, we assessed the efficacy and the safety of distal MTB using the Catch Mini (CM) stent retriever.

Posterior circulation ischemic stroke in Korean population

To understand the characteristics of posterior circulation ischemic stroke (PCS) in the Korean population better, we retrospectively reviewed the data from the Hallym Stroke Registry (HSR). We analyzed the demographic features, risk factors, stroke subtypes, lesion distributions and clinical outcomes of 591 consecutive patients with PCS, enrolled in HSR between January 1996 and July 2002. PCS was 39.8% of all ischemic strokes. Mean age of PCS patients was 63.4 years and 55.7% were men. Hypertension was the most common risk factor (69.9%). However, potential cardioembolic sources were found only in 11.0%. The most frequent stroke subtype was large artery disease (50.0%), followed by small vessel disease (33.8%). Only 5.2% of patients were classified as affected with cardioembolism. The most common location of infarcts was in the middle territory (36.5%), followed by distal (28.1%), proximal (19.0%), and multiple territories (16.4%). The hospital mortality rate (4.1%) and discharge outcome of PCS were comparable with those of the anterior circulation stroke (ACS). In conclusion, the etiology and lesion topography of PCS in the Korean population appeared to be different from those of the Caucasians.     

后循环梗死的危险因素分析

目的 探讨后循环梗死的主要危险因素.方法 回顾性分析216例急性后循环梗死患者的临床资料.根据头颅MRI的表现,将患者分为近段组、中段组、远端组、混合组以及单灶组、多灶组、单侧病灶组、双侧病灶组、腔隙性梗死(腔梗)组与非腔梗组;分析各组的危险因素.同时与同期住院的前循环梗死患者的危险因素进行对比.结果 216例后循环梗死患者中,有高血压为76.9%、糖尿病为36.6%、高脂血症为30.1%、既往有卒中史为26%、心脏疾病为22.2%;近段病变为6%,中段病变为24.5%,远段病变最高为49%;近端组的平均年龄[(57.92±12.81)岁]显著低于其他组(P<0.01),高脂血症发生率(61.5%)显著高于其他组(P<0.01);既往卒中史在多病灶组、双侧病灶组及腔梗组中明显高于单病灶、单侧病灶及非腔梗组(均P<0.01),而高脂血症在单病灶组中高于多病灶组,单侧病灶组高于双侧病灶组(均P<0.05).后循环梗死组平均年龄[(69.42±11.25)岁]大于前循环梗死组[(65.93±11.22)岁](P<0.01);高脂血症、糖尿病、既往卒中史发生率高于前循环梗死组(分别为20.7%、16.9%、14.6%)(P<0.05～0.01),而吸烟率(18.5%)低于前循环梗死组(38.5%)(P<0.01).结论 后循环梗死常见的危险因素是高血压、糖尿病、高脂血症与既往卒中史.与前循环梗死组相比,后循环梗死组年龄较大、血管危险因素患病率高.     

Posterior circulation ischemic stroke following Russell's viper envenomation

Ischemic stroke following viper bite is rare. We report a case of posterior circulation ischemic infarction following viper bite in a previously healthy woman. Soon after being bitten by the snake on the left leg, she developed local redness, echymosis and one hour later became drowsy. On examination she had skew deviation of eyes and down gaze preference, generalized hypotonia. A CT scan of brain showed infarcts in cerebellar hemispheres and occipital lobes on both sides and that was confirmed on magnetic resonance imaging of brain. Her coagulation profile was deranged. Most common and serious central nervous system complication following snake bite is intracranial hemorrhage. Ischemic stroke commonly involves anterior circulation. Bilateral cerebellar and occipital infraction is not yet reported in literature. Exact cause for the development of infarction is not clear. The possible mechanisms of infarction in this scenario are discussed. Patient was treated with anti-snake venom and showed a good recovery. Early imaging and early treatment with anti-snake venom is important for a favorable outcome.     

Solitaire AB支架取栓治疗静脉溶栓禁忌的急性缺血性脑卒中

目的探讨应用Solitaire AB支架机械取栓治疗静脉溶栓禁忌的急性缺血性脑卒中的疗效和安全性。方法回顾性分析2015年1月~2016年8月在吉林大学第二医院接受Solitaire AB支架机械取栓治疗的19例静脉溶栓禁忌的急性缺血性脑卒中患者的临床资料。男性13例,女性6例,年龄30~82岁,静脉溶栓禁忌的因素为超过最佳溶栓时间窗(6 h)和(或)NIHSS评分较高(>22)。采用t检验比较患者术前和术后脑梗死溶栓分级(TICI分级)、术前和术后1 w的NIHSS评分的变化评价疗效,采用术后90 d改良的Rankin量表(mRS)评估预后。结果 19例患者中的18例责任血管均成功获得再通,再通率94.7%。从发病到血管再通时间:颈内动脉系统为(6.8±1.5)h,椎动脉系统为(10.0±2.9)h,其中从穿刺到再通时间为(83.3±39.9)min。术前NIHSS评分为(27.3±9.0)分,术后7 d时NIHSS评分为(9.71±7.98)分,较术前有明显改善(P<0.01)。术后90 d随访,预后良好者11例(mRS 0~2),预后良好率为57.89%,死亡3例,死亡率为15.79%。结论 Solitaire AB支架取栓治疗静脉溶栓禁忌的急性缺血性脑卒中安全有效,血管再通率高,可明显改善临床预后。