Anesthetic Management of Emergency Endovascular Thrombectomy for Acute Ischemic Stroke, Part 2: Integrating and Applying Observational Reports and Randomized Clinical Trials

General anesthesia or conscious sedation for thrombectomy in stroke patients: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis

PURPOSE

Endovascular treatment for stroke patients usually requires anesthesia care, with no current consensus on the best anesthetic management strategy. Several randomized controlled trials and meta-analyses have attempted to address this. In 2022, additional evidence from three new trials was published: the GASS trial, the CANVAS II trial, and preliminary results from the AMETIS trial, prompting the execution of this updated systematic review and meta-analysis. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of general anesthesia and conscious sedation on functional outcomes measured with the modified Rankin scale (mRS) at three months.

METHODS

We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials investigating conscious sedation and general anesthesia in endovascular treatment. The following databases were examined: PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and the Cochrane Database of Randomized Controlled Trials and Systematic Reviews. The Risk of Bias 2 tool was used to assess bias. In addition, trial sequence analysis was performed on the primary outcome to estimate if the cumulative effect is significant enough to be unaffected by further studies.

RESULTS

Nine randomized controlled trials were identified, including 1,342 patients undergoing endovascular treatment for stroke. No significant differences were detected between general anesthesia and conscious sedation with regards to mRS, functional independence (mRS, 0-2), procedure duration, onset to reperfusion, mortality, hospital length of stay, and intensive care unit length of stay. Patients treated under general anesthesia may have more frequent successful reperfusion, though the time from groin to reperfusion was slightly longer. Trial sequential analysis showed that additional trials are unlikely to show marked differences in mean mRS at three months.

CONCLUSIONS

In this updated systematic review and meta-analysis, the choice of anesthetic strategy for endovascular treatment of stroke patients did not significantly impact functional outcome as measured with the mRS at three months. Patients managed with general anesthesia may have more frequent successful reperfusion.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

PROSPERO (CRD42022319368); registered 19 April 2022.

Perioperative Management of the Acute Stroke Patient: From Door to Needle to NeuroICU

Acute ischemic stroke is a neurologic emergency that requires precise care due to high likelihood of morbidity and mortality. Current guidelines recommend thrombolytic therapy with alteplase within the first 3 to 4.5 hours of initial stroke symptoms and endovascular mechanical thrombectomy within the first 16 to 24 hours. Anesthesiologists may be involved in the care of these patients perioperatively and in the intensive care unit. Although the optimal anesthetic for these procedures remains under investigation, this article will review how to best optimize and treat these patients to achieve the best outcomes.

End the confusion: general anaesthesia improves patient outcomes in endovascular thrombectomy

Expert physiological and pharmacological care by anaesthetists is required in all stroke endovascular thrombectomy cases. RCTs show clinical benefits in recanalisation rates and functional recovery after endovascular thrombectomy with general anaesthesia compared with sedation. Many stroke centres will require wholesale reorganisation of stroke pathways to ensure anaesthesia services are available for all cases. Anaesthetists have an integral role in improving clinical outcomes in large vessel occlusion stroke.

Clinical Indications for Extubation in Coma Patients with Severe Neurological Craniocerebral Injury with Meta-Analysis

