Endovascular treatment of acute ischemic stroke in patients with pre-morbid disability: a meta-analysis

Utilization, Workflow, and Outcomes of Endovascular Thrombectomy in Patients With vs Without Premorbid Disability in a National Registry

Background and Objectives

Given the paucity of high-quality safety/efficacy data on acute stroke therapies in patients with premorbid disability, they risk being routinely excluded from such therapies. We examined utilization of endovascular thrombectomy (EVT), associated workflow, and poststroke outcomes among patients with vs without premorbid disability.

Methods

We used national registry data on thrombolysis/EVT for the Czech Republic from 1 January 2016 to 31 December 2020. Premorbid disability was defined as prestroke modified Rankin Scale score (mRS) ≥3. We compared proportions of patients with vs without premorbid disability who received EVT and examined workflow times. We compared ΔmRS-change in mRS from prestroke to 3 months-in patients with vs without premorbid disability, in addition to intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), mortality, and discharge NIHSS (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score), adjusting for age, sex, baseline NIHSS, and comorbidities, and verified using propensity score weighting (PSW) and matching for differences in treatment assignment. We stratified by age group (<65, 65-74, 75-84, ≥85 years) to explore outcome heterogeneity with vs without premorbid disability.

Results

Among 22,405 patients with ischemic stroke who received thrombolysis/EVT/both, 1,712 (7.6%) had prestroke mRS ≥ 3. Patients with prestroke disability were less likely to receive EVT vs those without (10.1% vs 20.7%, aOR: 0.30, 95% CI 0.24-0.36). When treated, they had longer door-to-arterial puncture times (median: 75 minutes, IQR: 58-100 vs 54, IQR: 27-77, adjusted difference: 12.5, 95% CI 2.68-22.3). Patients with prestroke disability receiving thrombolysis/EVT/both had worse ΔmRS (adjusted rate ratio, aIRR on PSW: 1.57, 95% CI 1.43-1.72), rates of 3-month mRS 5-6, discharge NIHSS, and mortality (aOR-PSW [mortality]: 2.54, 95% CI 1.92-3.34), while ICH did not significantly differ. 32.1% of patients with prestroke disability receiving thrombolysis/EVT/both successfully returned to prestroke state, but this proportion ranged from 19.6% for those older than 85 years to 66.0% for those younger than 65 years. Regardless of premorbid disability, EVT was associated with better outcomes including lower ΔmRS (aIRR-PSW: 0.87, 95% CI 0.83-0.91) and mortality, with no interaction of treatment effect by premorbid disability status (e.g., mortality pinteraction = 0.73). EVT recipients with premorbid disability did not differ significantly for several outcomes including ΔmRS (aIRR: 0.99, 95% CI 0.84-1.17) but were more likely to have 3-month mRS 5-6 (70.1% vs 39.5% without premorbid disability, aOR: 1.85, 95% CI 1.12-3.04).

Discussion

Patients with premorbid disability were less likely to receive EVT, had slower treatment times, and had worse outcomes compared with patients without premorbid disability. However, regardless of premorbid disability, patients fared better with EVT vs medical management and one-third with prestroke disability returned to their prestroke status.

Reperfusion therapies for ischemic stroke in dementia and cognitive impairment: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) and intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) have an unclear benefit in those with pre-stroke dementia or cognitive impairment, as these patients were often excluded from landmark stroke trials. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the outcomes of IVT and EVT in these populations.

AIMS

Our systematic review, conforming to the Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies in Epidemiology guidelines, investigated studies on acute ischemic stroke patients with pre-stroke dementia or cognitive impairment treated with IVT or EVT. Primary outcome was favorable 90-day outcome (mRS 0-2). Secondary outcomes included 90-day mortality, symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (SICH), and radiographic intracranial hemorrhage (ICH).

