Arterial ischemic stroke (AIS) in children is frequently associated with underlying arteriopathy. We report a 13-year-old male with progressive AIS due to focal cerebral arteriopathy of inflammatory type (FCA-i). Despite initial medical therapy-including antiplatelet agents, immunosuppressive therapy, antimicrobial treatment, and intra-arterial spasmolysis-he experienced clinical and radiographic deterioration. Endovascular therapy with balloon angioplasty and fibrin-heparin-coated intracranial stents achieved successful revascularization and stabilization. Vessel wall MRI and elevated Mycoplasma pneumoniae antibodies supported the diagnosis of FCA-i. Follow-up demonstrated sustained stent patency and vascular improvement, with persistent distal upper-extremity-predominant hemiparesis.

Abstract Background and aims Early treatment is critical for favorable outcomes in acute ischaemic stroke, particularly in patients eligible for endovascular treatment (EVT). While in-hospital delays are well studied, the structure and relative contribution of specific pre-hospital pathways are less well characterized, particularly within telemedicine-supported stroke networks. We aimed to study and characterize key pre-hospital stroke time intervals and to explore whether current care pathways allow timely hospital arrival at the primary stroke center. Methods We conducted a retrospective observational analysis of EVT-eligible stroke patients receiving telemedicine consultation within a regional network between February 1, 2018 and December 31, 2025. Several pre-hospital time intervals were evaluated. Intervals are reported as medians with interquartile ranges (IQR). Exploratory stratified analyses were performed for selected patient- and system-level variables. Results Among 2,506 patients, 88% were transported by EMS (3.8% not transported, 8.2% not documented). Overall median onset-to-door time was 104 minutes (IQR 60-338). Median time from detection of symptoms to call for EMS was 16 minutes (IQR 5-45) and call-to-door time was 44 minutes (IQR 34-55). Median detection-to-door time was 65 minutes (IQR 48-97), and was comparable in patients transported with and without EMS. Stratified analyses across selected patient and system characteristics showed largely consistent pre-hospital time intervals. Conclusions A substantial amount of time is consumed before hospital arrival. Pre-hospital delays represent a major contributor to time loss. The uniformity of pre-hospital time intervals across subgroups suggests that the potential for further improvement is limited. Future strategies should aim to extend diagnostics and treatment into the pre-hospital phase. Conflict of interest All authors: nothing to disclose.

Mechanical thrombectomy (MT) is an effective treatment for patients with acute ischaemic stroke secondary to internal carotid artery (ICA) occlusion. Intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) prior to MT is also commonly administered in suitable patients. This study aimed to compare the outcomes of patients with acute ICA stroke who were treated with direct MT versus combined IVT plus MT. Additionally, analysis was performed in different subgroups of patients such as those with large artery stenosis (LAA) to evaluate which subgroup of patients would benefit most from bridging IVT. This multicenter retrospective cohort study included patients who were treated for acute ICA stroke from three comprehensive stroke centers between January 2015 and December 2019. Patients received direct MT or combined bridging IVT plus MT. Primary outcome was favorable functional outcome defined as modified Rankin Scale (mRS) 0–2 measured at 90 days after discharge. Secondary outcome measures included mRS on discharge, inpatient mortality and complications such as symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH), subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) and embolism of thrombus to new territories. Among 352 patients, 178 (50.6

INTRODUCTION:Mechanical thrombectomy (MT) is the standard of care in anterior circulation large vessel occlusion. A vital modifiable factor is successful reperfusion. While multiple passes improve the rates of successful reperfusion, previous studies have reported progressively diminishing returns. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between number of passes and outcomes in basilar artery occlusion (BAO). METHODS:This multicentre retrospective cohort study included patients who were treated with MT for acute BAO from eight comprehensive stroke centres between 2015 and 2020. The primary outcome was favourable functional outcome (FFO) defined as modified Rankin Scale (mRS) 0-3 measured at 90 days. Secondary outcomes included spontaneous intracranial haemorrhage and mortality. Patients were stratified according to reperfusion status and the number of passes for further analysis. RESULTS:The adjusted odds ratio (OR) for FFO 90 days for each additional pass of a thrombectomy device was 0.56 (P = 0.003). When ≤3 passes of the thrombectomy device were made, achieving reperfusion led to higher rates of FFOs. However, when >3 passes of the thrombectomy device were made, achieving reperfusion no longer led to higher rates of FFOs (FFO = 0% in patients who did not achieve reperfusion vs. FFO = 14.5 in patients who achieved reperfusion; P = 0.200). Notably, increasing number of passes was associated with a non-significant trend towards higher rate of parenchymal haemorrhage (OR 1.55, P = 0.055). CONCLUSION:Acute BAO patients treated with up to three passes of a thrombectomy device derived improved functional outcomes from reperfusion compared to those with more than three passes. Further prospective cohort studies are necessary to validate these findings.

