Distal medium vessel occlusions in acute ischaemic stroke - Stent retriever versus direct aspiration: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Acute ischaemic stroke due to distal medium vessel occlusion (AIS-DMVO) causes significant morbidity. Endovascular thrombectomy advancement has made treating AIS-DMVO with stent retrievers (SR) and aspiration catheters (AC) possible, however the optimal technique remains unknown. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the efficacy and safety of SR use compared to purely AC use in patients with AIS-DMVO.

METHODS

We systematically searched PubMed, Cochrane Library and EMBASE, from inception to 2nd September 2022, for studies comparing SR or primary combined (SR/PC) against AC in AIS-DMVO. We adopted the Distal Thrombectomy Summit Group's definition of DMVO. Efficacy outcomes were functional independence (modified Rankin Scale (mRS) 0-2 at 90 days), first pass effect (modified Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction scale (mTICI) 2c-3 or expanded Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction scale (eTICI) 2c-3 at first pass), successful final recanalisation (mTICI or eTICI 2b-3), and excellent final recanalisation (mTICI or eTICI 2c-3). Safety outcomes were symptomatic intracranial haemorrhage (sICH) and 90-day mortality.

RESULTS

12 cohort studies and 1 randomised-controlled trial were included, involving 1881 patients with 1274 receiving SR/PC and 607 receiving AC only. SR/PC achieved higher odds of functional independence (odds ratio (OR) 1.33, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.06-1.67) and lower odds of mortality (OR 0.69, 95% CI 0.50-0.94) than AC. Odds of successful/excellent recanalisation and sICH were similar between both groups. Stratified to compare only SR and only AC, the use of only SR, achieved significantly higher odds of successful recanalisation as compared to only AC (OR 1.80, 95% CI 1.17-2.78).

CONCLUSION

There is potential for efficacy and safety benefits in SR/PC use as compared to AC only in AIS-DMVO. Further trials are necessary to validate the efficacy and safety of SR use in AIS-DMVO.

Clinical efficacy and long-term immunogenicity of an early triple dose regimen of SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination in cancer patients

Introduction: Three doses of SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines have been recommended for cancer patients to reduce the risk of severe disease. Anti-neoplastic treatment, such as chemotherapy, may affect long-term vaccine immunogenicity. Method: Patients with solid or haematological cancer were recruited from 2 hospitals between July 2021 and March 2022. Humoral response was evaluated using GenScript cPASS surrogate virus neutralisation assays. Clinical outcomes were obtained from medical records and national mandatory-reporting databases. Results: A total of 273 patients were recruited, with 40 having haematological malignancies and the rest solid tumours. Among the participants, 204 (74.7%) were receiving active cancer therapy, including 98 (35.9%) undergoing systemic chemotherapy and the rest targeted therapy or immunotherapy. All patients were seronegative at baseline. Seroconversion rates after receiving 1, 2 and 3 doses of SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination were 35.2%, 79.4% and 92.4%, respectively. After 3 doses, patients on active treatment for haematological malignancies had lower antibodies (57.3%±46.2) when compared to patients on immunotherapy (94.1%±9.56, P<0.05) and chemotherapy (92.8%±18.1, P<0.05). SARS-CoV-2 infection was reported in 77 (28.2%) patients, of which 18 were severe. No patient receiving a third dose within 90 days of the second dose experienced severe infection. Conclusion: This study demonstrates the benefit of early administration of the third dose among cancer patients. Keywords: Cancer, oncology, SARS-CoV-2, third dose, vaccination

Clinical efficacy and long-term immunogenicity of an early triple dose regimen of SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination in cancer patients

INTRODUCTION

Three doses of SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines have been recommended for cancer patients to reduce the risk of severe disease. Anti-neoplastic treatment, such as chemotherapy, may affect long-term vaccine immunogenicity.

METHOD

Patients with solid or haematological cancer were recruited from 2 hospitals between July 2021 and March 2022. Humoral response was evaluated using GenScript cPASS surrogate virus neutralisation assays. Clinical outcomes were obtained from medical records and national mandatory-reporting databases.

RESULTS

A total of 273 patients were recruited, with 40 having haematological malignancies and the rest solid tumours. Among the participants, 204 (74.7%) were receiving active cancer therapy, including 98 (35.9%) undergoing systemic chemotherapy and the rest targeted therapy or immunotherapy. All patients were seronegative at baseline. Seroconversion rates after receiving 1, 2 and 3 doses of SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination were 35.2%, 79.4% and 92.4%, respectively. After 3 doses, patients on active treatment for haematological malignancies had lower antibodies (57.3%±46.2) when compared to patients on immunotherapy (94.1%±9.56, P<0.05) and chemotherapy (92.8%±18.1, P<0.05). SARS-CoV-2 infection was reported in 77 (28.2%) patients, of which 18 were severe. No patient receiving a third dose within 90 days of the second dose experienced severe infection.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrates the benefit of early administration of the third dose among cancer patients.

The role of head-up cardiopulmonary resuscitation in sudden cardiac arrest: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

Head-up cardiopulmonary resuscitation (HU-CPR) is an experimental treatment for sudden cardiac arrest (SCA), where cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is performed in a ramped position. We evaluated whether HU-CPR improved survival and surrogate outcomes as compared to standard CPR (S-CPR).

Methods

Studies reporting on HU-CPR in SCA were searched for in PubMed, Embase and Cochrane Library from inception to May 1st 2021. Outcomes included neurologically-intact survival, 24-hour-survival, intracranial pressure (ICP), cerebral perfusion pressure (CerPP) and brain blood flow (BBF). Risk of bias was assessed using the GRADE assessment tool and Newcastle Ottawa Scale. Fixed- and random-effects models were used to estimate the pooled effects of HU-CPR at 30 degrees.

Results

Thirteen articles met the criteria for inclusion (11 animal-only studies, one before-and-after human-only study, one study that utilized human- and animal-cadavers). Among animal studies, the most common implementation of HU-CPR was a 30-degree upward tilt of the head and thorax (n=7), while four studies investigated controlled sequential elevation (CSE). Two animal studies reported improved cerebral performance category (CPC) scores at 24-hour. The pooled effect on 24-hour survival was not statistically significant (P=0.37). The lone human study reported doubled return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) (17.9% versus 34.2%, P<0.0001). The pooled effect on ROSC in three porcine studies was OR =3.63 (95% CI: 0.72–18.39). Pooled effects for surrogate physiological outcomes of intracranial cranial pressure (MD −14.08, 95% CI: −23.21 to −4.95, P=0.003), CerPP (MD 14.39, 95% CI: 3.07–25.72, P=0.01) and BBF (MD 0.14, 95% CI: 0.02–0.27, P=0.03), showed statistically significant benefit.

Discussion

Overall, HU-CPR improved neurologically-intact survival at 24-hour, ROSC and physiological surrogate outcomes in animal models. Despite promising preclinical data, and one human observational study, clinical equipoise remains surrounding the role of HU-CPR in SCA, necessitating clarification with future randomized human trials.