Pooja Khatri

Good clinical outcome after ischemic stroke with successful revascularization is time-dependent.

Background: Trials of IV recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) have demonstrated that longer times from ischemic stroke symptom onset to initiation of treatment are associated with progressively lower likelihoods of clinical benefit, and likely no benefit beyond 4.5 hours. How the timing of IV rt-PA initiation relates to timing of restoration of blood flow has been unclear. An understanding of the relationship between timing of angiographic reperfusion and clinical outcome is needed to establish time parameters for intraarterial (IA) therapies. Methods: The Interventional Management of Stroke pilot trials tested combined IV/IA therapy for moderate-to-severe ischemic strokes within 3 hours from symptom onset. To isolate the effect of time to angiographic reperfusion on clinical outcome, we analyzed only middle cerebral artery and distal internal carotid artery occlusions with successful reperfusion (Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction 2–3) during the interventional procedure (<7 hours). Time to angiographic reperfusion was defined as time from stroke onset to procedure termination. Good clinical outcome was defined as modified Rankin Score 0–2 at 3 months. Results: Among the 54 cases, only time to angiographic reperfusion and age independently predicted good clinical outcome after angiographic reperfusion. The probability of good clinical outcome decreased as time to angiographic reperfusion increased (unadjusted p = 0.02, adjusted p = 0.01) and approached that of cases without angiographic reperfusion within 7 hours. Conclusions: We provide evidence that good clinical outcome following angiographically successful reperfusion is significantly time-dependent. At later times, angiographic reperfusion may be associated with a poor risk–benefit ratio in unselected patients.

Anterior cerebral artery emboli in combined intravenous and intra-arterial rtPA treatment of acute ischemic stroke in the IMS I and II trials.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Anterior cerebral artery (ACA) emboli may occur before or during fibrinolytic revascularization of middle cerebral artery (MCA) and internal carotid artery (ICA) T occlusions. We sought to determine the incidence and effect of baseline and new embolic ACA occlusions in the Interventional Management of Stroke (IMS) studies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Case report forms, pretreatment and posttreatment arteriograms, and CTs from 142 subjects entered into IMS I & II were reviewed to identify subjects with baseline ACA occlusion, new ACA emboli occurring during fibrinolysis, subsequent CT-demonstrated infarction in the ACA distribution, and to evaluate global and lower extremity motor clinical outcome. RESULTS: During M1/M2 thrombolysis procedures, new ACA embolus occurred in 1 of 60 (1.7%) subjects. Baseline distal emboli were identified in 3 of 20 (15%) T occlusions before intra-arterial (IA) treatment, and new posttreatment distal ACA emboli were identified in 3 subjects. At 24 hours, 8 (32%) T occlusions demonstrated CT-ACA infarct, typically of small volume. Infarcts were less common following sonography microcatheter-assisted thrombolysis compared with standard microcatheter thrombolysis (P = .05). Lower extremity weakness was present in 9 of 10 subjects with ACA embolus/infarct at 24 hours. The modified Rankin 0 to 2 outcomes were achieved in 4 of 25 (16%) subjects with T occlusion overall, but in 0 of 10 subjects with distal ACA emboli or ACA CT infarcts (P = .07). CONCLUSIONS: With IV/IA recombinant tissue plasminogen activator treatment for MCA emboli, new ACA emboli are uncommon events. Distal ACA emboli during T-occlusion thrombolysis are not uncommon, typically lead to small ACA-distribution infarcts, and may limit neurologic recovery.

Endovascular revascularization results in IMS III: intracranial ICA and M1 occlusions

Background Interventional Management of Stroke III did not show that combining IV recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) with endovascular therapies (EVTs) is better than IV rt-PA alone. Objective To report efficacy and safety results for EVT of intracranial internal carotid artery (ICA) and middle cerebral artery trunk (M1) occlusion. Methods Five revascularization methods for persistent occlusions after IV rt-PA treatment were evaluated for prespecified primary and secondary endpoints, after accounting for differences in key baselines variables using propensity scores. Revascularization was scored using the arterial occlusive lesion (AOL) and the modified Thrombolysis in Cerebral Ischemia (mTICI) scores. Results EVT of 200 subjects with intracranial ICA or M1 occlusion resulted in 81.5% AOL 2–3 recanalization, in addition to 76% mTICI 2–3 and 42.5% mTICI 2b–3 reperfusion. Adverse events included symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (SICH) (8.0%), vessel perforations (1.5%), and new emboli (14.9%). EVT techniques used were standard microcatheter n=51; EKOS n=14; Merci n=77; Penumbra n=39; Solitaire n=4; multiple n=15. Good clinical outcome was associated with both TICI 2–3 and TICI 2b–3 reperfusion. Neither modified Rankin scale (mRS) 0–2 (28.5%), nor 90-day mortality (28.5%), nor asymptomatic ICH (36.0%) differed among revascularization methods after propensity score adjustment for subjects with intracranial ICA or M1 occlusion. Conclusions Good clinical outcome was associated with good reperfusion for ICA and M1 occlusion. No significant differences in efficacy or safety among revascularization methods were demonstrated after adjustment. Lack of high-quality reperfusion, adverse events, and prolonged time to treatment contributed to lower-than-expected mRS 0–2 outcomes and study futility compared with IV rt-PA. Trial registration number NCT00359424.