Dural arteriovenous fistulas (dAVFs) are rare vascular malformations, often complicated by sinus thrombosis and cortical reflux. We report a patient with a Cognard Type IIb dAVF at the right transverse sinus and ipsilateral sigmoid sinus thrombosis, unsuitable for conventional embolization due to contralateral sinus hypoplasia. A novel therapeutic approach involving direct jugular vein puncture, venous recanalization, and stenting using a stiff 0.035-inch guidewire effectively downgraded the dAVF to Cognard Type I. At 3-month follow-up, stable angiographic outcomes, marked clinical improvement, and absence of seizures confirmed the efficacy of sinus stenting as a standalone treatment in an anatomically challenging case.

Due to their effect on aneurysm hemodynamics, flow diverters (FD) have become a routine endovascular therapy for intracranial aneurysms. Since over- and undersizing affect the device’s hemodynamic abilities, selecting the correct device diameter and accurately simulating FD placement can improve patient-specific outcomes. The purpose of this study was to validate the accuracy of virtual flow diverter deployments in the novel Derivo® 2 device. We retrospectively analyzed blood flows in ten FD placements for which 3D DSA datasets were available pre- and post-intervention. All patients were treated with a second-generation FD Derivo® 2 (Acandis GmbH, Pforzheim, Germany) and post-interventional datasets were compared to virtual FD deployment at the implanted position for implanted stent length, stent diameters, and curvature analysis using ANKYRAS (Galgo Medical, Barcelona, Spain). Image-based blood flow simulations of pre- and post-interventional configurations were conducted. The mean length of implanted FD was 32.61 (±11.18 mm). Overall, ANKYRAS prediction was good with an average deviation of 8.4% (±5.8%) with a mean absolute difference in stent length of 3.13 mm. There was a difference of 0.24 mm in stent diameter amplitude toward ANKYRAS simulation. In vessels exhibiting a high degree of curvature, however, relevant differences between simulated and real-patient data were observed. The intrasaccular blood flow activity represented by the wall shear stress was qualitatively reduced in all cases. Inflow velocity decreased and the pulsatility over the cardiac cycle was weakened. Virtual stenting is an accurate tool for FD positioning, which may help facilitate flow FDs’ individualization and assess their hemodynamic impact. Challenges posed by complex vessel anatomy and high curvatures must be addressed.

There are little available data regarding the influence of intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) on the efficacy of different first line endovascular treatment (EVT) techniques. We used the dataset of the SWIFT-DIRECT trial which randomized 408 patients to IVT + EVT or EVT alone at 48 international sites. The protocol required the use of a stent retriever (SR), but concomitant use of a balloon guide catheter (BGC) and/or distal aspiration (DA) catheter was left to the discretion of the operators. Four first line techniques were applied in the study population: SR, SR + BGC, SR + DA, SR + DA + BGC. To assess whether the effect of allocation to IVT + EVT versus EVT alone was modified by the first line technique, interaction models were fitted for predefined outcomes. The primary outcome was first pass mTICI 2c‑3 reperfusion (FPR). This study included 385 patients of whom 172 were treated with SR + DA, 121 with SR + DA + BGC, 57 with SR + BGC and 35 with SR. There was no evidence that the effect of IVT + EVT versus EVT alone would be modified by the choice of first line technique; however, allocation to IVT + EVT increased the odds of FPR by a factor of 1.68 (95

PurposeMedical researchers deal with a large amount of patient data to improve future treatment decisions and come up with new hypotheses. To facilitate working with a large database containing many patients and parameters, we propose a virtual data shelf, displaying the 3D anatomical surface models in an immersive VR environment.MethodsThereby, different functionalities such as sorting, filtering and finding similar cases are included. To provide an appropriate layout and arrangement of 3D models that optimally supports working with the database, three layouts (flat, curved and spherical) and two distances are evaluated. A broad audience study with 61 participants was conducted to compare the different layouts based on their ease of interaction, to get an overview and to explore single cases. Medical experts additionally evaluated medical use cases.ResultsThe study revealed that the flat layout with small distance is significantly faster in providing an overview. Applying the virtual data shelf to the medical use case intracranial aneurysms, qualitative expert feedback with two neuroradiologists and two neurosurgeons was gathered. Most of the surgeons preferred the curved and spherical layouts.ConclusionOur tool combines benefits of two data management metaphors, resulting in an efficient way to work with a large database of 3D models in VR. The evaluation gives insight into benefits of layouts as well as possible use cases in medical research.

