BACKGROUND: Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a common and potentially life-threatening diagnosis when a certain amount of thrombotic mass obstructs blood flow through the pulmonary circulation. The finding of acute and subacute ischaemic foci on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain in a group of patients with this diagnosis in whom we demonstrate the presence of patent foramen ovale (PFO) by transoesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is surprisingly high. METHODS: A total of 129 patients with a diagnosis of pulmonary embolism (confirmed by computed tomography with contrast agent, CTA) who consented to further examination were examined by transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and transoesophageal echocardiography (TEE) with contrast agent, underwent magnetic resonance imaging of the brain according to a specific protocol, and underwent a comprehensive baseline laboratory examination. RESULTS: In our group of 129 patients, we found the presence of PFO in 36.4% (n=47) of them. A total of 5.4% (n=7) patients had asymptomatic acute and subacute ischaemic changes on brain MRI; 6 of them had concomitant PFO. The statistically significant correlation between troponin levels and the presence of pathological findings on MRI and the trend of a similar correlation for NT-proBNP values is also very interesting finding. CONCLUSIONS: The association between the presence of PFO and the occurrence of symptomatic or asymptomatic findings on brain MRI is a well-known fact (the issue of paradoxical embolism) but the high frequency of acute and subacute lesions on brain MRI in the group of patients with a diagnosis of acute PE is surprising.

• Keywords
• paradoxical embolism, patent foramen ovale, pulmonary embolism, stroke,
• MeSH
• Acute Disease MeSH
• Adult MeSH
• Echocardiography, Transesophageal MeSH
• Echocardiography MeSH
• Foramen Ovale, Patent * complications   diagnostic imaging   MeSH
• Incidence MeSH
• Brain Ischemia diagnostic imaging   MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging * MeSH
• Pulmonary Embolism * diagnostic imaging   MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Check Tag
• Adult MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

Currently, with the knowledge of the role of collateral circulation in the development of cerebral ischaemia, traditional therapeutic windows are being prolonged, with time not being the only criterion. Instead, a more personalised approach is applied to select additional patients who might benefit from active treatment. This review briefly describes the current knowledge of the pathophysiology of the development of early ischaemic changes, the capabilities of MRI to depict such changes, and the basics of the routinely used imaging techniques broadly available for the assessment of individual phases of cerebral ischaemia, and summarises the possible clinical use of routine MR imaging, including patient selection for active treatment and assessment of the outcome on the basis of imaging.

• Keywords
• DWI-ASPECTS, DWI-FLAIR mismatch, Ischaemic stroke,
• MeSH
• Cerebral Infarction MeSH
• Stroke * diagnostic imaging   therapy   MeSH
• Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging methods   MeSH
• Brain Edema * MeSH
• Ischemic Stroke * MeSH
• Brain Ischemia * diagnostic imaging   therapy   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Review MeSH

PURPOSE: Endovascular treatment (EVT) of tandem lesion (TL) in anterior circulation (AC) acute ischemic stroke (AIS) represents still a clinical challenge. We aimed to evaluate selected factors related to EVT and assess other possible predictors of good clinical outcome besides the generally known ones. METHODS: AIS patients with TL in AC treated with EVT were enrolled in the multicenter retrospective ASCENT study. A good three-month clinical outcome was scored as 0-2 points in modified Rankin Scale (mRS) and achieved recanalization using the TICI scale. Symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (SICH) was assessed using the SITS-MOST criteria. Logistic regression analysis was used for the assessment of possible predictors of mRS 0-2 with adjustment for potential confounders. RESULTS: In total, 300 (68.7% males, mean age 67.3 ± 10.2 years) patients with median of admission NIHSS 17 were analyzed. Recanalization (TICI 2b-3) was achieved in 290 (96.7%) patients and 176 (58.7%) had mRS 0-2. Besides the age, admission NIHSS and SICH, admission glycemia (p = 0.005, OR: 0.884) the stent patency within the first 30 days after EVT (p = 0.0003, OR: 0.219), dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) started within 12 h after EVT (p < 0.0001, OR: 5.006) and statin therapy started within 24 h after stenting (p < 0.0001, OR: 5.558) were found as other predictors. CONCLUSION: Admission glycemia, start of DAPT within 12 h and statin therapy within 24 h after EVT, and stent patency within the first 30 days after EVT were found as other predictors of good three-month clinical outcome in AIS patients treated with EVT for TL.

