Comparison of six-month results of coronary stenting versus balloon angioplasty alone in patients with acute myocardial infarction

Safety and Efficacy of Direct Angioplasty in Acute Basilar Artery Occlusion Due to Atherosclerosis

Background and Purpose: Endovascular treatment (EVT) is one of the promising treatment options in patients with intracranial atherosclerotic disease (ICAD)-related basilar artery occlusion (BAO). In this study, we compared the safety and efficacy of direct angioplasty (DA) with stent-retriever thrombectomy (SRT) with or without rescue treatment in ICAD-related BAO.

Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 187 patients who underwent EVT for BAO from January 2012 to July 2018. We identified patients who underwent EVT due to ICAD-related BAO. Patients who accepted SRT with or without rescue treatment were classified into the SRT group. Patients treated with DA with or without stent placement were classified into DA group. Clinical and laboratory findings and outcomes were compared between groups.

Results: A total of 108 patients were enrolled, among them 77 underwent SRT and 31 underwent DA; 61 (79.2%) SRT group patients underwent angioplasty with or without stent placement. Compared with patients in the SRT group, those in the DA group experienced a significantly shorter procedure time [60 min (60–120 min) vs. 120 min (60–120 min); p = 0.038] and a lower number of device passes [2 passes (1–2 passes) vs. 3 passes (2–4 passes); p < 0.001]. No significant differences in balloon angioplasty (35.5 vs. 22.1%; p = 0.150), emergent stent placement (64.5 vs. 57.1%; p = 0.481), successful recanalization (93.5 vs. 85.7%; p = 0.340), embolization in distal or new territory (3.2 vs. 9.1%, p = 0.314), and reocclusion (22.6 vs. 9.1%; p = 0.109) among DA and SRT groups were found. Additionally, no differences in symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage incidence [adjusted odds ratio (OR), 0.74; 95% CI, 0.06–9.44; p = 0.815], functional independence (adjusted OR, 1.44; 95% CI, 0.50–4.16; p = 0.497), and mortality rate (adjusted OR, 0.36; 95% CI, 0.06–2.04; p = 0.247) were noted among groups.

Conclusions: In certain patients with ICAD-related BAO, DA may shorten procedure time and reduce required device passes compared to SRT. In this study, DA was retrospectively found to be of similar safety and efficacy as SRT.

Midterm clinical and angiographic follow-up for the first Food and Drug Administration-approved prospective, Single-Arm Trial of Primary Stenting for Stroke: SARIS (Stent-Assisted Recanalization for Acute Ischemic Stroke)

BACKGROUND

Although early data demonstrate encouraging angiographic results following intracranial stent deployment for acute ischemic stroke, longer-term follow-up is necessary to evaluate the clinical outcomes, as well as the durability of angiographic results.

OBJECTIVE

We report 6-month clinical and radiologic follow-up data of the 20 patients prospectively enrolled in the Stent-Assisted Recanalization in acute Ischemic Stroke (SARIS) trial.

METHODS

Twenty patients were prospectively enrolled to receive self-expanding intra-arterial stents as first-line therapy for acute ischemic stroke treatment. Patients were scheduled for follow-up 6-months after treatment for clinical evaluation (modified Rankin Scale [mRS] score obtained by a trained certified research nurse/nurse practitioner) and repeat cerebral angiography. Angiographic interpretation was performed by an independent adjudicator.

RESULTS

At 6 months, the mRS score was ≤3 in 60% of patients (n = 12) and was ≤2 in 55% of patients (n = 11). Mortality at the 6-month follow-up was 35% (n = 7). Follow-up angiography was performed for 85% (11 of 13) of surviving patients. All patients undergoing angiographic follow-up demonstrated Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction 3 flow on digital subtraction angiography or stent patency on computed tomographic angiography. None of the patients demonstrated evidence of in-stent stenosis (≥50% vessel narrowing).

CONCLUSION

The midterm angiographic and clinical results following intracranial stent deployment for acute ischemic stroke are encouraging. Further study of primary stent-for-stroke treatment is warranted.

Use of a vascular reconstruction device to salvage acute ischemic occlusions refractory to traditional endovascular recanalization methods

Object

Acute revascularization has been associated with improved stroke outcomes. The Prolyse in Acute Cerebral Thromboembolism (PROACT II) trial achieved recanalization rates of 66%. The Multi Mechanical Embolus Removal in Cerebral Ischemia (Multi MERCI) trial achieved recanalization in 70% of patients. However, these interventional tools are not always successful. The Enterprise vascular reconstruction device was recently introduced for treatment of cerebral aneurysms previously untreatable with endovascular techniques. The authors evaluated a multicenter experience using this stent as a salvage revascularization tool for acute stroke treatment.