Acute ischemic stroke and subarachnoid hemorrhage due to a ruptured intracranial aneurysm are cerebrovascular emergencies, in which interventional neuroradiological therapeutic procedures play a crucial role. Profound knowledge about indication based on current guidelines and treatment approaches with their advantages and disadvantages are the basis of an evidence-based therapeutic decision. This article aims to provide an empirical overview for everyday practical situations.

Introduction One potential benefit of intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) before mechanical thrombectomy (MT) is pre‐interventional reperfusion. Currently, there is a paucity of data regarding the occurrence of pre‐interventional reperfusion in patients randomized to IVT or no‐IVT before MT. Methods SWIFT DIRECT was a randomized controlled trial including acute ischemic stroke IVT‐eligible patients being directly admitted to a comprehensive stroke center, with allocation to either MT alone or IVT + MT. Primary endpoint of this analysis was the occurrence of pre‐interventional reperfusion defined as pre‐interventional expanded Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction score ≥ 2a. The effect of IVT and potential treatment effect heterogeneity were analyzed using logistic regression analyses. Results Out of the 396 patients analyzed, pre‐interventional reperfusion occurred in 20 (10.0%) of patients randomized to IVT+MT, and 7 (3.6%) of patients randomized to MT alone. Receiving IVT favored the occurrence of pre‐interventional reperfusion (aOR 2.91 [95% CI 1.23 – 6.87]). There was no IVT treatment effect heterogeneity on the occurrence of pre‐interventional reperfusion with different strata of Randomization‐to‐Groin‐Puncture (p for interaction = 0.33), although the effect tended to be stronger in patients with Randomization‐to‐Groin‐Puncture >28 minutes (aOR 4.65 [95% CI 1.16 – 18.68]). There were no significant difference in rates of functional outcomes between patients with and without pre‐interventional reperfusion. Conclusions Even for patients with proximal large vessel occlusions and direct access to MT, IVT leads towards an absolute increase of 6.9% (95% CI 1.7‐12.2%) in the rates of pre‐interventional reperfusion. The effect of IVT tended to be more pronounced when Randomization‐to‐Groin‐Puncture intervals were longer, but this heterogeneity did not reach statistical significance.

EDITORIAL article Front. Neurol., 13 July 2023Sec. Neuroinfectious Diseases Volume 14 - 2023 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fneur.2023.1229843

Zielsetzung To present the first case series of successful stent-assisted coiling of three celiac trunk (CT) pseudoaneurysms. CT aneurysms and pseudoaneuryms are rare but potentially serious clinical conditions. As most patients are asymptomatic, aneurysms are usually detected incidentally. Treatment can be either surgical or endovascular. Reported endovascular repairs include CT occlusion or stent-grafting, if necessary supported by coil or glue embolization. (1-4). Disadvantages include the occlusion of branch arteries such as the left gastric artery (left accessory/replaced hepatic artery), inferior phrenic arteriesand/or splenic artery and dependence on good collateralization.

Background: The importance of an A1 aplasia remains unclear in stroke patients. In this work, we analyze the impact of an A1 aplasia contralateral to an acute occlusion of the distal internal carotid artery (ICA) on clinical outcomes. Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of consecutive stroke patients treated with mechanical thrombectomy at 12 tertiary care centers between January 2015 and February 2021 due to an occlusion of the distal ICA. Functional A1 aplasia was defined as the absence of A1 or hypoplastic A1 (>50% reduction to the contralateral site). Functional independence was measured by the modified Rankin Scale (mRS ≤ 2). Results: In total, 81 out of 1068 (8%) patients had functional A1 aplasia contralateral to distal ICA occlusion. Patients with functional contralateral A1 aplasia were more severely affected on admission (median NIHSS 18, IQR 15–23 vs. 17, IQR 13–21; aOR: 0.672, 95% CI: 0.448–1.007, p = 0.054) and post-interventional ischemic damage was larger (median ASPECTS 5, IQR 1–7, vs. 6, IQR 3–8; aOR: 1.817, 95% CI: 1.184–2.789, p = 0.006). Infarction occurred more often within the ipsilateral ACA territory (20/76, 26% vs. 110/961, 11%; aOR: 2.482, 95% CI: 1.389–4.437, p = 0.002) and both ACA territories (8/76, 11% vs. 5/961, 1%; aOR: 17.968, 95% CI: 4.979–64.847, p ≤ 0.001). Functional contralateral A1 aplasia was associated with a lower rate of functional independence at discharge (6/81, 8% vs. 194/965, 20%; aOR: 2.579, 95% CI: 1.086–6.122, p = 0.032) and after 90 days (5/55, 9% vs. 170/723, 24%; aOR: 2.664, 95% CI: 1.031–6.883, p = 0.043). Conclusions: A functional A1 aplasia contralateral to a distal ICA occlusion is associated with a poorer clinical outcome.

