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Background: Stroke is a leading cause of long-term disability. Greater rehabilitation therapy after stroke is known to improve functional outcomes. This study examined therapy doses during the first year of stroke recovery and identified factors that predict rehabilitation therapy dose. Methods: Adults with new radiologically confirmed stroke were enrolled 2 to 10 days after stroke onset at 28 acute care hospitals across the United States. Following an initial assessment during acute hospitalization, the number of physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy sessions were determined at visits occurring 3, 6, and 12 months following stroke. Negative binomial regression examined whether clinical and demographic factors were associated with therapy counts. False discovery rate was used to correct for multiple comparisons. Results: Of 763 patients enrolled during acute stroke admission, 510 were available for follow-up. Therapy counts were low overall, with most therapy delivered within the first 3 months; 35.0% of patients received no physical therapy; 48.8%, no occupational therapy, and 61.7%, no speech therapy. Discharge destination was significantly related to cumulative therapy; the percentage of patients discharged to an inpatient rehabilitation facility varied across sites, from 0% to 71%. Most demographic factors did not predict therapy dose, although Hispanic patients received a lower cumulative amount of physical therapy and occupational therapy. Acutely, the severity of clinical factors (grip strength and National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score, as well as National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale subscores for aphasia and neglect) predicted higher subsequent therapy doses. Measures of impairment and function (Fugl-Meyer, modified Rankin Scale, and Stroke Impact Scale Activities of Daily Living) assessed 3 months after stroke also predicted subsequent cumulative therapy doses. Conclusions: Rehabilitative therapy doses during the first year poststroke are low in the United States. This is the first US-wide study to demonstrate that behavioral deficits predict therapy dose, with patients having more severe deficits receiving higher doses. Findings suggest directions for identifying groups at risk of receiving disproportionately low rehabilitation doses.

OBJECTIVE The authors compared the Contour Neurovascular System (Contour) with the Woven EndoBridge (WEB) device for the treatment of wide-necked cerebral aneurysms at a bifurcation or sidewall. METHODS Prospective clinical and radiological data were collected for all patients treated with either the Contour or WEB at a tertiary university hospital from May 2018 to June 2022. RESULTS In patients who had at least 3 months of follow-up data available (median patient age 60.0 [IQR 51.8–67.0] years, male/female ratio 1:1.4), the authors compared 40 aneurysms in 34 patients treated with the Contour and 30 aneurysms in 30 patients treated with the WEB. Overall, 26 middle cerebral artery, 24 anterior communicating artery, 9 basilar artery tip, 4 posterior communicating artery, 4 internal carotid artery, 1 anterior cerebral artery, 1 posterior inferior cerebellar artery, and 1 superior cerebellar artery aneurysm were treated. In the Contour cohort, complete occlusion at last follow-up was achieved for 30 aneurysms (75%) and a small neck remnant was seen in 6 aneurysms (15%), summing up to an adequate occlusion rate of 90%. One aneurysm (2.5%) had to be retreated, and 1 symptomatic thromboembolic event (2.5%) was observed with complete remission at discharge. Three adjunctive stents (10%) had to be used due to branch occlusion. In the WEB cohort, adequate occlusion was also seen in 90% of aneurysms (complete occlusion in 19 [63.3%] and remnant neck in 8 [26.7%], with a retreatment rate of 20%). Four WEBs (13.3%) needed additional stent placement due to device protrusion into a branch, 2 asymptomatic thromboembolic events (6.7%) were noted, and 1 major ischemic event (3.3%) due to M2 occlusion was noted. One patient treated with the WEB died between follow-ups of causes unrelated to the aneurysm, treatment, or device. Time from first measurement to deployment and thus total treatment time was significantly shorter in the Contour group (p = 0.004), regardless of whether a prior angiogram was available for aneurysm measurement and device sizing. CONCLUSIONS Results for the Contour were promising, although longer follow-up is necessary to draw more solid conclusions on the utility and risk profile of this new device compared with the already widely used WEB device. Adequate occlusion at last follow-up was the same for both devices, whereas the probability of complete occlusion at last follow-up was significantly higher for the Contour, and the WEB showed a significantly higher retreatment rate. Median deployment times were significantly shorter with the Contour than the WEB.