Methods

Four medical centers participated in a retrospective review of endovascularly treated patients with acute stroke for cases treated with the Enterprise stent after routine interventions had been unsuccessful. Data collected included preprocedure information, intraprocedure findings, and outcomes.

Results

Twenty patients with acute stroke (mean age 61.6 ± 22 years) were treated with the Enterprise stent. Ten patients received intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator before catheter intervention, without improvement. Intraarterial interventions attempted unsuccessfully before Enterprise deployment included the Merci retriever (12 patients), angioplasty (7 patients), glycoprotein IIb–IIIa inhibitor administration (12 patients), intraarterial nitroglycerin (1 patient), Wingspan stent deployment (3 patients), and Xpert stent deployment (1 patient). The mean preintervention National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score was 17 ± 6 (median 17). All patients presented with a Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) score of 0 or 1. Revascularization was achieved in all patients (75% with a TIMI score of 3, 25% with a TIMI score of 2). Improvement (≥ 4 points on the NIHSS) was documented in 75% of patients. Mean NIHSS improvement from intervention to discharge was 8 ± 7 points (median 9 points).

Conclusions

These preliminary data suggest a potential benefit to the use of the Enterprise stent when routine intervention methods fail.

Stent-assisted recanalisation of acute occlusive arteries in patients with acute limb ischaemia

OBJECTIVE

To assess the efficacy of stent-assisted recanalisation for acute limb ischaemia in patients considered unfit for thrombolysis or in patients with failed surgical recanalisation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Fifteen patients with acute limb ischaemia, treated with stent implantation, were analysed retrospectively. The reasons for acute limb ischaemia were a cardiogenic embolism (n=3), a traumatic injury (n=3), acute in situ thrombosis with atherosclerosis (n=6), immediate graft thrombosis (n=2), or a delayed thrombotic occlusion after a thrombin injection in the pseudoaneurysm (n=1). This study examined the technical and clinical outcomes of the procedures, including complications during the procedural and follow-up periods.

RESULTS

Stent-assisted recanalisation was technically successful and provided immediate recanalisation in all patients (15/15 patients, 100%) and reduced or eliminated the clinical symptoms in 12 patients (12/15 patients, 80%). Two patients died of multi-organ failure related to reperfusion injury, and one patient with a crash injury underwent a below-the-knee amputation as a result of wound necrosis despite recanalisation of the occluded bypass graft.

CONCLUSIONS

Stent-assisted recanalisation has a high technical success rate with good clinical results as a bailout procedure for the management of acute limb ischaemia in patients, considered unfit for thrombolysis or in patients with failed surgical recanalisation.

First Food and Drug Administration-approved prospective trial of primary intracranial stenting for acute stroke: SARIS (stent-assisted recanalization in acute ischemic stroke)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Acute revascularization is associated with improved outcomes in ischemic stroke patients. However, it is unclear which method of intraarterial intervention, if any, is ideal. Numerous case series and cardiac literature parallels suggest that acute stenting may yield high revascularization levels with low associated morbidity. We therefore conducted a Food and Drug Administration-approved prospective pilot trial to evaluate the safety of intracranial stenting for acute ischemic stroke.

METHODS

Eligibility criteria included presentation <or=8 hours after stroke onset, age 18 years or older, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score >or=8, angiographic demonstration of focal intracerebral artery occlusion <or=14 mm, and either contraindication to intravenous tissue plasminogen activator or failure to improve 1 hour after intravenous tissue plasminogen activator administration. Exclusion criteria included known hemorrhagic diathesis or coagulopathy, platelet count <100 000, intracranial hemorrhage, blood glucose level of <51 mg/100 mL, or CT perfusion imaging demonstrating more than one-third at-risk territory with nonsalvageable brain (low cerebral blood volume). Data are presented as mean+/-SD.

RESULTS

Twenty patients were enrolled (mean age, 63+/-18 years;14 women). Mean presenting National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale was 14+/-3.8 (median 13). Presenting thrombolysis in myocardial infarction score was 0 (85% of patients) or 1 (15%). Recanalization to thrombolysis in myocardial infarction score of 3 (60% of patients) or 2 (40% of patients; P<0.0001) was achieved. One (5%) symptomatic and 2 (10%) asymptomatic intracranial hemorrhages occurred. At 1-month follow-up, a modified Rankin scale score of <or=3 was achieved in 12 of 20(60%) patients and a modified Rankin scale score of <or=1 was achieved in 9 of 20 (45%) patients.