Einleitung We report a successful implantation of a peripheral stent in a dural arteriovenous fistula (dAVF) over a j-shaped 0.035” steel-wire (Rosen). The patient was a 61-year old male presenting with a known dAVF Cognard 2b in the right sigmoid sinus. The jugular vein was thrombosed intracranially.

Introduction Flow diverters have emerged as an effective and widely utilized therapy option for intracranial aneurysms. The DERIVO 2 Embolization Device (DED2) is a new addition to the market and promises better radiopacity.1 Aim of study The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the DED2. Methods We conducted a retrospective multicenter analysis at six interventional facilities. Patients with unruptured or ruptured intracranial aneurysms were included. The primary objective was angiographic aneurysm occlusion at 6 months as measured by the OKM grading scale. Clinical outcome according to mRS was evaluated at 6 months, with major morbidity defined as mRS 3–5. Results We included 37 patients treated with the DED2 between August 2020 and July 2021. Five patients had ruptured aneurysms. 27 patients were female, 10 male, with a medium age of 60. The median mRS was 0 (range 0–4). Average aneurysm size was 9.1 (7.9) mm, while average neck size was 6.8 (6.3) mm. In all cases the DED2 opened upon deployment. Thirty patients were eligible for clinical follow-up (81.1%). 25 (83.3%) had an mRS of 0 or 1, with no clinical deterioration in patients with pre-existing significant morbidity. Three patients died during the follow-up period, two of whom had ruptured aneurysms initially. Follow-up imaging was available in 27 patients (90%), with 23 (85.2%) demonstrating satisfactory aneurysm occlusion OKM grade C-D. Conclusion The DED2 is both safe and effective in the treatment of ruptured and unruptured intracranial aneurysms. References Fujimura S, Brehm A, Takao H, et al. Hemodynamic Characteristics and Clinical Outcome for Intracranial Aneurysms Treated with the Derivo Embolization Device, a Novel Second-generation Flow Diverter. World Neurosurg. 2021 Dec 17; Do you have any conflict of interest to declare?: No

BackgroundThe role of bridging intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) before endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) in the treatment of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) remains debatable. Atrial fibrillation (AF) associated strokes may be associated with reduced treatment effect from IVT. This study compares the effect of bridging IVT in AF and non-AF patients. MethodsThis retrospective cohort study comprised anterior circulation large vessel occlusion (LVO) AIS patients receiving EVT alone or bridging IVT plus EVT within 6 hours of symptom onset. Primary outcome was good functional outcome defined as modified Rankin Scale (mRS) 0-2 at 90 days. Secondary outcomes were successful reperfusion defined as expanded Thrombolysis In Cerebral Infarction (eTICI) grading >= 2b flow, symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (sICH), and in-hospital mortality. ResultsWe included 705 patients (314 AF and 391 non-AF patients). The mean age was 68.6 years and 53.9% were male. The odds of good functional outcomes with bridging IVT was higher in the non-AF (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 2.28, 95% CI 1.06 to 4.91, P=0.035) compared with the AF subgroups (aOR 1.89, 95% CI 0.89 to 4.01, P=0.097). However, this did not constitute a significant effect modification by the presence of AF on bridging IVT (interaction aOR 0.12, 95% CI -1.94 to 2.18, P=0.455). The rate of successful reperfusion, sICH, and mortality were similar between bridging IVT and EVT for both AF and non-AF patients. ConclusionThe presence of AF did not modify the treatment effect of bridging IVT. Further individual patient data meta-analysis of randomized trials may shed light on the comparative efficacy of bridging IVT in AF versus non-AF LVO strokes.