• Keywords
• Acute ischemic stroke, Clinical outcome, Endovascular treatment, Tandem lesion,
• MeSH
• Stroke * diagnostic imaging   therapy   etiology   MeSH
• Endovascular Procedures * methods   MeSH
• Ischemic Stroke * diagnostic imaging   surgery   MeSH
• Brain Ischemia * diagnostic imaging   therapy   etiology   MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Retrospective Studies MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors * MeSH
• Thrombectomy methods   MeSH
• Treatment Outcome MeSH
• Check Tag
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Multicenter Study MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors * MeSH

BACKGROUND: Recent evidence suggests a beneficial effect of endovascular thrombectomy in acute ischaemic stroke with large infarct; however, previous trials have relied on multimodal brain imaging, whereas non-contrast CT is mostly used in clinical practice. METHODS: In a prospective multicentre, open-label, randomised trial, patients with acute ischaemic stroke due to large vessel occlusion in the anterior circulation and a large established infarct indicated by an Alberta Stroke Program Early Computed Tomographic Score (ASPECTS) of 3-5 were randomly assigned using a central, web-based system (using a 1:1 ratio) to receive either endovascular thrombectomy with medical treatment or medical treatment (ie, standard of care) alone up to 12 h from stroke onset. The study was conducted in 40 hospitals in Europe and one site in Canada. The primary outcome was functional outcome across the entire range of the modified Rankin Scale at 90 days, assessed by investigators masked to treatment assignment. The primary analysis was done in the intention-to-treat population. Safety endpoints included mortality and rates of symptomatic intracranial haemorrhage and were analysed in the safety population, which included all patients based on the treatment they received. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03094715. FINDINGS: From July 17, 2018, to Feb 21, 2023, 253 patients were randomly assigned, with 125 patients assigned to endovascular thrombectomy and 128 to medical treatment alone. The trial was stopped early for efficacy after the first pre-planned interim analysis. At 90 days, endovascular thrombectomy was associated with a shift in the distribution of scores on the modified Rankin Scale towards better outcome (adjusted common OR 2·58 [95% CI 1·60-4·15]; p=0·0001) and with lower mortality (hazard ratio 0·67 [95% CI 0·46-0·98]; p=0·038). Symptomatic intracranial haemorrhage occurred in seven (6%) patients with thrombectomy and in six (5%) with medical treatment alone. INTERPRETATION: Endovascular thrombectomy was associated with improved functional outcome and lower mortality in patients with acute ischaemic stroke from large vessel occlusion with established large infarct in a setting using non-contrast CT as the predominant imaging modality for patient selection. FUNDING: EU Horizon 2020.

• MeSH
• Stroke * diagnostic imaging   surgery   MeSH
• Endovascular Procedures * methods   MeSH
• Infarction complications   MeSH
• Intracranial Hemorrhages etiology   MeSH
• Ischemic Stroke * diagnostic imaging   surgery   MeSH
• Brain Ischemia * diagnostic imaging   surgery   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Prospective Studies MeSH
• Thrombectomy methods   MeSH
• Treatment Outcome MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Multicenter Study MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Randomized Controlled Trial MeSH
• Geographicals
• Alberta MeSH

