Amer Malik

Thrombectomy 6 to 24 Hours after Stroke with a Mismatch between Deficit and Infarct

BACKGROUND The effect of endovascular thrombectomy that is performed more than 6 hours after the onset of ischemic stroke is uncertain. Patients with a clinical deficit that is disproportionately severe relative to the infarct volume may benefit from late thrombectomy. METHODS We enrolled patients with occlusion of the intracranial internal carotid artery or proximal middle cerebral artery who had last been known to be well 6 to 24 hours earlier and who had a mismatch between the severity of the clinical deficit and the infarct volume, with mismatch criteria defined according to age (<80 years or ≥80 years). Patients were randomly assigned to thrombectomy plus standard care (the thrombectomy group) or to standard care alone (the control group). The coprimary end points were the mean score for disability on the utility‐weighted modified Rankin scale (which ranges from 0 [death] to 10 [no symptoms or disability]) and the rate of functional independence (a score of 0, 1, or 2 on the modified Rankin scale, which ranges from 0 to 6, with higher scores indicating more severe disability) at 90 days. RESULTS A total of 206 patients were enrolled; 107 were assigned to the thrombectomy group and 99 to the control group. At 31 months, enrollment in the trial was stopped because of the results of a prespecified interim analysis. The mean score on the utility‐weighted modified Rankin scale at 90 days was 5.5 in the thrombectomy group as compared with 3.4 in the control group (adjusted difference [Bayesian analysis], 2.0 points; 95% credible interval, 1.1 to 3.0; posterior probability of superiority, >0.999), and the rate of functional independence at 90 days was 49% in the thrombectomy group as compared with 13% in the control group (adjusted difference, 33 percentage points; 95% credible interval, 24 to 44; posterior probability of superiority, >0.999). The rate of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage did not differ significantly between the two groups (6% in the thrombectomy group and 3% in the control group, P=0.50), nor did 90‐day mortality (19% and 18%, respectively; P=1.00). CONCLUSIONS Among patients with acute stroke who had last been known to be well 6 to 24 hours earlier and who had a mismatch between clinical deficit and infarct, outcomes for disability at 90 days were better with thrombectomy plus standard care than with standard care alone. (Funded by Stryker Neurovascular; DAWN ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT02142283.)

Increasing atrial fibrillation prevalence in acute ischemic stroke and TIA

Objective: To evaluate trends in atrial fibrillation (AF) prevalence in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) and TIA in the United States. Methods: We used the Nationwide Inpatient Sample to retrospectively compute weighted prevalence of AF in AIS (n = 4,355,140) and TIA (n = 1,816,459) patients admitted to US hospitals from 2004 to 2013. Multivariate-adjusted models were used to evaluate the association of AF with clinical factors, mortality, length of stay, and cost. Results: From 2004 to 2013, AF prevalence increased by 22% in AIS (20%–24%) and by 38% in TIA (12%–17%). AF prevalence varied by age (AIS: 6% in 50–59 vs 37% in ≥80 years; TIA: 4% in 50–59 vs 24% in ≥80 years), sex (AIS: male 19% vs female 25%; TIA: male 15% vs female 14%), race (AIS: white 26% vs black 12%), and region (AIS: Northeast 25% vs South 20%). Advancing age, female sex, white race, high income, and large hospital size were associated with increased odds of AF in AIS. AF in AIS was a risk factor for in-hospital death (odds ratio 1.93, 95% confidence interval 1.89–1.98) but mortality in AIS with AF decreased from 11.6% to 8.3% (p < 0.001). Compared to no AF, AF was associated with increased cost of

Ten-Year Temporal Trends in Medical Complications After Acute Intracerebral Hemorrhage in the United States

2,310 and length of stay 1.1 days in AIS. Conclusions: AF prevalence in AIS and TIA has continued to increase. Disparity in AF prevalence in AIS and TIA exists by patient and hospital factors. AF is associated with increased mortality in AIS. Innovative AIS preventive strategies are needed in patients with AF, especially in the elderly.