OBJECTIVE The Pipeline Embolization Device (PED) has prompted a paradigm shift in the approach to posterior circulation aneurysms. The year 2021 marks a decade since FDA approval of this flow diverter, and during this time operators have adapted to its off-label uses. The authors examined whether case selection, practice trends, and patient outcomes have changed over this 10-year period. METHODS This study is a retrospective review of consecutive posterior circulation aneurysms managed with the PED at four academic institutions in the US between January 1, 2011, and January 1, 2021. Factors related to case selection, rates of aneurysm occlusion, or complications were identified and evaluated. Angiographic outcomes as well as thromboembolic and hemorrhagic complications were investigated. RESULTS This study included 117 patients (median age 60 years). At a median follow-up of 12 months, adequate occlusion (> 90%) was attained in 73.2% of aneurysms. Aneurysm occlusion rates were similar over the study interval. Thromboembolic and hemorrhagic complications were reported in 12.0% and 6.0% of the procedures, respectively. There was a nonsignificant trend toward a decline in the rate of thromboembolic (14.1% in 2011–2015 vs 9.4% in 2016–2021, p = 0.443) and hemorrhagic (9.4% in 2011–2015 vs 1.9% in 2016–2021, p = 0.089) complications. CONCLUSIONS The authors observed a trend toward a decline in the rate of thromboembolic and hemorrhagic complications with improved operator experience in using the PED for posterior circulation aneurysms. The use of single-device PED flow diversion significantly increased, as did the tendency to treat smaller aneurysms and observe large unruptured fusiform/dolichoectatic lesions. These findings reflect changes attributable to evolving judgment with maturing experience in PED use.

Background The Woven EndoBridge (WEB) device was explicitly designed for wide-neck intracranial bifurcation aneurysms. Small-scale reports have evaluated the off-label use of WEB devices for the treatment of sidewall aneurysms, with promising outcomes. Purpose To compare the angiographic and clinical outcomes of the WEB device for the treatment of sidewall aneurysms compared with the treatment of bifurcation aneurysms. Materials and Methods A retrospective review of the WorldWideWEB Consortium, a synthesis of retrospective databases spanning from January 2011 to June 2021 at 22 academic institutions in North America, South America, and Europe, was performed to identify patients with intracranial aneurysms treated with the WEB device. Characteristics and outcomes were compared between bifurcation and sidewall aneurysms. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to match by age, pretreatment ordinal modified Rankin Scale score, ruptured aneurysms, location of aneurysm, multiple aneurysms, prior treatment, neck, height, dome width, daughter sac, and incorporated branch. Results A total of 683 intracranial aneurysms were treated using the WEB device in 671 patients (median age, 61 years [IQR, 53-68 years]; male-to-female ratio, 1:2.5). Of those, 572 were bifurcation aneurysms and 111 were sidewall aneurysms. PSM was performed, resulting in 91 bifurcation and sidewall aneurysms pairs. No significant difference was observed in occlusion status at last follow-up, deployment success, or complication rates between the two groups. Conclusion No significantly different outcomes were observed following the off-label use of the Woven EndoBridge, or WEB, device for treatment of sidewall aneurysms compared with bifurcation aneurysms. The correct characterization of the sidewall aneurysm location, neck angle, and size is crucial for successful treatment and lower retreatment rate. © RSNA, 2022 See also the editorial by Hetts in this issue.

Background Endovascular therapy has revolutionized the treatment of cerebral aneurysms in recent years and decades. So-called intrasaccular devices (i.e., Woven EndoBridge (WEB), MicroVention, Aliso Viejo, CA, or Contour, Cerus Neurovascular, Fremont, CA) are a promising endovascular technology, especially for wide-based aneurysms. However, long-term outcome data are currently particularly scarce for Contour and strategies for failed Contour cases are lacking. Here, we report the feasibility of microsurgical clipping after failed Contour device embolization. Methods Feasibility of microsurgical clipping after failed aneurysm embolization with a Contour intrasaccular device was assessed in a patient. Results We present a case of a 36-year-old male patient diagnosed with Hunt and Hess grade 1 subarachnoid hemorrhage from an anterior communicating artery aneurysm. The ruptured aneurysm was initially treated with the Contour device. After 3 months, angiographic imaging showed a clear aneurysm residual deemed not endovascularly accessible. The patient was then successfully clipped using microsurgical techniques. The patient was discharged with no neurological abnormalities. Conclusion After thorough bibliographical research, this presents the first published case report of microsurgical clipping after failed embolization with Contour. The main insights gained after clipping were that the Contour does not significantly disturb or hinder clipping. In contrast to coils in aneurysms to be clipped, the Contour can be easily compressed by the clip blades and does not have to be removed. In addition, the Contour had not migrated into the subarachnoid space and there was no abnormal scarring. Clipping appears to be a reasonable treatment strategy for failure of embolization with Contour if endovascular means are not suitable.