PURPOSE: To investigate the safety and efficacy of baseline antiplatelet treatment in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) undergoing mechanical thrombectomy (MT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Baseline use of antiplatelet medication before MT for (AIS) may provide benefit on reperfusion and clinical outcome but could also carry an increased risk of intracranial hemorrhage (ICH). All consecutive patients with AIS and treated with MT with and without intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) between January 2012 and December 2019 in all centers performing MT nationwide were reviewed. Data were prospectively collected in national registries (eg, SITS-TBY and RES-Q). Primary outcome was functional independence (modified Rankin Scale 0-2) at 3 months; secondary outcome was ICH. RESULTS: Of the 4,351 patients who underwent MT, 1,750 (40%) and 666 (15%) were excluded owing to missing data from the functional independence and ICH outcome cohorts, respectively. In the functional independence cohort (n = 2,601), 771 (30%) patients received antiplatelets before MT. Favorable outcome did not differ in any antiplatelet, aspirin, and clopidogrel groups when compared with that in the no-antiplatelet group: odds ratio (OR), 1.00 (95% CI, 0.84-1.20); OR, 1.05 (95% CI, 0.86-1.27); and OR, 0.88 (95% CI, 0.55-1.41), respectively. In the ICH cohort (n = 3,685), 1095 (30%) patients received antiplatelets before MT. The rates of ICH did not increase in any treatment options (any antiplatelet, aspirin, clopidogrel, and dual antiplatelet groups) when compared with those in the no-antiplatelet group: OR, 1.03 (95% CI, 0.87-1.21); OR, 0.99 (95% CI, 0.83-1.18); OR, 1.10 (95% CI, 0.82-1.47); and OR, 1.43 (95% CI, 0.87-2.33), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Antiplatelet monotherapy before MT did not improve functional independence or increase the risk of ICH.

• MeSH
• Aspirin adverse effects   MeSH
• Stroke * diagnostic imaging   therapy   MeSH
• Intracranial Hemorrhages chemically induced   MeSH
• Ischemic Stroke * diagnostic imaging   therapy   MeSH
• Brain Ischemia * diagnostic imaging   therapy   MeSH
• Clopidogrel adverse effects   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Mechanical Thrombolysis * adverse effects   MeSH
• Thrombectomy adverse effects   MeSH
• Thrombolytic Therapy adverse effects   MeSH
• Treatment Outcome MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Aspirin MeSH
• Clopidogrel MeSH

BACKGROUND: Acute ischemic stroke (AIS) due to anterior circulation tandem lesion (TL) remains a technical and clinical challenge for endovascular treatment (EVT). Conflicting results from observational studies and missing evidence from the randomized trials led us to report a recent real-world multicenter clinical experience and evaluate possible predictors of good outcome after EVT. METHODS: We analyzed all AIS patients with TL enrolled in the prospective national study METRICS (Mechanical Thrombectomy Quality Indicators Study in Czech Stroke Centers). A good 3-month clinical outcome was scored as 0-2 points in modified Rankin Scale (mRS), achieved recanalization using the Thrombolysis In Cerebral Infarction (TICI) scale and symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (sICH) according to the Safe Implementation of Thrombolysis in Stroke-Monitoring Study (SITS-MOST) criteria. RESULTS: Of 1178 patients enrolled in METRICS, 194 (19.2%) (59.8% males, mean age 68.7±11.5 years) were treated for TL. They did not differ in mRS 0-2 (48.7% vs 46.7%; p=0.616), mortality (17.3% vs 22.7%; p=0.103) and sICH (4.7% vs 5.1%; p=0.809) from those with single occlusion (SO). More TL patients with prior intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) reached TICI 3 (70.3% vs 50.8%; p=0.012) and mRS 0-2 (55.4% vs 34.4%; p=0.007) than those without IVT. No difference was found in the rate of sICH (6.2% vs 1.6%; p=0.276). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed prior IVT as a predictor of mRS 0-2 after adjustment for potential confounders (OR 3.818, 95% CI 1.614 to 9.030, p=0.002). CONCLUSION: Patients with TL did not differ from those with SO in outcomes after EVT. TL patients with prior IVT had more complete recanalization and mRS 0-2 and IVT was found to be a predictor of good outcome after EVT.