Computer searches of the PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Embase databases for randomized controlled studies on the effects of intensive nutrition on clinical outcomes in patients with severe craniocerebral injury were conducted from the time of database creation to June 11, 2022, along with manual searches of the relevant literature. Two investigators independently screened the literature, extracted data, and evaluated the risk of bias of the included studies before the effect sizes were combined using RevMan 5.3 statistical software provided by the Cochrane Collaboration Network, and publication bias was detected using Stata 12.0 software. Meta-analysis showed that total protein levels were higher in the intensive nutrition group than in the regular nutrition group (WMD = 4.96 g/L (1.57-8.34), P < 0.001); IgA levels were significantly higher in the intensive nutrition group than in the regular nutrition group (SMD = 0.79 (0.51-1.07), P < 0.001; SMD = 0.98 (0.58-1.38), P < 0.001); IgG levels were significantly higher in the fortified group than in the regular group (SMD = 0.98 (0.58-1.38), P < 0.001); CD4/CD8 was significantly higher in the fortified patients than in the regular patients with a combined effect size of WMD = 0.33 (0.18-0.48) (P < RR = 0.45 (0.27-0.75), P = 0.002). The results show that effective support of early enteral nutrition can reduce the occurrence of gastrointestinal complications in patients, give them a better adaptation process to the gastrointestinal tract, and ensure the degree of tolerance of their gastric mucosa, thus absorbing more nutrition. Fortification significantly reduced the incidence of gastric retention in patients with craniocerebral injury (RR = 0.19 (0.07-0.49), P < 0.001). In the subgroup analysis of the three groups, it was shown that, depending on the starting time, the total protein level and IgG level were better in the early nutrition at 24 h than in the late nutrition above 24h and that, depending on the starting dose, the total protein level, IgA, IgG, and CD4/CD8 were better in the intervention at doses above 30 mL/h, using the starting dose of 30 mL/h as the cut-off point. In the subgroup analysis based on different nutrition methods (enteral and parenteral nutrition), IgA levels and the incidence of bloating and diarrhea were better than those of parenteral nutrition in the indicators of enteral nutrition.

Effect of supraglottic airway devices versus endotracheal intubation general anesthesia on outcomes in patients undergoing mechanical thrombectomy: A prospective randomized clinical trial

BACKGROUND

There are still controversies about the optimal anesthesia protocol for patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) undergoing mechanical thrombectomy (MT). The aim of this study was to explore the effect of supraglottic airway device (SAD) versus endotracheal intubation (EI) general anesthesia on clinical and angiographic outcomes in patients with AIS undergoing MT.

METHODS

One hundred sixteen patients with large-vessel occlusion stroke were randomized to receive either SAD or EI general anesthesia. The primary outcome was the rate of occurrence of >20% fall in mean arterial pressure (MAP). Secondary outcomes included hemodynamics, successful recanalization, time metrics, satisfaction score of neurointerventionalist, number of passes performed, the conversion rate from SAD to EI, the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score, and Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score before and 24 hours after surgery, length of stay in the stroke unit and hospital, complications and functional independence at discharge, and 90 days after stroke.

RESULTS

Both the lowest systolic blood pressure and lowest diastolic blood pressure were significantly lower in the EI group (P = .001). The consumption of vasoactive agents, the occurrence of >20% reduction in MAP and time spent with >20% fall in MAP were significantly higher in the EI group (P < .05). Compared with the EI group, the time for door-to-puncture was significantly shorter in the SAD group (P = .015). There were no significant differences with respect to puncture-to-reperfusion time, number of passes performed, rates of successful recanalization, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score, and Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score 24 hours after surgery. The satisfaction score of neurointerventionalist was significantly lower in the EI group (P = .043). Conversion rate from SAD to EI was 7.41%. There were no significant differences with respect to complications, mortality, and mean Modified Rankin Scale scores both at discharge and 90-day after stroke. However, length of stroke unit and hospital stays were significantly shorter in the SAD group (P < .05).

CONCLUSION

AIS patients undergoing MT with SAD general anesthesia led to more stable hemodynamics, higher satisfaction score of neurointerventionalist, shorter door-to-puncture time, length of stroke unit, and hospital stay. However, there were no significant differences between the 2 groups on the angiographic and functional outcomes both at discharge and 90 days after stroke.

Endovascular Treatment for Acute Ischemic Stroke With or Without General Anesthesia: A Matched Comparison

BACKGROUND

Endovascular treatment in large artery occlusion stroke reduces disability. However, the impact of anesthesia type on clinical outcomes remains uncertain.

METHODS

We compared consecutive patients in the Swiss Stroke Registry with anterior circulation stroke receiving endovascular treatment with or without general anesthesia (GA). The primary outcome was disability on the modified Rankin Scale after 3 months, analyzed with ordered logistic regression. Secondary outcomes included dependency or death (modified Rankin Scale score ≥3), National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale after 24 hours, symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage with ≥4 points worsening on National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale within 7 days, and mortality. Coarsened exact matching and propensity score matching were performed to adjust for indication bias.