Background Navigated transcranial magnetic stimulation (nTMS) is an established, noninvasive tool to preoperatively map the motor cortex. Despite encouraging reports from few academic centers with vast nTMS experience, its value for motor-eloquent brain surgery still requires further exploration. Objective To further elucidate the role of preoperative nTMS in motor-eloquent brain surgery. Methods Patients who underwent surgery for a motor-eloquent supratentorial glioma or metastasis guided by preoperative nTMS were retrospectively reviewed. The nTMS group (n = 105) was pair-matched to controls (non-nTMS group, n = 105). Gross total resection (GTR) and motor outcome were evaluated. Subgroup analyses including survival analysis for WHO III/IV glioma were performed. Results GTR was significantly more frequently achieved in the entire nTMS group compared to the non-nTMS group (P = .02). Motor outcome did not differ (P = .344). Bootstrap analysis confirmed these findings. In the metastases subgroup, GTR rates and motor outcomes were equal. In the WHO III/IV glioma subgroup, however, GTR was achieved more frequently in the nTMS group (72.3%) compared to non-nTMS group (53.2%) (P = .049), whereas motor outcomes did not differ (P = .521). In multivariable Cox-regression analysis, prolonged survival in WHO III/IV glioma was significantly associated with achievement of GTR and younger patient age but not nTMS mapping. Conclusion Preoperative nTMS improves GTR rates without jeopardizing neurological function. In WHO III/IV glioma surgery, nTMS increases GTR rates that might translate into a beneficial overall survival. The value of nTMS in the setting of a potential survival benefit remains to be determined.

Background The optimal management of patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) due to tandem occlusion (TO) and underlying carotid dissection (CD) remains unclear. Objective We present our multicenter-experience of endovascular treatment (EVT) approach used and outcomes for AIS patients with CD-related TO (CD-TO). Methods Consecutive AIS patients underwent EVT for CD-TO at five Italian Neuro-interventional Tertiary Stroke Centers were retrospectively identified. TO from atherosclerosis and other causes of, were excluded from the final analysis. Primary outcome was successful (mTICI 2b-3) and complete reperfusion (mTICI 3); secondary outcome was patients’ 3-months functional independence (mRS≤2). Results Among 214 AIS patients with TO, 45 presented CD-TO. Median age was 54 years (range 29–86), 82.2% were male. Age Conclusion AIS patients with CD-TO were mostly treated with the retrograde approach with lower number of attempts per-procedure but it offered similar recanalization rates compared with the antegrade approach. Emergent carotid artery stenting (CAS) proved to be safe for CD management but it does not influence 3-months patients’ clinical outcomes.

Sensorimotor function of patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) is commonly assessed according to the International Standards for Neurological Classification of Spinal Cord Injury (ISNCSCI). From the ISNCSCI segmental motor and sensory assessments, upper and lower extremity motor scores (UEMS and LEMS), sum scores of pinprick (PP) and light touch (LT) sensation, the neurological level of injury (NLI) and the classification of lesion severity according to the American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale (AIS) grade are derived. Changes of these parameters over time are used widely to evaluate neurological recovery. Evaluating recovery based on a single ISNCSCI scoring or classification variable, however, may misestimate overall recovery. Here, we propose an Integrated Neurological Change Score (INCS) based on the combination of normalized changes between two time points of UEMS, LEMS, and total PP and LT scores. To assess the agreement of INCS with clinical judgment of meaningfulness of neurological changes, changes of ISNCSCI variables between two time points of 88 patients from an independent cohort were rated by 20 clinical experts according to a five-categories Likert Scale. As for individual ISNCSCI variables, neurological change measured by INCS is associated with severity (AIS grade), age, and time since injury, but INCS better reflects clinical judgment about meaningfulness of neurological changes than individual ISNCSCI variables. In addition, INCS is related to changes in functional independence measured by the Spinal Cord Independence Measure (SCIM) in patients with tetraplegia. The INCS may be a useful measure of overall neurological change in clinical studies.