• Keywords
• Stent, Stroke, Thrombectomy,
• MeSH
• Benchmarking MeSH
• Cerebral Hemorrhage etiology   MeSH
• Stroke * diagnostic imaging   surgery   MeSH
• Endovascular Procedures * methods   MeSH
• Fibrinolytic Agents MeSH
• Ischemic Stroke * diagnostic imaging   surgery   MeSH
• Brain Ischemia * diagnostic imaging   therapy   etiology   MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Prospective Studies MeSH
• Aged, 80 and over MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Thrombectomy adverse effects   MeSH
• Thrombolytic Therapy methods   MeSH
• Treatment Outcome MeSH
• Check Tag
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Aged, 80 and over MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Multicenter Study MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Fibrinolytic Agents MeSH

OBJECTIVE: We analysed outcomes of patients who received off-label repeated thrombolysis with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator for ischemic stroke recurrence within 10 days (ultraearly repeated thrombolysis, UERT). METHOD: We identified patients receiving UERT from the prospective telestroke network of South-East Bavaria (TEMPiS) registry and by database search (Pubmed, Google scholar). Corresponding authors were contacted for further details. Baseline demographic data and clinical, laboratory, and imaging findings were analysed in a multicentric case study. RESULTS: Sixteen patients receiving UERT were identified. The median time between first and second thrombolysis was 3.5 days. In patients with available data, second thrombolysis achieved an early clinical improvement (NIHSS reduction ≥4 points) in 12 of 14 (85.7%) and a favourable outcome (mRS 0-2 after 3 months) in 11 of 16 (68.8%) patients. Intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) occurred in 4 patients (25.0%) with one fatal large parenchymatous haemorrhage (6.3%). Neither allergic reactions nor other immunoreactive events were observed. CONCLUSIONS: In our analysis UERT led to early clinical improvement and a favourable clinical outcome in a high percentage of patients with ICH rates comparable to prior publications. UERT might be considered in patients with early recurrent stroke under careful risk-benefit assessment.

• Keywords
• Acute ischemic stroke, Intracerebral haemorrhage, Multicentre case study, Recurrent ischemic stroke, Repeated thrombolysis,
• MeSH
• Cerebral Hemorrhage etiology   MeSH
• Stroke * diagnostic imaging   drug therapy   MeSH
• Fibrinolytic Agents therapeutic use   MeSH
• Ischemic Stroke * drug therapy   MeSH
• Brain Ischemia * diagnostic imaging   drug therapy   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Prospective Studies MeSH
• Tissue Plasminogen Activator therapeutic use   MeSH
• Thrombolytic Therapy methods   MeSH
• Treatment Outcome MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Multicenter Study MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Fibrinolytic Agents MeSH
• Tissue Plasminogen Activator MeSH

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Identifying the presence and extent of intracranial thrombi is crucial in selecting patients with acute ischemic stroke for treatment. This article aims to develop an automated approach to quantify thrombus on NCCT and CTA in patients with stroke. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 499 patients with large-vessel occlusion from the Safety and Efficacy of Nerinetide in Subjects Undergoing Endovascular Thrombectomy for Stroke (ESCAPE-NA1) trial were included. All patients had thin-section NCCT and CTA images. Thrombi contoured manually were used as reference standard. A deep learning approach was developed to segment thrombi automatically. Of 499 patients, 263 and 66 patients were randomly selected to train and validate the deep learning model, respectively; the remaining 170 patients were independently used for testing. The deep learning model was quantitatively compared with the reference standard using the Dice coefficient and volumetric error. The proposed deep learning model was externally tested on 83 patients with and without large-vessel occlusion from another independent trial. RESULTS: The developed deep learning approach obtained a Dice coefficient of 70.7% (interquartile range, 58.0%-77.8%) in the internal cohort. The predicted thrombi length and volume were correlated with those of expert-contoured thrombi (r = 0.88 and 0.87, respectively; P < .001). When the derived deep learning model was applied to the external data set, the model obtained similar results in patients with large-vessel occlusion regarding the Dice coefficient (66.8%; interquartile range, 58.5%-74.6%), thrombus length (r = 0.73), and volume (r = 0.80). The model also obtained a sensitivity of 94.12% (32/34) and a specificity of 97.96% (48/49) in classifying large-vessel occlusion versus non-large-vessel occlusion. CONCLUSIONS: The proposed deep learning method can reliably detect and measure thrombi on NCCT and CTA in patients with acute ischemic stroke.