Der akute ischämische Schlaganfall sowie eine Subarachnoidalblutung durch ein rupturiertes intrakranielles Aneurysma sind zwei unterschiedliche zerebrovaskuläre Notfälle, bei denen interventionell-neuroradiologische Therapieverfahren eine zentrale Rolle spielen. Fundierte Kenntnisse über die leitlinienbasierte Indikationsstellung und das jeweilige Vorgehen bei der endovaskulären Behandlung mit deren Vor- und Nachteilen sind Grundlage einer evidenzbasierten Therapieentscheidung. Dieser Artikel soll eine empirische Übersicht für alltägliche Praxissituationen bieten.

Vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT) with cerebral venous thrombosis (CVST) is an improbable (0.0005%), however potentially lethal complication after ChAdOx1 vaccination. On the other hand, headache is among the most frequent side effects of ChAdOx1 (29.3%). In September 2021, the American Heart Association (AHA) suggested a diagnostic workflow to facilitate risk-adapted use of imaging resources for patients with neurological symptoms after ChAdOx1. We aimed to evaluate the AHA workflow in a retrospective patient cohort presenting at four primary care hospitals in Germany for neurological complaints after ChAdOx1. Scientific literature was screened for case reports of VITT with CVST after ChAdOx1, published until September 1st, 2021. One-hundred-thirteen consecutive patients (77 female, mean age 38.7 +/- 11.9 years) were evaluated at our institutes, including one case of VITT with CVST. Further 228 case reports of VITT with CVST are published in recent literature, which share thrombocytopenia (225/227 reported) and elevated d-dimer levels (100/101 reported). The AHA workflow would have recognized all VITT cases with CVST (100% sensitivity), the number needed to diagnose (NND) was 1:113. Initial evaluation of thrombocytopenia or elevated d-dimer levels would have lowered the NND to 1:68, without cost of sensitivity. Hence, we suggest that in case of normal thrombocyte and d-dimer levels, the access to further diagnostics should be limited by the established clinical considerations regardless of vaccination history.

Introduction: Identifying differences in outcome of basilar artery occlusion (BAO) between males and females may be useful in aiding clinical management. Recent studies have demonstrated widespread underrepresentation of women in acute stroke clinical trials. This international multicentre study aimed to determine sex differences in outcome after mechanical thrombectomy (MT) for patients with acute BAO. Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of consecutive patients with BAO who had undergone MT in seven stroke centres across five countries (Singapore, Taiwan, United Kingdom, Sweden, and Germany), between 2015 and 2020. Primary outcome was a favourable functional outcome measured by a modified Ranking Scale (mRS) of 0–3 at 90 days. Secondary outcomes were mRS 0–3 upon discharge, mortality, symptomatic intracranial haemorrhage (sICH) and subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH). Results: Among the 322 patients who underwent MT, 206 (64.0%) patients were male and 116 (36.0%) were female. Females were older than males (mean ± SD 70.9 ± 14.3 years vs. 65.6 ± 133.6 years; p = 0.001) and had higher rates of atrial fibrillation (38.9% vs. 24.2%; p = 0.012). Time from groin puncture to reperfusion was shorter in females than males (mean ± SD 57.2 ± 37.2 min vs. 71.1 ± 50.9 min; p = 0.021). Despite these differences, primary and secondary outcome measures were similar in females and males, with comparable rates of favourable 90-day mRS scores (mean ± SD 46 ± 39.7 vs. 71 ± 34.5; OR = 1.20; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.59–2.43; p = 0.611), favourable discharge mRS scores (mean ± SD 39 ± 31.6 vs. 43 ± 25.9; OR = 1.38; 95% CI = 0.69–2.78; p = 0.368) and in-hospital mortality (mean ± SD 30 ± 25.9 vs. 47 ± 22.8; OR = 1.15; 95% CI = 0.55–2.43; p = 0.710. Rates of complications such as sICH (mean ± SD 5 ± 4.3 vs. 9 ± 4.4; OR = 0.46; 95% CI = 0.08–2.66; p = 0.385) and SAH (mean ± SD 4 ± 3.4 vs. 5 ± 2.4; OR = 0.29; 95% CI = 0.03–3.09; p = 0.303) comparably low in both groups. Conclusion: Females achieved comparable functional outcomes compared with males after undergoing MT for BAO acute ischemic stroke.