This study aimed to investigate the influence of stroke lesions in pre-defined highly interconnected (rich club) brain regions on functional outcome post-stroke, determine their spatial specificity and explore the effects of biological sex on their relevance.We analyzed MRI data recorded at index stroke and ∼3-months modified Rankin Scale (mRS) data from patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) enrolled in the multisite MRI-GENIE study. Structural stroke lesions were spatially normalized and parcellated into 108 atlas-defined bilateral (sub)cortical brain regions. Unfavorable outcome (mRS>2) was modeled in a Bayesian logistic regression framework that relied on both lesion location, as well as the covariates: age, sex, total DWI lesion volume and comorbidities. Effects of individual brain regions were captured as two compound effects for (i) six bilateral rich club and (ii) all further non-rich club regions. Via model comparisons, we first tested whether the rich club region model was superior to a baseline model considering clinical covariates and lesion volume only. In spatial specificity analyses, we randomized the split into “rich club” and “non-rich club” regions and compared the effect of the actual rich club regions to the distribution of effects from 1,000 combinations of six random regions. In sex-specific analyses, we introduced an additional hierarchical level in our model structure to compare male and female-specific rich club region effects.A total of 822 patients (age: 64.7 (standard deviation: 15.0), 39% women, 27.7% with mRS>2) were analyzed. The rich club model substantially outperformed the baseline model (weights of model comparison: rich club model: 0.96; baseline: 0.04). Rich club regions had substantial relevance in explaining unfavorable functional outcome (mean of posterior distribution: 0.08, area under the curve: 0.8). In particular, the rich club-combination had a higher relevance than 98.4% of random constellations (15/1,000 random constellations with higher mean posterior values). Among the these 15 random constellations with higher means, the most frequently selected regions were the inferior temporal gyrus (posterior division, 8/15), the putamen (8/15), the cingulate gyrus (7/15) and the superior parietal lobule (6/15). Rich club regions were substantially more important in explaining long-term outcome in women than in men (mean of the difference distribution:-0.107, 90%-HDPI:-0.193 to -0.0124).Lesions in rich club regions were associated with increased odds of unfavorable outcome. These effects were spatially specific, i.e., the majority of random combinations of six regions had comparably smaller effects on long-term outcome. Effects were substantially more pronounced in women.

Purpose To assess the impact of individual surgeon experience on overall survival (OS), extent of resection (EOR) and surgery-related morbidity in elderly patients with glioblastoma (GBM), we performed a retrospective case-by-case analysis. Methods GBM patients aged ≥ 65 years who underwent tumor resection at two academic centers were analyzed. The experience of each neurosurgeon was quantified in three ways: (1) total number of previously performed glioma surgeries (lifetime experience); (2) number of surgeries performed in the previous five years (medium-term experience) and (3) in the last two years (short-term experience). Surgeon experience data was correlated with survival (OS) and surrogate parameters for surgical quality (EOR, morbidity). Results 198 GBM patients (median age 73.0 years, median preoperative KPS 80, IDH-wildtype status 96.5%) were included. Median OS was 10.0 months (95% CI 8.0–12.0); median EOR was 89.4%. Surgery-related morbidity affected 19.7% patients. No correlations of lifetime surgeon experience with OS (P = .693), EOR (P = .693), and surgery-related morbidity (P = .435) were identified. Adjuvant therapy was associated with improved OS (P Conclusion Less experienced neurosurgeons achieve similar surgical results and outcome in elderly GBM patients within the setting of academic teaching hospitals. Adjuvant treatment and avoidance of surgery-related morbidity are crucial for generating a treatment benefit for this cohort.

The Woven EndoBridge (WEB) device (Terumno Corp. [parent company of Microvention]) was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as the first intrasaccular device for intracranial aneurysm treatment in December 2018. Its use has become more common since then, but both trial results and postmarket experiences have raised questions about the efficacy in achieving complete aneurysm obliteration. Retreatment after WEB embolization has not been extensively discussed. OBJECTIVE: To discuss the incidence and retreatment of aneurysms after initial WEB embolization. METHODS: Retrospective review across 13 institutions identified all occurrences of WEB retreatment within neurovascular databases. Details regarding demographics, aneurysm characteristics, treatment considerations, clinical outcomes, and aneurysm occlusion were obtained and analyzed. RESULTS: Thirty aneurysms were retreated in 30 patients in a cohort of 342 WEB-treated aneurysms. The retreatment rate was 8.8%. Endovascular methods were used for 23 cases, and 7 were treated surgically. Two aneurysms presented with rehemorrhage after initial WEB embolization. Endovascular treatments included stent-assisted coiling (12), flow diversion (7), coiling (2), PulseRider (Johnson & Johnson)–assisted coiling (1), and additional WEB placement (1). Surgical treatments included primary clipping (6) and Hunterian ligation (1). There were no major complications within the study group. CONCLUSION: WEB retreatments were successfully performed by a variety of techniques, including stent-assisted coiling, clipping, and flow diversion as the most common. These procedures were performed safely with subsequent obliteration of most aneurysms. The potential need for retreatment of aneurysms should be considered during primary WEB treatments.