• MeSH
• Stroke * diagnostic imaging   MeSH
• Computed Tomography Angiography methods   MeSH
• Deep Learning * MeSH
• Intracranial Thrombosis * diagnostic imaging   MeSH
• Ischemic Stroke * diagnostic imaging   MeSH
• Brain Ischemia * diagnostic imaging   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Thrombosis * MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH

BACKGROUND: Despite all the gains that have been achieved with endovascular mechanical thrombectomy revascularization and intravenous thrombolysis logistics since 2015, there is still a subgroup of patients with salvageable brain tissue for whom persistent emergent large vessel occlusion portends a catastrophic outcome. OBJECTIVE: To test the safety and efficacy of emergent microsurgical intervention in patients with acute ischemic stroke and symptomatic middle cerebral artery occlusion after failure of mechanical thrombectomy. METHODS: A prospective two-center cohort study was conducted. Patients with acute ischemic stroke and middle cerebral artery occlusion for whom recanalization failed at center 1 were randomly allocated to the microsurgical intervention group (MSIG) or control group 1 (CG1). All similar patients at center 2 were included in the control group 2 (CG2) with no surgical intervention. Microsurgical embolectomy and/or extracranial-intracranial bypass was performed in all MSIG patients at center 1. RESULTS: A total of 47 patients were enrolled in the study: 22 at center 1 (12 allocated to the MSIG and 10 to the CG1) and 25 patients at center 2 (CG2). MSIG group patients showed a better clinical outcome on day 90 after the stroke, where a modified Rankin Scale score of 0-2 was reached in 7 (58.3%) of 12 patients compared with 1/10 (10.0%) patients in the CG1 and 3/12 (12.0%) in the CG2. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated the potential for existing microsurgical techniques to provide good outcomes in 58% of microsurgically treated patients as a third-tier option.

• Keywords
• Stroke, Thrombectomy, Thrombolysis,
• MeSH
• Carotid Artery, Internal surgery   MeSH
• Stroke * diagnostic imaging   surgery   MeSH
• Endovascular Procedures * methods   MeSH
• Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery MeSH
• Ischemic Stroke * MeSH
• Brain Ischemia * diagnostic imaging   surgery   MeSH
• Cohort Studies MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Prospective Studies MeSH
• Retrospective Studies MeSH
• Thrombectomy adverse effects   methods   MeSH
• Treatment Outcome MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Randomized Controlled Trial MeSH

Computed tomography perfusion (CTP) is a functional examination of brain tissue that characterises the state of cerebral perfusion and provides information about the current status of the circulation. CTP can improve diagnostic accuracy of ischemic stroke. Published studies showed that perfusion imaging improves the prognosis of patients with acute ischemic stroke in anterior circulation and allows patients to be referred for treatment outside the time window for administration of intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) or mechanical thrombectomy (MT). In this review we discuss technical aspects of CTP, clinical significance of CTP in anterior circulation stroke (ACS) and its role in diagnostics of stroke mimics.

• Keywords
• Computed tomography perfusion, Ischemic stroke, Stroke mimics,
• MeSH
• Ischemic Stroke * diagnostic imaging   therapy   MeSH
• Brain Ischemia * diagnostic imaging   therapy   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Perfusion MeSH
• Tomography, X-Ray Computed methods   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Review MeSH