Increasing prevalence of vascular risk factors in patients with stroke A call to action

Background and Purpose— Data on medical complications after intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) are sparse. We assessed trends in the prevalence of urinary tract infection, pneumonia, sepsis, deep venous thrombosis (DVT), pulmonary embolism, acute renal failure (ARF), and acute myocardial infarction after ICH in the United States. Methods— A total of 575 211 adult ICH cases were identified from the 2004 to 2013 Nationwide Inpatient Sample. Weighted complication risks were computed by sex and mechanical ventilation status. Multivariate models were used to evaluate trends in complications and assess their association with in-hospital mortality, cost, and length of stay. Results— Overall risks of urinary tract infection, pneumonia, sepsis, DVT, pulmonary embolism, ARF, and acute myocardial infarction after ICH were 14.8%, 7.8%, 4.1%, 2.7%, 0.7%, 8.2%, and 2.0%, respectively, but risk differed by sex and mechanical ventilation status. From 2004 to 2013, odds of DVT and ARF increased, whereas odds of pneumonia, sepsis, and mortality declined over time. All complications were associated with >2.5-day increase in length of stay and >

The reversible corpus callosum splenium lesion associated with hypoglycemic encephalopathy.

8000 increase in cost. ARF and acute myocardial infarction were associated with increased mortality in all patients; sepsis and pneumonia were associated with increased mortality only in nonmechanical ventilation patients, whereas urinary tract infection and DVT were associated with reduced mortality in all patients. Conclusions— Despite significant mortality reduction, ARF and DVT risk after ICH have increased, whereas odds of sepsis and pneumonia have declined over the last decade. All complications were associated with increased cost and length of stay, but their associations with mortality were variable, likely due in part to survival bias. Innovative strategies are needed to prevent ICH-associated medical complications.

Large Amount of Cannabis Ingestion Resulting in Spontaneous Intracerebral Hemorrhage: A Case Report

Objective: To evaluate trends in prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors (hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, smoking, and drug abuse) and cardiovascular diseases (carotid stenosis, chronic renal failure [CRF], and coronary artery disease [CAD]) in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) in the United States. Methods: We used the 2004–2014 National Inpatient Sample to compute weighted prevalence of each risk factor in hospitalized patients with AIS and used joinpoint regression to evaluate change in prevalence over time. Results: Across the 2004–2014 period, 92.5% of patients with AIS had ≥1 risk factor. Overall age- and sex-adjusted prevalence of hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, smoking, and drug abuse were 79%, 34%, 47%, 15%, and 2%, respectively, while those of carotid stenosis, CRF, and CAD were 13%, 12%, and 27%, respectively. Risk factor prevalence varied by age (hypertension: 44% in 18–39 years vs 82% in 60–79 years), race (diabetes: Hispanic 49% vs white 30%), and sex (drug abuse: men 3% vs women 1.4%). Using joinpoint regression, prevalence of hypertension increased annually by 1.4%, diabetes by 2%, dyslipidemia by 7%, smoking by 5%, and drug abuse by 7%. Prevalence of CRF, carotid stenosis, and CAD increased annually by 13%, 6%, and 1%, respectively. Proportion of patients with multiple risk factors also increased over time. Conclusions: Despite numerous guidelines and prevention initiatives, prevalence of hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, smoking, and drug abuse in AIS increased across the 2004–2014 period. Proportion of patients with carotid stenosis, CRF, and multiple risk factors also increased. Enhanced risk factor modification strategies and implementation of evidence-based recommendations are needed for optimal stroke prevention.

National Patterns of Carotid Revascularization Before and After the Carotid Revascularization Endarterectomy vs Stenting Trial (CREST)

A 53-year-old male awoke with bilateral upper and lower extremity ataxia, optical apraxia, and binocular visual disturbance described as images jumping off the TV screen, and mild encephalopathy. He presented to the emergency department, where blood glucose levels ranged from 32 to 51 mg/ dL. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain showed diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) restriction in the splenium of the corpus callosum with apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) correlates when the glucose level was 46 mg/dL. He was admitted and started on D5NS intravenous drip until blood glucose levels normalized and stabilized. Repeat MRI of the brain 36 hours later showed resolution of the DWI lesion (Figure 1). It is important to consider hypoglycemia in the differential diagnosis of reversible splenium of corpus callosum lesions.

Target Stroke: Best Practice Strategies Cut Door to Thrombolysis Time to <30 Minutes in a Large Urban Academic Comprehensive Stroke Center

Although multiple cases of cannabis-associated ischemic stroke have been reported, there are only 2 reported cases of hemorrhagic stroke with an associated cerebral vasoconstriction. To our knowledge, we present the first case of basal ganglia hemorrhage after a large-volume oral ingestion of cannabis without other identified risk factors. In our case, cerebral digital subtraction angiography within 24 hours of presentation did not reveal vasoconstriction leading to a possible alternative explanation for hemorrhagic stroke, including cannabis-induced transient arterial hypertension and autoregulation disruption.