IntroductionThe Walrus balloon guide catheter (BGC) is a new generation of BGC, designed to eliminate conventional limitations during mechanical thrombectomy.ObjectiveTo report a multi-institutional experience using this BGC for proximal flow control (PFC) in the setting of carotid artery angioplasty/stenting (CAS) in elective (eCAS) and tandem strokes (tCAS).MethodsProspectively maintained databases at 8 North American centers were queried to identify patients with cervical carotid disease undergoing eCAS/tCAS with a Walrus BGC.Results110 patients (median age 68, 64.6% male), 80 (72.7%) undergoing eCAS and 30 (27.3%) tCAS procedures, were included (median cervical carotid stenosis 90%; 46 (41.8%) with contralateral stenosis). Using a proximal flow-arrest technique in 95 (87.2%) and flow-reversal in 14 (12.8%) procedures, the Walrus was navigated into the common carotid artery successfully in all cases despite challenging arch anatomy (31, 28.2%), with preferred femoral access (103, 93.6%) and in monitored anesthesia care (90, 81.8%). Angioplasty and distal embolic protection devices (EPDs) were used in 91 (83.7%) and 58 (52.7%) procedures, respectively. tCAS led to a modified Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction 2b/3 in all cases. Periprocedural ischemic stroke (up to 30 days postoperatively) rate was 0.9% (n=1) and remote complications occurred in 2 (1.8%) cases. Last follow-up modified Rankin Scale score of 0–2 was seen in 95.3% of eCAS cohort, with no differences in complications in the eCAS subgroup between PFC only versus PFC and distal EPD (median follow-up 4.1 months).ConclusionWalrus BGC for proximal flow control is safe and effective during eCAS and tCAS. Procedural success was achieved in all cases, with favorable safety and functional outcomes on short-term follow-up.

Background Open surgery has traditionally been preferred for the management of bifurcation middle cerebral artery (MCA) aneurysms. Flow diverting stents present a novel endovascular strategy for aneurysm treatment. Objective To add to the limited literature describing the outcomes and complications in the use of flow diverters for the treatment of these complex aneurysms. Methods This is a multicenter retrospective review of MCA bifurcation aneurysms undergoing flow diversion. We assessed post-treatment radiological outcomes and both thromboembolic and hemorrhagic complications. Results We reviewed the outcomes of 54 aneurysms treated with flow diversion. Four (7.4%) of the aneurysms had a history of rupture (3 remote and 1 acute). Fourteen (25.9%) of the aneurysms already underwent either open surgery or coiling prior to flow diversion. A total of 36 out of the 45 aneurysms (80%) with available follow-up data had adequate aneurysm occlusion with a median follow-up time of 12 mo. There were no hemorrhagic complications but 16.7% (9/54) had thromboembolic complications. Conclusion Flow diverting stents may be a viable option for the endovascular treatment of complex bifurcation MCA aneurysms. However, compared to published series on the open surgical treatment of this subset of aneurysms, flow diversion has inferior outcomes and are associated with a higher rate of complications.

Background Blood pressure monitoring is crucial during neuroendovascular procedures. Intraoperative hemodynamic instability is associated with complications, which underscores the importance of continuous monitoring. Although direct measurement with an intra-arterial catheter is the gold standard for determining arterial pressure, it is costly, time-consuming, and associated with complications. The novel ClearSight system offers a noninvasive technique for monitoring arterial pressure via a finger cuff. This study compared noninvasive arterial pressure measurements with the gold standard method. Methods Simultaneous recording of noninvasive and invasive arterial pressure was performed in patients undergoing neuroendovascular interventions. Both techniques were compared employing linear regression, Lin's correlation coefficient, Bland-Altman, and error grid analysis. Results The study enrolled 24 consecutive patients. The concordance correlation coefficient between both methods was 0.3526 (95% confidence interval [0.3134, 0.3906]) for mean arterial pressure and 0.4680 (95% confidence interval [0.4353, 0.4995]) and for systolic arterial pressure. The mean (SD) of the differences was 0.81 (17.86) mm Hg (95% limits of agreement [−52.52, 54.14]) for mean arterial pressure and 5.38 (14.64) mm Hg (95% limits of agreement [−45.12, 56.08]) for systolic arterial pressure. Error grid analysis demonstrated that the majority of measurements lie in regions with no or low risk for patients (mean arterial pressure, 71.0% and 24.4%; systolic arterial pressure, 59.2% and 25.8%). Conclusions The ClearSight system provided accurate measurements of arterial blood pressure compared with invasive methods and within safe clinical parameters. This method may serve as a safe and reliable alternative for invasive blood pressure monitoring during neuroendovascular procedures.

