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BackgroundThe purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of mechanical thrombectomy (MT) in patients with isolated M2 occlusion and minor symptoms and identify possible baseline predictors of clinical outcome.MethodsThe databases of 16 high-volume stroke centers were retrospectively screened for consecutive patients with isolated M2 occlusion and a baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score ≤5 who received either early MT (eMT) or best medical management (BMM) with the possibility of rescue MT (rMT) on early neurological worsening. Because our patients were not randomized, we used propensity score matching (PSM) to estimate the treatment effect of eMT compared with the BMM/rMT. The primary clinical outcome measure was a 90-day modified Rankin Scale score of 0–1.Results388 patients were initially selected and, after PSM, 100 pairs of patients receiving eMT or BMM/rMT were available for analysis. We found no significant differences in clinical outcome and in safety measures between patients receiving eMT or BMM/rMT. Similar results were also observed after comparison between eMT and rMT. Concerning baseline predicting factors of outcome, the involvement of the M2 inferior branch was associated with a favorable outcome.ConclusionOur multicenter retrospective analysis has shown no benefit of eMT in minor stroke patients with isolated M2 occlusion over a more conservative therapeutic approach. Although our results must be viewed with caution, in these patients it appears reasonable to consider BMM as the first option and rMT in the presence of early neurological deterioration.

BackgroundPatients with minor stroke and M2 occlusion undergoing best medical management (BMM) may face early neurological deterioration (END) that can lead to poor long-term outcome. In case of END, rescue mechanical thrombectomy (rMT) seems beneficial. Our study aimed to define factors relevant to clinical outcome in patients undergoing BMM with the possibility of rMT on END, and find predictors of END.MethodsPatients with M2 occlusion and a baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score≤5 that received either BMM only or rMT on END after BMM were extracted from the databases of 16 comprehensive stroke centers. Clinical outcome measures were a 90-day modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score of 0–1 or 0–2, and occurrence of END.ResultsAmong 10 169 consecutive patients with large vessel occlusion admitted between 2016 and 2021, 208 patients were available for analysis. END was reported in 87 patients that were therefore all subjected to rMT. In a logistic regression model, END (OR 3.386, 95% CI 1.428 to 8.032), baseline NIHSS score (OR 1.362, 95% CI 1.004 to 1.848) and a pre-event mRS score=1 (OR 3.226, 95% CI 1.229 to 8.465) were associated with unfavorable outcome. In patients with END, successful rMT was associated with favorable outcome (OR 4.549, 95% CI 1.098 to 18.851). Among baseline clinical and neuroradiological features, presence of atrial fibrillation was a predictor of END (OR 3.547, 95% CI 1.014 to 12.406).ConclusionPatients with minor stroke due to M2 occlusion and atrial fibrillation should be closely monitored for possible worsening during BMM and, in this case, promptly considered for rMT.

Mechanical thrombectomy (MT) is currently the gold standard treatment for ischemic stroke due to large vessel occlusion (LVO). However, the evidence of clinical usefulness of MT in posterior circulation LVO (pc-LVO) is still doubtful compared to the anterior circulation, especially in patients with mild neurological symptoms. The database of 10 high-volume stroke centers in Europe, including a period of three year and a half, was screened for patients with an acute basilar artery occlusion or a single dominant vertebral artery occlusion (“functional” BAO) presenting with a NIHSS ≤10, and with at least 3 months follow-up. A total of 63 patients were included. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that female gender (adjusted OR 0.04; 95% CI 0–0.84; p = 0.04) and combined technique (adj OR 0.001; 95% CI 0–0.81; p = 0.04) were predictors of worse outcome. Higher pc-ASPECTS (adj OR 4.75; 95% CI 1.33–16.94; p = 0.02) and higher Delta NIHSS (adj OR 2.06; 95% CI 1.16–3.65; p = 0.01) were predictors of better outcome. Delta NIHSS was the main predictor of good outcome at 90 days in patients with posterior circulation LVO presenting with NIHSS score ≤ 10.

We describe how the fusion process between magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) and cisternography (MRC) promptly reveals vessel anatomy ahead of the clot, in patients affected by acute anterior circulation large vessel occlusion. This technique showed in 100% of subjects ( n  = 22) a clear tracing of vessel anatomy before and beyond the clot. The duration of the whole process is short and could be considered safe since no outcome differences have been found when compared with a control group ( n  = 23). This technique could play a relevant role in guiding endovascular therapy, especially in unexpected unfavorable anatomical arteries configurations.