RESULTS

One thousand two hundred eighty-four patients (GA: n=851, non-GA: n=433) from 8 Stroke Centers were included. Patients treated with GA had higher modified Rankin Scale scores after 3 months than patients treated without GA, in the unmatched (odds ratio [OR], 1.75 [1.42-2.16]; P<0.001), the coarsened exact matching (n=332-524, using multiple imputations of missing values; OR, 1.60 [1.08-2.36]; P=0.020), and the propensity score matching analysis (n=568; OR, 1.61 [1.20-2.15]; P=0.001). In the coarsened exact matching analysis, there were no significant differences in National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale after 1 day (estimated coefficient 2.61 [0.59-4.64]), symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (OR, 1.06 [0.30-3.75]), dependency or death (OR, 1.42 [0.91-2.23]), or mortality (OR, 1.65 [0.94-2.89]). In the propensity score matching analysis, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale after 24 hours (estimated coefficient, 3.40 [1.76-5.04]), dependency or death (OR, 1.49 [1.07-2.07]), and mortality (OR, 1.65 [1.11-2.45]) were higher in the GA group, whereas symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage did not differ significantly (OR, 1.77 [0.73-4.29]).

CONCLUSIONS

This large study showed worse functional outcome after endovascular treatment of anterior circulation stroke with GA than without GA in a real-world setting. This finding appears to be independent of known differences in patient characteristics between groups.

Associated factors with functional prognosis of patients with acute ischemic stroke undergoing thrombectomy

INTRODUCTION

Mechanical thrombectomy (MT) has meant a change in natural history of acute ischemic stroke. Our aim is to assess the possible association between different factors and prognosis in patients treated with MT in a third degree Spanish hospital.

METHODS

Cross-sectional study including 198 patients underwent MT because of acute ischemic stroke between 2012 and 2020. Sociodemographic, vascular risk factors (VRF) and clinical-radiologic factors were recorded. Functional outcome was evaluated based on modified Rankin Scale (mRS) at 90 days, being mRS≤2 favorable and mRS≥3 unfavorable outcome.

RESULTS

Mean age 67.7±13.5 years, 50.5% women. Arterial hypertension was the most prevalent VRF (65.7%). National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) median value at admission was 17.0 (8.0; 22.0). 40.9% of cases also received fibrinolytic treatment. Conscious sedation was performed in 66.7% patients. Median passes of MT were 2, and median duration 41min. Successful recanalization was achieved in 79.9% and mRS≤2 at 90 days was registered at 59.5% cases. Age, type 2 diabetes (T2D), number of MT passes and procedure duration were associated with mRS≥3. Successful recanalization was associated with mRS≤2. Regression model confirmed these associations in age (OR: 1.56CI%: 1.11; 2.20); T2D (OR: 3.51CI%: 1.38; 8.97) and successful recanalization (OR: 0.07CI%: 0.02; 0.28).

CONCLUSION

Age, T2D and failed recanalization increase risk for unfavorable outcome at 90 days in patients with AIS treated with MT. Procedure time duration should be considered as a possible determinant factor in functional outcome.

Risk Factors for General Anesthesia Conversion in Anterior Circulation Stroke Patients Undergoing Endovascular Treatment

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

No current consensus exists on the best anesthetic management of ischemic stroke patients undergoing mechanical thrombectomy. Both conscious sedation (CS) and general anesthesia (GA) are currently considered valid anesthetic strategies, yet patients managed under CS may require emergent conversion to GA, which has been associated with worse outcomes. The aim of this study was to analyze the conversion rate and potential risk factors for GA conversion during mechanical thrombectomy.

METHODS

Two-hundred and twenty-seven patients with consecutive acute anterior circulation ischemic stroke treated with mechanical thrombectomy and initiated under CS or local anesthesia were included in this retrospective analysis. Conversion rate to GA was calculated, while univariate and multivariate analysis were used to identify risk factors.