SUMMARY OF REVIEW

Nine articles were identified, with five observational studies of IVT use in patients with (n = 1078) and without dementia (n = 2805) being selected for the meta-analysis. There were no significant differences in favorable outcome (adjusted OR: 0.61, 95% CI 0.24-1.59), mortality (unadjusted OR: 1.19, 95% CI 0.86-1.64), ICH (unadjusted OR: 1.32, 95% CI 0.79-2.19), and symptomatic ICH (unadjusted OR: 0.94, 95% CI 0.70-1.25) for patients undergoing IVT with pre-stroke dementia versus those without. One EVT study (n = 615 with dementia vs n = 9600 without) found no significant differences in outcomes apart from an increased odds of ICH for those with pre-existing dementia (adjusted OR: 1.57, 95% CI 1.03-2.40). A pooled analysis of three IVT studies showed no significant association of cognitive impairment (n = 93 vs n = 211 without) with all assessed outcomes, whereas a study of EVT found that pre-stroke cognitive impairment was associated with poor 90-day outcomes (mRS 3-6).

CONCLUSION

These results suggest no substantial safety issues in the use of IVT or EVT for patients with pre-existing dementia or cognitive impairment compared to those without. However, the efficacy of these therapies in this demographic remains uncertain. Further rigorous studies that include a more nuanced outcome measurement approach are warranted.

REGISTRATION

URL: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/; Unique identifier: CRD42021240499.

Fluid excess on intensive care unit after mechanical thrombectomy after acute ischemic stroke is associated with unfavorable neurological and functional outcomes: An observational cohort study

INTRODUCTION

Endovascular thrombectomy stands as a pivotal component in the standard care for patients experiencing acute ischemic stroke with large vessel occlusion. Subsequent care for patients often extends to a neurological intensive care unit. While fluid management is integral to intensive care, the association between early fluid balance and neurological and functional outcomes post-thrombectomy has not yet been thoroughly investigated.

METHODS

In a retrospective analysis of an observational, single-center study spanning from 2015 to 2021 at the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany, we enrolled stroke patients who underwent thrombectomy and received subsequent treatment in the ICU. Unfavorable functional and neurological outcome was defined as a mRS > 2 on day 90 after admission (mRS d90) or NIHSS > 5 at discharge, respectively. A multivariate regression model, adjusting for confounders, utilized the average fluid balance in the first 5 days to predict outcomes. Patients were dichotomized by their average fluid balance (>1 L vs <1 L) within the first 5 days, and a multivariate mRS d90 shift analysis was conducted after adjusting for covariates.

RESULTS

Between 2015 and 2021, 1252 patients underwent thrombectomy, and 553 patients met the inclusion criteria (299 women [54%]). Unfavorable functional outcome was significantly associated with a higher daily average fluid balance in the first 5 days in the ICU (mRS d90 ⩽ 2: 0.3 ± 0.5 L, mRS d90 > 2: 0.7 ± 0.7 L, p = 0.02). The same association was observed for the NIHSS at discharge (NIHSS ⩽ 5: 0.3 ± 0.5 L; NIHSS > 5: 0.6 ± 0.6 L; p = 0.03). The mRS d90 shift analysis revealed significance for patients with an average fluid balance <1 L for better functional outcomes (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 2.17; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.54-3.07; p < 0.01).

DISCUSSION

Fluid retention in post-thrombectomy stroke patients in the ICU is associated with poorer functional and neurological outcomes. Consequently, fluid retention emerges as an additional potential predictor for post-intervention stroke outcomes. Our findings provide an initial indication that preventing excessive fluid retention in stroke patients after endovascular thrombectomy could be beneficial for both functional and neurological recovery. Therefore, fluid retention might be an element to consider in optimizing fluid management for stroke patients.

Lymphocyte to Monocyte Ratio is Independently Associated with Futile Recanalization in Acute Ischemic Stroke After Endovascular Therapy

Background and Purpose

Acute ischemic stroke (AIS) caused by large artery occlusion (LAO) poses considerable risks in terms of mortality and disability. Endovascular treatment (EVT) has emerged as a primary intervention for this condition. However, the occurrence of futile recanalization (FR) following EVT remains common, necessitating the identification of predictive markers for treatment outcomes. Although the lymphocyte to monocyte ratio (LMR) has been linked to various diseases, its association with FR after EVT in AIS patients has not been investigated.