Background and PurposeThe benefit of mechanical thrombectomy (MT) in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) due to large vessel occlusion (LVO) and baseline mild neurological symptoms remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of MT in this subgroup of patients.MethodsThe databases of 9 high-volume Italian stroke centers were retrospectively screened for patients with LVO in the anterior circulation and a baseline National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score ≤ 5 that received either immediate MT or best medical management (BMM) with the possibility of rescue MT upon neurological worsening. Primary outcome measure was a modified Rankin Scale score of 0–1 at 90 days. Propensity score matching (PSM) analysis was used to estimate the treatment effect of immediate MT compared to BMM/rescue MT.ResultsTwo hundred and seventy-two patients received immediate MT (MT group). The BMM/rescue MT group included 41 patients. The primary outcome was achieved in 78.6% (n = 246) of overall patients, with a higher proportion in the MT group (80.5% vs. 65.9%, p = 0.03) in unadjusted analysis. After PSM, patients in the MT group had a 19.5% higher chance of excellent outcome at 90 days compared to the BMM/Rescue MT group with a similar risk of death from any cause.ConclusionsOur experience is in favor of a potential benefit of MT also in patients with LVO and a NIHSS score ≤ 5 at the time of groin puncture. Nonetheless, this issue waits for a clear-cut recommendation in a dedicated clinical trial.

PurposeTreating small-caliber vessel aneurysms with flow diverters poses challenges due to narrow luminal diameters and tortuous vasculature, which complicate the navigation and deployment of conventional devices using standard microcatheters. The Silk Vista Baby (SVB, Balt, Montmorency, France) flow diverter was developed to treat intracranial aneurysms located in smaller vessels or more distal segments and is compatible with 0.017″ microcatheters. We present the largest multicenter analysis to date evaluating the outcomes of SVB use in unruptured distal anterior cerebral artery (DACA) aneurysms.MethodsRetrospective data from 20 centers were reviewed for patients with unruptured DACA aneurysms treated with the SVB. Demographic information, clinical presentation, radiographic characteristics, complications, and outcomes were recorded.ResultsSeventy-nine patients (79 DACA aneurysms) were treated between January 2018 and December 2022; 59 were female (74.7%), and the median age was 61 years (IQR 53–67). Most aneurysms were saccular (89.9%), and 65.8% involved a branch. The median parent vessel diameter was 1.9 mm (IQR 1.7–2.1). A single stent was implanted in 97.5% of cases; 2.5% required two stents. The median imaging follow-up duration was 12 months (IQR 9.5–24). At the last follow-up, 76% of aneurysms showed complete or near-complete occlusion (O’Kelly–Marotta scale C or D, Raymond-Roy 1 or 2). Overall, thromboembolic or hemorrhagic complications occurred in 14% of patients, with two cases being symptomatic. The mortality rate was 0%, and the retreatment rate was 1.3%.ConclusionIn this multicenter series, the SVB flow diverter represented a valuable treatment option for distal anterior cerebral artery (DACA) aneurysms.

Pompe disease is a rare hereditary metabolic disorder caused by α-glucosidase (GAA) deficiency. The late-onset form of the disease (LOPD) is considered a multisystemic disorder which could involve vascular system with cerebrovascular abnormalities such as intracranial aneurysms or dolichoectasia. Intracranial aneurysm rupture may represent a life-threatening emergency. A possible treatment of unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIAs) should consider both aneurysm-related (aneurysmal size, shape, localization, numbers and hemodynamic factors) and patient-related risk factors (patient’s age and sex, hypertension, smoke exposure). Moreover, UIAs management of LOPD patients needs also to take into account the altered blood vessels integrity and elasticity, whose consistency is likely weakened by the deficient GAA activity as a further potential risk factor. We herein present our approach for of UIAs management in three patients with LOPD. Among them, only one patient with a left saccular UIA of the anterior communicating artery, after careful consideration of risk factors, underwent the endovascular treatment. The other two patients were scheduled for a 1-year follow-up, according to radiological, clinical, and risk evaluation features. Finally, we would like to suggest some general recommendations for UIAs management. In particular, if no risk factors are identified, a cautious yearly follow-up is suggested; otherwise, if risk factors are present, endovascular treatment should be considered.