RESULTS

Twenty patients (8.8%) were switched to GA. Multivariate analysis identified procedure duration (odds ratio [OR] 1.01, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.00-1.02, p value 0.028), tandem stroke (OR 8.57, 95% CI 2.06-35.7, p value 0.003), Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) (OR 1.76, 95% CI 1.19-2.61, p value 0.005), and number of pharmacological agents used (OR 5.76, 95% CI 2.49-13.3, p value <0.001) as independently associated with conversion to GA.

CONCLUSION

In our study, tandem occlusion, longer endovascular procedures, SOFA, and number of pharmacological agents used predicted the risk of emergent conversion to GA in stroke patients undergoing endovascular treatment. Prospective studies investigating optimal CS strategies are deemed necessary.

Changes in Neuroanesthesia Practice During the Early Stages of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Experiences From a Single Center in China

BACKGROUND

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by a novel coronavirus, is highly contagious. Global medical systems have been heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Although the majority of patients with intracranial disease require time-sensitive surgery, how to conduct neurosurgery and prevent and control nosocomial infection during a pandemic is challenging.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed the clinical data of patients undergoing neurosurgical and neurointerventional procedures at Beijing Tiantan Hospital, China during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic between January 21 and July 31, 2020. A 3-level system of COVID-19 risk was established based on medical conditions, epidemiologic, and symptom inquiry and the results of triage. A transitional unit was established for patients in whom COVID-19 had not been ruled out on admission to hospital.

RESULTS

A total of 4025 patients underwent neurosurgery during the study period, including 768 emergent and 3257 nonemergent procedures. Of these patients, 3722 were low-risk for COVID-19, 303 were moderate-risk, and none were high-risk. In addition, 1419 patients underwent neurointerventional procedures, including 114 emergent and 1305 nonemergent interventions, of which 1339 were low-risk patients, 80 were moderate-risk and none were high-risk. A total of 895 patients (neurosurgical and neurointerventional) were admitted to the transitional unit. Forty-five patients were diagnosed with COVID-19 and transferred to the COVID-19 designated hospital. There were no cases of COVID-19 nosocomial infections among surgical patients or health care workers.

CONCLUSION

On the basis of our single-center experience, developing a full screening protocol for COVID-19, establishing a risk level, and using a transitional unit for those with unknown COVID-19 status are effective measures to provide a safe environment for patients and health care workers.

Intraoperative management of thrombectomy for acute ischemic stroke: Do we need general anesthesia?

Since 2015, endovascular thrombectomy has been established as the standard of care for re-establishing cerebral blood flow in patients with acute ischemic stroke. Several retrospective observational studies and prospective clinical trials have investigated two anesthetic techniques for endovascular stroke therapy: general anesthesia (GA) and conscious sedation (CS). The recent randomized studies suggest that GA is associated with higher rates of successful recanalization and better functional independence at 3 months compared with the CS technique. However, CS techniques are highly variable, and there is currently a lack of consensus on which anesthetic approach is best in all patients. Numerous patient and procedural factors should ultimately guide the decision of whether GA or CS should be used for a particular patient.

Management of Acute Ischemic Stroke-Specific Focus on Anesthetic Management for Mechanical Thrombectomy

Acute ischemic stroke is a neurological emergency with a high likelihood of morbidity, mortality, and long-term disability. Modern stroke care involves multidisciplinary management by neurologists, radiologists, neurosurgeons, and anesthesiologists. Current American Heart Association/American Stroke Association (AHA/ASA) guidelines recommend thrombolytic therapy with intravenous (IV) alteplase within the first 3-4.5 hours of initial stroke symptoms and endovascular mechanical thrombectomy within the first 16-24 hours depending on specific inclusion criteria. The anesthesia and critical care provider may become involved for airway management due to worsening neurologic status or to enable computerized tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanning, to facilitate mechanical thrombectomy, or to manage critical care of stroke patients. Existing data are unclear whether the mechanical thrombectomy procedure is best performed under general anesthesia or sedation. Retrospective cohort trials favor sedation over general anesthesia, but recent randomized controlled trials (RCT) neither suggest superiority nor inferiority of sedation over general anesthesia. Regardless of anesthesia type, a critical element of intraprocedural stroke care is tight blood pressure management. At different phases of stroke care, different blood pressure targets are recommended. This narrative review will focus on the anesthesia and critical care providers' roles in the management of both perioperative stroke and acute ischemic stroke with a focus on anesthetic management for mechanical thrombectomy.