Early reperfusion and clinical outcomes in patients with M2 occlusion: pooled analysis of the PROACT II, IMS, and IMS II studies

OBJECT The role of endovascular therapy in patients with acute ischemic stroke and a solitary M2 occlusion remains unclear. Through a pooled analysis of 3 interventional stroke trials, the authors sought to analyze the impact of successful early reperfusion of M2 occlusions on patient outcome. METHODS Patients with a solitary M2 occlusion were identified from the Prolyse in Acute Cerebral Thromboembolism (PROACT) II, Interventional Management of Stroke (IMS), and IMS II trial databases and were divided into 2 groups: successful reperfusion (thrombolysis in cerebral infarction [TICI] 2-3) at 2 hours and failed reperfusion (TICI 0-1) at 2 hours. Baseline characteristics and clinical outcomes were compared. RESULTS Sixty-three patients, 40 from PROACT II and 23 from IMS and IMS II, were identified. Successful early angiographic reperfusion (TICI 2-3) was observed in 31 patients (49.2%). No statistically significant difference in the rates of intracerebral hemorrhage (60.9% vs 47.6%, p = 0.55) or mortality (19.4% vs 15.6%, p = 0.75) was observed. However, there was a trend toward higher incidence of symptomatic hemorrhage in the TICI 2-3 group (17.4% vs 0%, p = 0.11). There was also a trend toward higher baseline glucose levels in this group (151.5 mg/dl vs 129.6 mg/ dl, p = 0.09). Despite these differences, the rate of functional independence (modified Rankin Scale Score 0-2) at 3 months was similar (TICI 2-3, 58.1% vs TICI 0-1, 53.1%; p = 0.80). CONCLUSIONS A positive correlation between successful early reperfusion and clinical outcome could not be demonstrated for patients with M2 occlusion. Irrespective of reperfusion status, such patients have better outcomes than those with more proximal occlusions, with more than 50% achieving functional independence at 3 months.

The Stroke Center Handbook : Organizing Care for Better Outcomes

1. Setting the Goal for the Stroke Center 2. Stroke Center Organization 3. Regional Stroke Networks 4. Imaging for Diagnosis and Selection of Therapy 5. Acute Stroke Interventions 6. Issues in Acute Management 7. Prevention of Complications 8. Secondary Prevention of Stroke 9. Stroke Rehabilitation Appendix: Clinical Scales and Tools

Secondary prevention of stroke

The Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada has estimated that there are approximately 400,000 individuals living with the effects of stroke (Statistics Canada, 2011). While there is disagreement among studies assessing the relative cost associated with secondary compared to first-ever stroke, recurrent strokes appear to contribute a disproportionate share to the overall national burden of stroke, principally due to costs associated with long-term disability (e.g. nursing home care and re-hospitalization). The secondary prevention of stroke includes strategies used to reduce the risk of stroke recurrence among patients who had previously presented with a stroke or TIA. Management strategies, which should be specific to the underlying etiology, include risk factor modification, the use of antithrombotic or anticoagulant drugs, carotid surgery, endovascular treatments. The present review provides information on risk factor management programs, management of hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, the role of infection, lifestyle modification (diet, smoking, use of alcohol, physical activity) as well as treatment for atherosclerosis and cardiac abnormalities (e.g. atrial fibrillation) and reperfusion techniques. The review may be downloaded in a single document or in single sections corresponding to the topic areas listed above. 8 Secondary Prevention of Stroke Katherine Salter PhD (cand.), Robert Teasell MD, Norine Foley MSc, Adam Hopfgartner MSc (cand.), Jennifer Mandzia MD, Shannon Janzen MSc, Danielle Rice BA, Mark Speechley PhD