BackgroundTenecteplase (TNK) is a genetically modified variant of alteplase (TPA) and has been established as a non-inferior alternative to TPA in acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Whether TNK exerts distinct benefits in large vessel occlusion (LVO) AIS is still being investigated.ObjectiveTo describe our first-year experience after a healthcare system-wide transition from TPA to TNK as the primary thrombolytic.MethodsPatients with AIS who received intravenous thrombolytics between January 2020 and August 2022 were retrospectively reviewed. All patients with LVO considered for mechanical thrombectomy (MT) were included in this analysis. Spontaneous recanalization (SR) after TNK/TPA was a composite variable of reperfusion >50% of the target vessel territory on cerebral angiography or rapid, significant neurological recovery averting MT. Propensity score matching (PSM) was performed to compare SR rates between TNK and TPA.ResultsA total of 148 patients were identified; 51/148 (34.5%) received TNK and 97/148 (65.5%) TPA. The middle cerebral arteries M1 (60.8%) and M2 (29.7%) were the most frequent occlusion sites. Baseline demographics were comparable between TNK and TPA groups. Spontaneous recanalization was significantly more frequently observed in the TNK than in the TPA groups (unmatched: 23.5% vs 10.3%, P=0.032). PSM substantiated the observed SR rates (20% vs 10%). Symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage, 90-day mortality, and functional outcomes were similar.ConclusionsThe preliminary experience from a real-world setting demonstrates the effectiveness and safety of TNK before MT. The higher spontaneous recanalization rates with TNK are striking. Additional studies are required to investigate whether TNK is superior to TPA in LVO AIS.

Several studies have shown promising outcomes of the Woven EndoBridge (WEB) device for the treatment of wide-necked intracranial bifurcation aneurysms. This is a multicenter study attempts to explore the changes in trends and treatment outcomes over time for WEB embolization of intracranial aneurysms. The WorldWideWEB consortium is a retrospective multicenter collaboration of data from international centers spanning from January 2011 and June 2021, with no limitations on aneurysm location or rupture status. Both bifurcation and sidewall aneurysms were included. These patients were stratified based on treatment year into five treatment intervals: 2011-2015 (N = 66), 2016-2017 (N = 77), 2018 (N = 66), 2019 (N = 300), and 2020-2021 (N = 173). Patient characteristics and angiographic and clinical outcomes were compared between these time intervals. This study comprised 671 patients (median age 61.4 years; 71.2% female) with 682 intracranial aneurysms. Over time, we observed an increasing tendency to treat patients presenting with ruptured aneurysms and aneurysms with smaller neck, diameter, and dome widths. Furthermore, we observed a trend towards more off-label use of the WEB for sidewall aneurysms and increased adoption of transradial access for WEB deployment. Moreover, the proportion of patients with adequate WEB occlusion immediately and at last follow-up was significantly higher in more recent year cohorts, as well as lower rates of compaction and retreatment. Mortality and complications did not differ over time. This learning curve study suggests improved experience using the WEB for the treatment of intracranial aneurysms and has yielded higher rates of adequate occlusion over time.

Background Venous thromboembolism (VTE) remains the single most important preventable cause of morbidity and mortality following neurosurgical procedures, with an incidence of approximately 16%. In the absence of stringent guidelines, the variation in current practice patterns could be considerable and was the underlying basis for this study. Objectives Our objective is to evaluate the modality of thromboprophylaxis used by neurosurgeons. Methods In line with “CHERRIES” (Checklist for Reporting Results of Internet E-Surveys) guidelines, an online survey regarding postoperative VTE prophylaxis following elective neurosurgical procedures was created using Google Forms and distributed to 1500 board-certified neurosurgeons in the United States. Results A total of 370 board-certified neurosurgeons (24.7%) responded to the survey. Sequential compression device was the only primary method of thromboprophylaxis used by 27.2% and 26.5% of respondents after elective craniotomy for tumor resection and spine surgery, respectively. Of the chemical prophylaxis, subcutaneous heparin 5000 U every 8 hours was the most commonly used medication followed by enoxaparin 40 mg daily. Most responders were comfortable starting chemical prophylaxis on postoperative day 1, followed by day 2 and day 3 in both types of surgeries. The mean postoperative time of chemical prophylaxis initiation was significantly more delayed by respondents with longer years in practice. Conclusions This study highlights the variation in practice between neurosurgeons in managing postoperative VTE prophylaxis after elective spine and cranial surgeries. In lieu of this variation, our results showed that most neurosurgeons are comfortable starting chemical prophylaxis as soon as postoperative day 1 following both types of procedures.