Background: Acute ischemic stroke (AIS) due to basilar artery occlusion (BAO) represents 1–4% of all ischemic strokes. BAO results in strokes associated with a high risk of a poor functional outcome and, in 86–95% of the untreated cases, it results in death because of the vital cerebral structures involved. Diagnosis can be delayed because of the variability in presenting symptoms, and acute treatment is often attempted even beyond 6 h from symptoms onset because of the high risk of a fatal prognosis. Objective: In this observational study, we retrospectively analyzed patients with AIS due to BAO referred to the stroke center of the University Hospital of Messina. We aimed to assess prognostic factors and to evaluate the association between clinical outcome and posterior circulation Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score (pc-ASPECTS) and collateral status. Method: BAO was confirmed by cerebral computed tomography (CT) angiography or cerebral angiography. All patients underwent CT scan and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). We assessed the pc-ASPECTS on diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) MR images and the Posterior Circulation Collateral Score (PC-CS) for every patient. Functional outcome was assessed at 3 months using the modified Rankin Scale (mRS). Results: The study population consisted of 27 patients; 16 males and 11 females. The mean age was 66 (±14) years. We observed a favorable outcome (mRS 0–3) in 40.7% of cases, 25.9% reached mRS 0–2, and 29.6% had a poor clinical outcome (mRS 4–5). Patient survival was 70.4%, whereas 8 patients died (29.6%). In 7 patients, pc-ASPECTS was ≥7. According to the PC-CS, 33.3% had moderate collaterals and 63.0% had good collateral status prior to receiving the treatment. Favorable outcome was significantly associated with age, NIHSS score at admission, pc-ASPECTS, hypercholesterolemia, and female sex but not with the other risk factors. Conclusions: In our study, we found that younger age, low NIHSS score at admission, and high pc-ASPECTS, but not onset to treatment time, are associated with a favorable clinical outcome. Transferred patients did not have a significantly poorer outcome. These findings confirm that acute stroke treatment improves clinical outcome in BAO patients, in spite of a delayed diagnosis and an extended therapeutic window, considering lesion volume and localization in DWI MRI.

BackgroundData about the safety and the efficacy of flow diversion for distal anterior cerebral artery (DACA) aneurysms are limited. We present the largest multicenter analysis evaluating the outcomes of flow diversion in unruptured DACA aneurysm treatment.MethodsDatabases from 39 centers were retrospectively reviewed for unruptured DACA aneurysms treated with flow-diverting stents. Demographics, clinical presentation, radiographic characteristics, procedural complications, and outcomes were assessed.ResultsA total of 168 patients with 168 unruptured DACA aneurysms were treated between January 2018 and December 2022. One hundred and twenty-five were women (74.4%) and the median age was 61 (IQR 52–67) years. The most common morphology was saccular (91.7%), with branch involvement in 61.9% of cases. Median parent vessel diameter was 1.9 mm (IQR 1.7–2.2) and stents were successfully deployed in 99.4% of cases. In 96.4% a single stent was implanted, while 3.6% of cases required two stents. Median imaging follow-up was 16.5 (IQR 7–24) months. At last follow-up the rate of occlusion (O’Kelly–Marotta scale C or D) was 82.1%. Symptomatic thromboembolic or hemorrhagic complications occurred in 5.3% of patients and the mortality rate was 0.6%. The rate of retreatment was 1.2%.ConclusionsFlow-diverting stents are a reasonably safe and effective treatment option for unruptured DACA aneurysms.

Neurological manifestations related to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection may involve both peripheral and central nervous systems, including acute ischemic stroke and cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST). Hereby, we present an adult patient with post-vaccination breakthrough COVID-19 infection and CVST, treated with venous mechanical thrombectomy (MT). The patient manifested continuous tonic-clonic seizures, after an insidious presentation with headache and left-sided weakness. SARS-CoV-2 testing was positive, despite full vaccination, using two approved mRNA platforms. Factor V Leiden polymorphism was detected. The patient was initially managed with anticoagulation, followed by MT with a positive response. We provided a comparison to similar cases of COVID-19-associated CVST undergoing mechanical thrombectomy. High index of suspicion and prompt diagnosis are extremely important to ensure immediate hospitalization and therapy, since CVST associated with either vaccines or COVID-19 seems to evolve rapidly and with a high mortality rate. Even a breakthrough infection may present severe vascular complications. In addition, evaluation of acquired and hereditary thrombophilia may be beneficial in acute phase, also without a previous history of thrombosis. Clinicians should start early medical treatment and additionally consider the endovascular approach as an optimistic choice in refractory CVST related to SARS-CoV-2 infection.