Local Anesthesia Without Sedation During Thrombectomy for Anterior Circulation Stroke Is Associated With Worse Outcome

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The best anesthetic management for mechanical thrombectomy of large vessel occlusion strokes is still uncertain and could impact the quality of reperfusion and clinical outcome. We aimed to compare the efficacy and safety outcomes between local anesthesia (LA) and conscious sedation in a large cohort of acute ischemic stroke patients with anterior circulation large vessel occlusion strokes treated with mechanical thrombectomy in current, everyday clinical practice.

METHODS

Patients undergoing mechanical thrombectomy for anterior large vessel occlusion strokes at 4 comprehensive stroke centers in France between January 1, 2018, and December 31, 2018, were pooled from the ongoing prospective multicenter observational Endovascular Treatment in Ischemic Stroke Registry in France. Intention-to-treat and per-protocol analyses were used.

RESULTS

Among the included 1034 patients, 762 were included in the conscious sedation group and 272 were included in the LA group. In the propensity score matched cohort, the rate of favorable outcome (90-day modified Rankin Scale score 0-2) was significantly lower in the LA group than in the conscious sedation group (40.0% versus 52.0%, matched relative risk=0.76 [95% CI, 0.60-0.97]), as well as the rate of successful reperfusion (modified Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction grade 2b-3; 76.6% versus 87.1%; matched relative risk=0.88 [95% CI, 0.79-0.98]). There was no difference in procedure time between the 2 groups. In the inverse probability of treatment weighting-propensity score-adjusted cohort, similar significant differences were found for favorable outcomes and successful reperfusion. In inverse probability of treatment weighting-propensity score-adjusted cohort, a higher rate of 90-day mortality and a lower parenchymal hematoma were observed after LA. The sensitivity analysis restricted to our per-protocol sample provided similar results in the matched- and inverse probability of treatment weighting-propensity cohorts.

CONCLUSIONS

In the Endovascular Treatment in Ischemic Stroke registry mainly included patients in early time window (<6 hours), LA was associated with lower odds of favorable outcome, successful reperfusion, and higher odds of mortality compared with conscious sedation for mechanical thrombectomy of large vessel occlusion.

Ventilation time and prognosis after stroke thrombectomy: the shorter, the better!

Background and purpose

The aim was to investigate the clinical impact of the duration of artificial ventilation in stroke patients receiving mechanical thrombectomy (MT) under general anaesthesia.

Methods

All consecutive ischaemic stroke patients who had been treated at our centre with MT for anterior circulation large vessel occlusion under general anaesthesia were identified over an 8‐year period. Ventilation time was analysed as a continuous variable and patients were grouped into extubation within 6 h (‘early’), 6–24 h (‘delayed’) and >24 h (‘late’). Favourable outcome was defined as modified Rankin Scale scores of 0–2 at 3 months post‐stroke. Pneumonia rate and reasons for prolonged ventilation were also assessed.

Results

Amongst 447 MT patients (mean age 69.1 ± 13.3 years, 50.1% female), the median ventilation time was 3 h. 188 (42.6%) patients had a favourable 3‐month outcome, which correlated with shorter ventilation time (Spearman’s rho 0.39, P < 0.001). In patients extubated within 24 h, early compared to delayed extubation was associated with improved outcome (odds ratio 2.40, 95% confidence interval 1.53–3.76, P < 0.001). This was confirmed in multivariable analysis (P = 0.01). A longer ventilation time was associated with a higher rate of pneumonia during neurointensive care unit/stroke unit stay (early/delayed/late extubation: 9.6%/20.6%/27.7%, P < 0.01). Whilst stroke‐associated complications represented the most common reasons for late extubation (>24 h), delayed extubation (6–24 h) was associated with admission outside of core working hours (P < 0.001).

