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Background There is a paucity of data on anesthesia-related outcomes for endovascular treatment (EVT) in the extended window (>6 hours from ischemic stroke onset). We compared functional and safety outcomes between local anesthesia (LA) without sedation, conscious sedation (CS) and general anesthesia (GA). Methods Patients who underwent EVT in the early (<6 hours) and extended time windows using LA, CS, or GA between October 2015 and March 2020 were included from a UK national stroke registry. Multivariable analyses were performed, adjusted for age, sex, baseline stroke severity, pre-stroke disability, EVT technique, center, procedural time and IV thrombolysis. Results A total of 4337 patients were included, 3193 in the early window (1135 LA, 446 CS, 1612 GA) and 1144 in the extended window (357 LA, 134 CS, 653 GA). Compared with GA, patients treated under LA alone had increased odds of an improved modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score at discharge (early: adjusted common (ac) 0R=1.50, 95% CI 1.29 to 1.74, p=0.001; extended: acOR=1.29, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.66, p=0.043). Similar mRS scores at discharge were found in the LA and CS cohorts in the early and extended windows (p=0.21). Compared with CS, use of GA was associated with a worse mRS score at discharge in the early window (acOR=0.73, 95% CI 0.45 to 0.96, p=0.017) but not in the extended window (p=0.55). There were no significant differences in the rates of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage or in-hospital mortality across the anesthesia modalities in the extended window. Conclusion LA without sedation during EVT was associated with improved functional outcomes compared with GA, but not CS, within and beyond 6 hours from stroke onset. Prospective studies assessing anesthesia-related outcomes in the extended time window are warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The effectiveness and safety of endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) in the late window (6--24 hours) for acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients selected without advanced imaging is undetermined. We aimed to assess clinical outcomes and the relationship with time-to-EVT treatment beyond 6 hours of stroke onset without advanced neuroimaging. Methods Patients who underwent EVT selected with non-contrast CT/CT angiography (without CT perfusion or MR imaging), between October 2015 and March 2020, were included from a national stroke registry. Functional and safety outcomes were assessed in both early (<6 hours) and late windows with time analyzed as a continuous variable. Results Among 3278 patients, 2610 (79.6%) and 668 (20.4%) patients were included in the early and late windows, respectively. In the late window, for every hour delay, there was no significant association with shift towards poorer functional outcome (modified Rankin Scale (mRS)) at discharge (adjusted common OR 0.98, 95% CI 0.94 to 1.01, p=0.27) or change in predicted functional independence (mRS ≤2) (24.5% to 23.3% from 6 to 24 hours; aOR 0.99, 95% CI0.94 to 1.04, p=0.85). In contrast, predicted functional independence was time sensitive in the early window: 5.2% reduction per-hour delay (49.4% to 23.5% from 1 to 6 hours, p=0.0001). There were similar rates of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH) (3.4% vs 4.6%, p=0.54) and in-hospital mortality (12.9% vs 14.6%, p=0.33) in the early and late windows, respectively, without a significant association with time. Conclusion In this real-world study, there was minimal change in functional disability, sICH and in-hospital mortality within and across the late window. While confirmatory randomized trials are needed, these findings suggest that EVT remains feasible and safe when performed in AIS patients selected without advanced neuroimaging between 6--24 hours from stroke onset. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The safety and functional outcome of endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) in the very late (VL; >24 hours) time window from ischemic stroke onset remains undetermined. Methods Using data from a national stroke registry, we used propensity score matched (PSM) individual level data of patients who underwent EVT, selected with CT perfusion or non-contrast CT/CT angiography, between October 2015 and March 2020. Functional and safety outcomes were assessed in both late (6-24 hours) and VL time windows. Subgroup analysis was performed of imaging selection modality in the VL time window. Results We included 1150 patients (late window: 1046 (208 after PSM); VL window: 104 (104 after PSM)). Compared with EVT treatment initiation between 6 and 24 hours, patients treated in the VL window had similar modified Rankin Scale (mRS) scores at discharge (ordinal shift; common 0R=1.08, 95% CI 0.69 to 1.47, p=0.70). No significant differences in achieving good functional outcome (mRS ≤2 at discharge; 28.8% (VL) vs 29.3% (late), 0R=0.97, 95% CI 0.58 to 1.64, p=0.93), successful reperfusion (modified Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction score of 2b-3) (p=0.77), or safety outcomes of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (p=0.43) and inhospital mortality (p=0.23) were demonstrated. In the VL window, there was no significant difference in functional outcome among patients selected with perfusion versus those selected without perfusion imaging (common 0R=1.38, 95% CI 0.81 to 1.76, p=0.18). Conclusion In this real world study, EVT beyond 24 hours from stroke onset or last known well appeared to be feasible, with comparable safety and functional outcomes to EVT initiation between 6 and 24 hours. Randomized trials assessing the efficacy of EVT in the VL window are warranted, but may only be feasible with a large international collaborative approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The optimal anesthetic modality for endovascular treatment (EVT) in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) is undetermined. Comparisons of general anesthesia (GA) with composite non-GA cohorts of conscious sedation (CS) and local anesthesia (LA) without sedation have provided conflicting results. There has been emerging interest in assessing whether LA alone may be associated with improved outcomes. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate clinical and procedural outcomes comparing LA with CS and GA. Methods We reviewed the literature for studies reporting outcome variables in LA versus CS and LA versus GA comparisons. The primary outcome was 90 day good functional outcome (modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score of ≤2). Secondary outcomes included mortality, symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage, excellent functional outcome (mRS score ≤1), successful reperfusion (Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction (TICI) >2b), procedural time metrics, and procedural complications. Random effects meta-analysis was performed on unadjusted and adjusted data. Results Eight non-randomized studies of 7797 patients (2797 LA, 2218 CS, and 2782 GA) were identified. In the LA versus GA comparison, no statistically significant differences were found in unadjusted analyses for 90 day good functional outcome or mortality (OR=1.22, 95% CI 0.84 to 1.76, p=0.3 and OR=0.83, 95% CI 0.64 to 1.07, p=0.15, respectively) or in the LA versus CS comparison (OR=1.14, 95% CI 0.76 to 1.71, p=0.53 and OR=0.88, 95% CI 0.62 to 1.24, p=0.47, respectively). There was a tendency towards achieving excellent functional outcome (mRS ≤1) in the LA group versus the GA group (OR=1.44, 95% CI 1.00 to 2.08, p=0.05, I²=70%). Analysis of adjusted data demonstrated a tendency towards higher odds of death at 90 days in the GA versus the LA group (OR=1.24, 95% CI 1.00 to 1.54, p=0.05, I²=0%). Conclusion LA without sedation was not significantly superior to CS or GA in improving outcomes when performing EVT for AIS. However, the quality of the included studies impaired interpretation, and inclusion of an LA arm in future well designed multicenter, randomized controlled trials is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Half of patients who achieve successful recanalization following endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) for acute ischemic stroke experience poor functional outcome. We aim to investigate whether the use of adjunctive intra-arterial antithrombotic therapy (AAT) during EVT is safe and efficacious compared with standard therapy (ST) of EVT with or without prior intravenous thrombolysis., Methods: Electronic databases were searched (PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Library) from 2010 until October 2023. Data were pooled using a random-effects model and reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Risk of bias was assessed using ROBINS-I and ROB-2. The primary outcome was functional independence (modified Rankin Scale (mRS) 0-2) at 3 months. Secondary outcomes were successful recanalization (modified Thrombolysis In Cerebral Infarction (TICI) 2b-3), symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH), and 90-day mortality., Results: 41 randomized and non-randomized studies met the eligibility criteria. Overall, 15 316 patients were included; 3296 patients were treated with AAT during EVT and 12 020 were treated with ST alone. Compared with ST, patients treated with AAT demonstrated higher odds of functional independence (46.5% AAT vs 42.6% ST; OR 1.22, 95% CI 1.07 to 1.40, P=0.004, I 2 =48%) and a lower likelihood of 90-day mortality (OR 0.71, 95% CI 0.61 to 0.83, P<0.0001, I 2 =20%). The rates of sICH (OR 1.00, 95% CI 0.82 to 1.22,P=0.97, I2=13%) and successful recanalization (OR 1.09, 95% CI 0.84 to 1.42, P=0.52, I 2 =76%) were not significantly different., Conclusion: The use of AAT during EVT may improve functional outcomes and reduce mortality rates compared with ST alone, without an increased risk of sICH. These findings should be interpreted with caution pending the results from ongoing phase III trials to establish the efficacy and safety of AAT during EVT., Competing Interests: Competing interests: TNN reported research support from Medtronic and SVIN; advisory board with Idorsia. PB reported travel support from Perflow; compensation from Cerenovus, Balt USA, LLC, Vesalio, Phenox Inc, and Brainomix for consultant services. BG has received grants from the French Ministry of Health and is the primary investigator of the TITAN, DIRECT ANGIO, and IA-RESCUE trial, and consulting fees from Air Liquide, MIVI, Medtronic, Boerhinger Ingelheim, Microvention, and Penumbra. JPA is supported, in part, by an NIHR Health and Care Research Scholarship. KK is a recipient of a research fellowship awarded by the Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust. There are no other disclosures or competing interests declared by the remaining authors., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Objective: To establish diagnostic performance of a single axial T2-weighted sequence for detection of brain tumours in children with non-localizing symptoms, compared to a standard MRI protocol., Methods: Retrospective analysis of children undergoing MRI brain imaging for suspected brain tumours with non-localizing symptoms over a 3-year period. Axial T2-weighted images were blindly reviewed by 2 experienced paediatric neuroradiologists. Primary analysis was calculation of diagnostic performance metrics for tumour identification using axial T2-weighted image only compared to the standard MRI protocol., Results: For 312 children undergoing MRI brain during the study period, sensitivity and specificity for brain tumour detection based on axial T2-weighted images in children with non-localizing symptoms were 1.000 (95% CIs 0.598, 1.000) and 0.998 (95% CI 0.990, 0.999), respectively. Based on T2-weighted images alone, 50 patients (16%) were flagged as needing recall for further imaging compared to 14 (4.5%) recalled after the standard protocol., Conclusions: Axial T2-weighted images have high sensitivity and specificity for detection of brain tumours in children with non-localizing symptoms but are associated with increased imaging recall rates. Prospective evaluation of this approach to identify patients requiring more comprehensive imaging is warranted., Advances in Knowledge: A truncated MRI protocol with single axial T2-weighted sequence has high diagnostic performance for brain tumour detection in children with non-localizing features. Radiologists can be reassured that a child with this presentation who is unable to complete the full MRI scan protocol is very unlikely to have a brain tumour missed provided an axial T2-weighted sequence is obtained., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Institute of Radiology. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.)