SEIMLESS: Simultaneous Extracranial, Intracranial Management of (tandem) LESsions in Stroke

Stent retriever for Tandem Acute Revascularization Technique (START): a novel technique for the endovascular management of tandem occlusions

Tandem occlusions, characterized by the simultaneous presence of an intracranial large vessel occlusion and extracranial carotid artery stenosis or occlusion,1 pose a unique endovascular challenge.2 3 Typically, the extracranial occlusion is a result of atherosclerotic plaque; however, dissections are also a possible cause. It is currently uncertain whether an intracranial first approach or an extracranial first approach should be employed.4 5 A new technique has been developed which allows for the simultaneous treatment of both the intracranial and the extracranial lesion.6 We describe a variation of this technique: the stent retriever for tandem acute revascularization technique (START), which consists of simultaneously treating the intracranial lesion with stent retriever and contact aspiration, and the extracranial lesion with balloon angioplasty. We present a technical video explaining all the steps of START.(video 1) neurintsurg;16/5/529/V1F1V1Video 1Description and example of the START.

Cervical carotid occlusion in acute ischemic stroke: Should we give tPA?

Background:

Acute ischemic stroke (AIS) due to cervical internal carotid artery (cICA) occlusion is challenging to treat, with the lower revascularization rates, higher risk for complications, and poor response to thrombolytic therapy compared to isolated intracranial occlusions. While emergent revascularization through mechanical thrombectomy (MT) improves outcomes, the impact of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) on outcomes in this subgroup of patients remains unclear. The objective of this study is to report our preliminary experience in treating AIS with cICA occlusions secondary to severe atherosclerotic stenosis and to establish the need for further clinical studies to determine the optimal intervention strategy for these lesions.

Methods:

Data were collected on patients who presented with acute cICA occlusion who underwent MT and either acute or staged carotid angioplasty and stenting. We compare patients who received tPA to those who did not, analyzing revascularization times, outcomes, and complications between the two populations, and discuss how this influenced our preferred treatment approach.

Results:

Twenty-one patients met inclusion criteria, seven of who received tPA and 14 did not receive tPA before surgical intervention. Procedural and functional outcomes were similar between the two populations. TPA administration correlated with a higher rate of vessel reocclusion in staged procedures and trended toward higher rates of symptomatic ICH and 90-day mortality.

Conclusion:

Emergent revascularization with acute cICA stenting carries advantages, but its safety is precluded by tPA administration. We suggest a trial which randomizes patients with cICA occlusions to receiving either tPA or dual antiplatelet therapy before surgical intervention, aiming to ultimately improved outcomes in these patients.

Intravenous Thrombolysis Benefits Mild Stroke Patients With Large-Artery Atherosclerosis but No Tandem Steno-Occlusion

At present, there is controversy regarding whether thrombolysis is beneficial for patients suffering from a mild stroke. In this study, we therefore sought to determine whether the therapeutic benefit of thrombolysis is dependent upon stroke subtype for those with mild stroke. We conducted a retrospective analysis of data from consecutive mild stroke patients (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale ≤5) with and without recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) therapy. The TOAST (Trial of Org 10172 in acute stroke treatment) criteria was used to determine stroke subtypes. Patients suffering from large-artery atherosclerosis (LAA) were subdivided based upon whether or not they exhibited tandem steno-occlusion, as defined by the association of a proximal intracranial occlusion and a cervical internal carotid artery lesion (complete occlusion or severe stenosis ≥ 90%). For this study, favorable outcomes at 90 days of onset (modified Rankin Scale Score [mRS] of 0–1) were the primary measured outcome. Three hundred thirty-nine patients were included in the study. For patients with non-LAA, there were not statistically significant improvements in favorable outcomes for rt-PA treatment (p = 0.889, 0.929, 0.708; respectively). For patients with LAA, compared with non-treated group, rt-PA-treated patients had a significant in the rate of favorable outcomes at 90 days (82.8 vs. 64.9%; OR 2.59; 95%CI, 1.13–5.92; P = 0.024). Among LAA patients exhibiting tandem lesions, favorable outcomes were observed in 66.7% of rt-PA-treated patients, with no significant differences to those observed in untreated patients (OR 1.00; 95%CI, 0.23–4.28; p = 1.000). Among LAA patients without tandem lesions, compared with non-treated group, we found that rt-PA treatment was associated with a significant beneficial impact on favorable outcomes after 90 days (64.4 vs. 88.4%; OR 4.20; 95%CI, 1.43–12.30; p = 0.009). Our findings suggest that intravenous rt-PA is only beneficial in mild stroke patients with LAA-type strokes that do not exhibit tandem steno-occlusion.