Conclusions

Prolonged ventilation time after stroke thrombectomy independently predicts unfavourable outcome at 3 months and is associated with increased pneumonia rates. Therefore, extubation should be performed as early as safely possible.

Neuroanesthesiology Update

This review is intended to provide a summary of the literature pertaining to the perioperative care of neurosurgical patients and patients with neurological diseases. General topics addressed in this review include general neurosurgical considerations, stroke, neurological monitoring, and perioperative disorders of cognitive function.

Anesthetic Management of Emergency Endovascular Thrombectomy for Acute Ischemic Stroke, Part 1: Patient Characteristics, Determinants of Effectiveness, and Effect of Blood Pressure on Outcome

In the United States, stroke ranks fifth among all causes of death and is the leading cause of serious long-term disability. The 2018 American Heart Association stroke care guidelines consider endovascular thrombectomy to be the standard of care for patients who have acute ischemic stroke in the anterior circulation when arterial puncture can be made within 6 hours of symptom onset or within 6-24 hours of symptom onset when specific eligibility criteria are satisfied. The aim of this 2-part review is to provide practical perspective on the clinical literature regarding anesthesia care of patients treated with endovascular thrombectomy. Part 1 (this article) reviews the development of endovascular thrombectomy and the determinants of endovascular thrombectomy effectiveness irrespective of method of anesthesia. The first aim of part 1 is to explain why rapid workflow and maintenance of blood pressure are necessary to help support the ischemic brain until, as a result of endovascular thrombectomy, reperfusion is accomplished. The second aim of part 1, understanding the nonanesthesia factors determining endovascular thrombectomy effectiveness, is necessary to identify numerous biases present in observational reports regarding anesthesia for endovascular thrombectomy. With this background, in part 2 (the companion to this article), the observational literature is briefly summarized, largely to identify its weaknesses, but also to develop hypotheses derived from it that have been recently tested in 3 randomized clinical trials of sedation versus general anesthesia for endovascular thrombectomy. In part 2, these 3 trials are reviewed both from a functional outcomes perspective (meta-analysis) and a methodological perspective, providing specifics regarding anesthesia and hemodynamic management. Part 2 concludes with a pragmatic approach to anesthesia decision making (sedation versus general anesthesia) and acute phase anesthesia management of patients treated with endovascular thrombectomy.

Acute ischaemic stroke: challenges for the intensivist

PURPOSE

To provide an update about the rapidly developing changes in the critical care management of acute ischaemic stroke patients.

METHODS

A narrative review was conducted in five general areas of acute ischaemic stroke management: reperfusion strategies, anesthesia for endovascular thrombectomy, intensive care unit management, intracranial complications, and ethical considerations.

RESULTS

The introduction of effective reperfusion strategies, including IV thrombolysis and endovascular thrombectomy, has revolutionized the management of acute ischaemic stroke and transformed outcomes for patients. Acute therapeutic efforts are targeted to restoring blood flow to the ischaemic penumbra before irreversible tissue injury has occurred. To optimize patient outcomes, secondary insults, such as hypotension, hyperthermia, or hyperglycaemia, that can extend the penumbral area must also be prevented or corrected. The ICU management of acute ischaemic stroke patients, therefore, focuses on the optimization of systemic physiological homeostasis, management of intracranial complications, and neurological and haemodynamic monitoring after reperfusion therapies. Meticulous blood pressure management is of central importance in improving outcomes, particularly in patients that have undergone reperfusion therapies.

CONCLUSIONS

While consensus guidelines are available to guide clinical decision making after acute ischaemic stroke, there is limited high-quality evidence for many of the recommended interventions. However, a bundle of medical, endovascular, and surgical strategies, when applied in a timely and consistent manner, can improve long-term stroke outcomes.