CONCLUSIONS

This Food and Drug Administration-approved prospective study suggests primary intracranial stenting for acute stroke may be a valuable addition to the stroke treatment armamentarium.

Stent-assisted intracranial recanalization for acute stroke: early results

OBJECTIVE

In patients who are not candidates for intravenous tissue plasminogen activator, intra-arterial (IA) therapy is an alternative. Current recanalization rates are 50 to 60% for IA thrombolysis. Stent-assisted recanalization in the setting of acute stroke after failed thrombolysis may improve recanalization rates.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis was performed of 19 patients treated at two institutions between July 2001 and March, 2005 with intracranial stenting of a vessel resistant to standard thrombolytic techniques. Demographics, clinical, and radiographic presentation and outcomes were studied.

RESULTS

Thirteen men and six women with a median baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score of 16 (range, 15-22) were included. Eight lesions were located at the internal carotid artery terminus, seven in the M1/M2 segment, and four in the basilar artery. Average time-to-treatment was 210 +/- 160 minutes. Overall recanalization rate (Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction Grade 2 or 3) was 79%. There were six deaths: five due to progression of stroke and withdrawal of care at the family's request and one as the result of a delayed carotid injury after tracheostomy. One postoperative asymptomatic intracranial hemorrhage occurred without adverse affect on outcome. Median discharge NIHSS score of surviving patients was 5 (range, 2.5-11.5). Lesions at the internal carotid artery terminus (P < 0.009), older age (P < 0.003), and higher baseline NIHSS score (P < 0.009) were significant negative outcome predictors, as measured by >3 modified Rankin scale score at discharge.

CONCLUSION

Stent-assisted recanalization for acute stroke resulting from intracranial thrombotic occlusion is associated with a high recanalization rate and low intracranial hemorrhage rate. These initial results suggest that stenting may be an option for recalcitrant cerebral arterial occlusions.

Six-month angiographic follow-up after intravascular ultrasound-guided stenting of infarct-related artery: comparison with non-infarct-related artery

BACKGROUND

Compared with balloon angioplasty, stenting has been established as an effective treatment modality to reduce restenosis in patients with acute myocardial infarction. However, the immediate results that predict favorable long-term outcomes in the acute infarct stenting are unknown. Therefore, we evaluated long-term outcomes of stenting for infarct-related artery (IRA) lesions by using intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) compared with that of stenting for non-IRA lesions.

METHODS

IVUS-guided coronary stenting was successfully performed in 510 native coronary lesions (105 IRA vs 405 non-IRA). A 6-month follow-up angiogram was performed in 419 (82.2%) lesions: 87 (82.9%) IRA lesions and 332 (82.0%) non-IRA lesions. Coronary stenting on the IRA lesions was successfully performed within 7 to 10 days after onset of infarction in 42 patients and within 12 hours in 45 patients. Results were evaluated by clinical, angiographic, and IVUS methods.

RESULTS

There were no significant differences in clinical and angiographic variables between the two groups. IVUS variables including reference vessel area and minimal stent area were also similar between the two groups. There was no significant difference in angiographic restenosis rate between the two groups in cases of minimal stent area > or = 7 mm(2): 12.8% (6 of 47) in IRA versus 19.1% (33 of 173) in non-IRA lesions (P = .315). However, the angiographic restenosis rate in cases of minimal stent area <7 mm(2) was 50% (20 of 40) in IRA lesions versus 31.5% (50 of 159) in non-IRA lesions (P = .028).

CONCLUSIONS

Angiographic restenosis is significantly higher in stenting for IRA lesions compared with that for non-IRA lesions in cases of minimal stent area < 7 mm(2).

Late clinical outcomes of cordis tantalum coronary stenting without anticoagulation

This study was performed to evaluate clinical and angiographic restenosis rates after successful Cordis coronary stent implantation and intravascular ultrasound images were acquired to compare results with quantitative angiographic findings in a subgroup of patients. We conclude that (1) the angiographic restenosis rate of Cordis stent was 19%, which was comparable to that of other slotted-tube stents, and (2) the quantitative coronary angiographic calliper method is reliable for assessing Cordis in-stent restenosis, especially diffuse in-stent restenosis.