BackgroundUsing a surgical aneurysm model, this study assessed the performance of a new flow diverter (FD), the DiVeRt, and evaluated the angiographic and histologic features at different periods after stent deployment.MethodsFifteen New Zealand White rabbits were treated 3 days prior to intervention and until euthanization with dual antiplatelets. DiVeRt was implanted in bilateral carotid aneurysms (n=30) as well as in the aorta (n=15). The rate of technical success, assessment of aneurysm occlusion (measured by the O'Kelly–Marotta grading (OKM) scale), and stent patency were examined using angiography and histologic examinations in three groups at 1, 3, and 6 months follow-up (FU). In each FU group one control animal was included and treated with the XCalibur stent (n=3).ResultsOverall, DiVeRt placement was successful and without apparent intraprocedural complications. In total, four stents in the carotid artery were occluded and in-stent stenosis was registered in two carotid (7%) and one aortic (6%) vessels. Complete or near complete aneurysm occlusion (OKM scale D1 and C3) was seen in 100% in the 1-month FU group, 70% in the 2-month FU group, and 100% in the 3-month FU group. Histology showed loose, organizing fibrous tissue matrix within the sac and adequate neck endothelialization in all vessels. All branches covered by the DiVeRt remained patent.ConclusionsThe DiVeRt system appears to be feasible and effective for the treatment of aneurysms with high rates of complete aneurysm occlusion, excellent vessel patency, and evidence of high biocompatibility. Occurrences of parent artery occlusion at follow-up did not result in clinical consequences.

High mobility group box 1 protein (HMGB1) is a prototypical damage associated particle and acts as a key player in aseptic inflammation. HMGB1 appears critical for the crosstalk of a prothrombotic and proinflammatory state that is implicated in mediating and exacerbating ischemic brain injury. The role of HMGB1 in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) remains to be elucidated. A prospective, single blinded observational study was designed to investigate the role of HMGB1 in aSAH. Serial serum HMGB1 level quantification on admission day 0, 4, 8, and 12 was performed. Primary outcome measures were delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI — new infarction on CT) and poor functional outcome (90-day modified Rankin Scale 4–6). The role of HMGB1 levels for DCI, functional outcome and radiological vasospasm prediction was analyzed. Collectively, 83 aSAH patients were enrolled. Five patients died within 48 h. In 29/78 patients (37.2%), DCI was identified. In multivariable analysis, radiological vasospasm and admission HMGB1 were independent predictors for DCI. Younger age and higher white blood cell count, but not insult burden (World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies scale, modified Fisher scale, intraparenchymal or intraventricular hematoma existence) correlated with admission HMGB1 levels. Serial HMGB1 levels did not differ between patients with or without DCI, poor functional outcome or radiological vasospasm development. Admission serum HMGB1 does not reflect initial insult burden but serves as an independent biomarker predictive of DCI. Further studies are warranted to disentangle the role of HMGB1 surrounding the sequelae of aSAH.

Patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) frequently develop infections that may affect quality of life, be life-threatening, and impair their neurological recovery in the acute and subacute injury phases. Therefore, identifying patients with SCI at risk for developing infections in this stage is of utmost importance. We determined the systemic levels of immune cell populations, cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors in 81 patients with traumatic SCI at 4 weeks after injury and compared them with those of 26 age-matched healthy control subjects. Patients who developed infections between 4 and 16 weeks after injury exhibited higher numbers of neutrophils and eosinophils, as well as lower numbers of lymphocytes and eotaxin-1 (CCL11) levels. Accordingly, lasso logistic regression showed that incomplete lesions (American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale [AIS] C and D grades), the levels of eotaxin-1, and the number of lymphocytes, basophils, and monocytes are predictive of lower odds for infections. On the other hand, the number of neutrophils and eosinophils as well as, in a lesser extent, the levels of IP-10 (CXCL10), MCP-1 (CCL2), BDNF [brain-derived neurotrophic factor], and vascular endothelial growth factor [VEGF]-A, are predictors of increased susceptibility for developing infections. Overall, our results point to systemic immune disbalance after SCI as predictors of infection in a period when infections may greatly interfere with neurological and functional recovery and suggest new pathways and players to further explore novel therapeutic strategies.