Technical note on endovascular treatment of concomitant carotid occlusion in large vessel occlusion stroke: The "single-cross" technique

BACKGROUND

Emergent large vessel occlusive (ELVO) stroke secondary to underlying carotid occlusive disease is frequently encountered in endovascular ischemic stroke therapy and trials. Up to 29% of all cerebral vascular accidents are attributed to severe carotid occlusive disease, and recent interventional trials have demonstrated this occurrence in 18.6-32.2% of ELVO stroke. We present a novel technique using the stent retriever guide wire to expedite angioplasty and/or stent placement for associated carotid occlusive disease during mechanical thrombectomy of ELVO stroke. This technique utilizes the "waiting time" during stent retriever integration within the thrombus as an opportunity to initiate revascularization of the cervical carotid, using the deployed stent retriever guidewire as an ad hoc rapid exchange wire while the stentriever serves as a potential surrogate distal embolic protection device. We present 23 cases using this novel endovascular approach, which we have called the single-cross technique, as the cervical lesion is only traversed once during therapy.

METHODS

A case series of 23 consecutive patients who underwent a novel endovascular technique for treating tandem ICA origin and intracranial occlusive lesions is presented. Endpoints measured were time to re-perfusion, rates of intracranial hemorrhage and clinical outcomes (mRS at 30 and 90 days).

RESULTS

Average procedure time for revascularizing both the carotid and intracranial lesions was 52 min. A symptomatic ICH rate of 9% was observed. Seventy-four percent of patients had an mRS of 0-2 at follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

The single-cross technique appears to be a safe and effective option for treating tandem occlusive lesions in the setting of ELVO.

The ReWiSed CARe Technique : Simultaneous Treatment of Atherosclerotic Tandem Occlusions in Acute Ischemic Stroke

BACKGROUND

Endovascular treatment of acute cerebral large vessel occlusions and concomitant atherosclerotic lesions of the ipsilateral internal carotid artery (ICA) are a matter of debate. This article reports a multi-center experience using the retriever wire supported carotid artery revascularization (ReWiSed CARe) technique allowing simultaneous treatment of both lesions.

METHODS

The study retrospectively analyzed 23 patients with acute tandem occlusions (TO) who underwent ReWiSed CARe at 3 German centers. Clinical, including demographics and National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) and procedural, including angiographic evaluation of recanalization, data were evaluated. Favorable clinical outcome was defined as modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score ≤2 at 90 days.

RESULTS

The median age was 70 years (interquartile range [IQR] 65-80 years) and 70% were male. The median baseline NIHSS was 15 (IQR 11-17). Out of 23 patients, 22 (96%) had an intracranial occlusion of the anterior circulation. Successful stent retriever deployment with subsequent carotid artery treatment was feasible in all cases without displacement of the stent retriever during the procedure. Overall, successful reperfusion (modified Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction [mTICI] ≥2b) was achieved in 22/23 (96%) patients with 10/23 (44%) individuals completely reperfused (mTICI 3). The median groin puncture to stent retriever deployment was 29 min (IQR 23-46) and groin puncture to final revascularization was 63 min (IQR 56-78). The median NIHSS at discharge was 5 (IQR 3-12) with favorable clinical outcome at 90 days in 11 out of 20 patients (55%).

CONCLUSION

Endovascular treatment using ReWiSed CARe is safe, fast and efficient in TO patients with underlying atherosclerotic lesion of the extracranial ICA.