Stroke in young adults: Five new things

Importance The Carotid Revascularization Endarterectomy vs Stenting Trial (CREST) showed greater safety of carotid artery stenting (CAS) in patients younger than 70 years and carotid endarterectomy (CEA) in those older than 70 years. It is unknown how the result of CREST has influenced carotid revascularization choices in the United States. Objective To evaluate national patterns in CAS performance in patients older than 70 years in the post-CREST (2011-2014) compared with the pre-CREST (2007-2010) era. Design, Setting, and Participants All adults older than 70 years undergoing carotid revascularization in the United States from 2007 to 2014 were retrospectively identified from the 2007-2014 National Inpatient Sample using International Classification of Disease, Ninth Revision procedural codes. From 61 324 882 unweighted hospitalizations contained in the 2007-2014 National Inpatient Sample, 494 733 weighted carotid revascularization admissions in adults older than 70 years were identified using International Classification of Disease, Ninth Revision procedural codes. Main Outcomes and Measures The proportion of CAS performed in all age groups over time was estimated and multivariable-adjusted models were used to compare the odds of receiving CAS in the pre-CREST with those in the post-CREST era in adults older than 70 years. Results A total of 41.8% of all patients were women, and mean (SE) age at presentation was 78.1 (0.03) years. A total of 16.3% of CAS and 10.1% of CEA procedures were performed in patients with symptomatic stenosis. The proportion of patients older than 70 years receiving CAS increased from 11.9% in the pre-CREST to 13.8% in the post-CREST era (P = .005). In multivariable models, the odds of receiving CAS increased by 13% in all patients older than 70 years in the post-CREST compared with the pre-CREST period (odds ratio [OR], 1.13, 95% CI, 1.00-1.28, P = .04), including symptomatic women (OR, 1.31, 1.05-1.65, P = .02). Symptomatic stenosis (OR 1.39; 95% CI, 1.27-1.52; P < .001), congestive heart failure (OR, 1.48; 95% CI, 1.35-1.63; P < .001), and peripheral vascular disease (OR, 1.35; 95% CI, 1.27-1.43; P < .001) were associated with higher odds of CAS; comorbid hypertension (OR, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.66-0.74; P < .001), smoking (OR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.78-0.91; P < .001), and weekend admission (OR, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.68-0.88; P < .001) were negatively associated with the odds of CAS. Conclusions and Relevance Despite concerns for higher periprocedural complications with CAS in elderly patients, the odds of CAS increased in the post-CREST compared with pre-CREST era in patients older than 70 years, including symptomatic women.

A 27-Year-Old Man With Right-Sided Hemiparesis and Dysarthria.

The therapeutic window for acute ischemic stroke with intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (IV rt-PA) is brief and crucial. The American Heart Association/American Stroke Association Target: Stroke Best Practice Strategies (TSBPS) aim to improve intravenous thrombolysis door-to-needle (DTN) time. We assessed the efficacy of implementation of selected TSBPS to reduce DTN time in a large tertiary care hospital. A multidisciplinary DTN committee assessed causes of delayed DTN time and implemented focused TSBPS in our urban academic medical center. We analyzed door-to-CT time, DTN time, and CT to IV rt-PA time in consecutive patients treated with IV rt-PA over 27 months preimplementation and 13 months postimplementation. One hundred forty-eight patients were included in the preimplementation and 126 in the postimplementation group. We found no significant difference between the groups in demographics, comorbidities, anticoagulation status, prethrombolysis hypertension treatment, arrival by EMS, after-hours arrival, or in stroke etiology. After implementation, median DTN time improved from 59 (interquartile range [IQR]: 52-80) to 29 (IQR: 20-41) minutes (P < .001). Door-to-CT time decreased from 17 (14-21) to 16 (12-19) minutes (P = .016), and CT-to-IV rt-PA time improved from 43 (IQR: 31-59) to 13 (IQR: 6-23) minutes (P < .001). Rates of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (2.7% vs 3.2%, P = .82) and treatment of stroke mimics (9% vs 13%, P = .31) were similar in both the groups. Individualized hospital gap analysis identifies targeted interventions that lead to rapid and sustained improvement in treatment times.