BACKGROUND: The Pipeline Embolization Device (PED) is a flow-diverting stent for the treatment of intracranial aneurysms and is used off-label for a subset of ruptured aneurysms not amenable to traditional treatment. PURPOSE: Our aim was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the PED for treatment of ruptured intracranial aneurysms. DATA SOURCES: A systematic review of the MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Scopus data bases from January 2011 to March 2020 was performed for articles reporting treatment of ruptured intracranial aneurysms with the PED. STUDY SELECTION: A total of 12 studies comprising 145 patients with 145 treated aneurysms were included for analysis. DATA ANALYSIS: Individual patient data were collected. Nonparametric tests were used to compare differences among patients. Logistic regression was used to determine an association with outcome variables. DATA SYNTHESIS: Mean aneurysm size was 5.9 mm, and most were blister (51.0%) or dissecting (26.9%) in morphology. Three (2.1%) aneurysms reruptured following PED placement. Univariate logistic regression identified larger aneurysm size as a significant predictor of aneurysm rerupture (P = .008). Of patients with radiographic follow-up, 87.5% had complete aneurysm occlusion. Symptomatic neurologic complications occurred in 16.5%. LIMITATIONS: Analysis was limited by the quality of the included data, most of which were from small case series representing class III medical evidence. No study assessed outcome in a blinded or independently adjudicated manner. CONCLUSIONS: Most ruptured aneurysms treated with the PED were blister or dissecting aneurysms. Treatment was associated with a rerupture rate of 2.1% and a complete occlusion rate of 87.5%.

Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text., Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with substantial morbidity, especially when it goes undetected. If new-onset AF could be predicted, targeted screening could be used to find it early. We hypothesized that a deep neural network could predict new-onset AF from the resting 12-lead ECG and that this prediction may help identify those at risk of AF-related stroke. Methods: We used 1.6 M resting 12-lead digital ECG traces from 430 000 patients collected from 1984 to 2019. Deep neural networks were trained to predict new-onset AF (within 1 year) in patients without a history of AF. Performance was evaluated using areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve and precision-recall curve. We performed an incidence-free survival analysis for a period of 30 years following the ECG stratified by model predictions. To simulate real-world deployment, we trained a separate model using all ECGs before 2010 and evaluated model performance on a test set of ECGs from 2010 through 2014 that were linked to our stroke registry. We identified the patients at risk for AF-related stroke among those predicted to be high risk for AF by the model at different prediction thresholds. Results: The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve and area under the precision-recall curve were 0.85 and 0.22, respectively, for predicting new-onset AF within 1 year of an ECG. The hazard ratio for the predicted high- versus low-risk groups over a 30-year span was 7.2 (95% CI, 6.9–7.6). In a simulated deployment scenario, the model predicted new-onset AF at 1 year with a sensitivity of 69% and specificity of 81%. The number needed to screen to find 1 new case of AF was 9. This model predicted patients at high risk for new-onset AF in 62% of all patients who experienced an AF-related stroke within 3 years of the index ECG. Conclusions: Deep learning can predict new-onset AF from the 12-lead ECG in patients with no previous history of AF. This prediction may help identify patients at risk for AF-related strokes.

Background One of the longest-standing treatments to prevent delayed cerebral infarction (DCI) in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) remains raising the blood pressure to a certain level of mean arterial pressure. This may require high doses of norepinephrine, which has been associated with severe end organ damage. With this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of norepinephrine on the incidence of DCI in a clinical setting. Methods We conducted a retrospective evaluation of patients with aSAH admitted to our institution between November 2018 and March 2021. Potential risk factors for DCI were analyzed and significant predictors were assessed by means of a logistic regression analysis to account for potential confounders. Results In this study, 104 patients were included. Hereof, 39 (38%) showed radiologic signs of DCI between day three and 14 post-intervention. These patients had more frequent vasospasms (n = 37 vs. 30, p = 0.022), a higher Hunt & Hess score (3 ± 2 vs. 2 ± 1, p = 0.004), a lower initial Glasgow Coma Scale score (9 ± 5 vs. 12 ± 4, p = 0.003) and received a higher median norepinephrine dose (20,356μg vs. 6,508μg, p < 0.001). A logistic regression analysis revealed that only high-dose norepinephrine administration (OR 2.84, CI 1.56–7.8) and vasospasm (OR 3.07, CI 1.2–7.84) appeared to be significant independent risk factors for DCI. Conclusion Our results indicate a significant association between higher dose norepinephrine administration and the occurrence of DCI. Future research including greater sample sizes and a prospective setting will be necessary to further investigate the relationship.