Methods

An analysis was conducted on patients with AIS who underwent EVT within 24 hours of symptom onset. The success of reperfusion was evaluated using the modified Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction (mTICI) scale, with patients achieving an mTICI score of ≥2b being included in the study. Various clinical, radiological, and laboratory variables, including lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), were collected. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine factors associated with FR, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was performed to assess the predictive value of LMR.

Results

Among the cohort of 101 patients, it was observed that 52.4% experienced FR. Upon admission, lower levels of lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR) were found to be associated with older age, higher baseline NIHSS scores, lower ASPECTS, and poorer mRS scores at 90 days. Both univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses indicated that low LMR independently predicted FR, with an adjusted odds ratio of 0.64 (95% CI = 0.412-0.984, p = 0.042). ROC analysis further demonstrated that LMR had an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.789 for predicting FR.

Conclusion

This study establishes the potential value of the lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR) as a prognostic marker for predicting FR in patients with AIS undergoing EVT. Decreased LMR levels are associated with unfavorable clinical outcomes.

Endovascular thrombectomy in acute ischemic stroke patients with prestroke disability (mRS ≥2): A systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective

The effect of endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) in acute ischemic stroke patients with prestroke disability (modified Rankin Scale score, mRS) ≥2) has not been well-studied. This study aimed to assess the safety and benefit of EVT in patients with prestroke disability.

Methods

According to PRISMA guidelines, literature searching was performed using PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases, for a series of acute ischemic stroke patients with prestroke mRS ≥2 treated by EVT. Random-effects meta-analysis was used to pool the rate of return to prestroke mRS and mortality at 3-month follow-up.

Results

In total, 13 observational studies, with 2,625 patients, were analyzed. The rates of return to prestroke mRS in patients with prestroke mRS of 2–4 were 20% (120/588), 27% (218/827), and 31% (34/108), respectively. Patients with prestroke disability treated by EVT had a higher likelihood of return to prestroke mRS (relative risk, RR, 1.86; 95% CI 1.28–2.70) and a lower likelihood of mortality (RR 0.75; 95%CI 0.58–0.97) compared with patients with standard medical treatment. Successful recanalization (Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction grade 2b-3) after EVT gave a higher likelihood of return to prestroke mRS (RR 2.04; 95% CI 1.17–3.55) and lower mortality (RR 0.72; 95% CI 0.62–0.84) compared with unsuccessful reperfusion.

Conclusions

Acute ischemic stroke patients with prestroke disability may benefit from EVT. Withholding EVT on the sole ground of prestroke disabilities may not be justified.

Systematic Review Registration:https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/.

Efficacy and safety of mechanical thrombectomy in acute stroke patients with pre-morbid disability

INTRODUCTION –

Patients with pre-morbid disability have been generally excluded from randomized controlled trials of mechanical thrombectomy for acute ischemic stroke. However, stroke physicians commonly encounter such patients in practice, and face challenging treatment decisions when caring for them.

AREAS COVERED –

We review the literature on the safety and efficacy of thrombectomy in patients with pre-morbid disability. Recent clinical-epidemiological studies have highlighted the adverse outcomes that come with each increment of additional post-stroke disability in these patients. Several observational studies - both case series and registry-based studies - have helped demonstrate the comparable safety of thrombectomy in patients with pre-morbid disability as in those without, complementing similar data on thrombolysis. These data also suggest similar rates of successful recanalization, symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage, and return to pre-stroke level of disability when treated with mechanical thrombectomy, although they have higher mortality.

EXPERT OPINION –

In the absence of high-quality evidence, we recommend pursuing shared decision-making with patients or family members and being upfront about the uncertain evidence. Available observational data underline the potential for a substantial proportion of these patients to return to their pre-morbid state, do not indicate a greater rate of treatment-related complications, and do not support routinely excluding these patients from thrombectomy.