Search

Background: Assessing patient experiences is essential to provide high quality health‐care. The objectives of this study were to examine (1) child‐ and parent‐reported information status before magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), (2) experiences during an MRI and (3) needs and suggestions for improvement. Methods: Children (≥8 years) and parents answered questionnaires (before and after planned MRI examination) covering mental condition, information status/needs, preparation for MRI, and potential stressors. Before MRI n = 132 accompanying parents and n = 91 children provided data (after MRI: n = 93 parents; n = 71 children). The mean age of the children undergoing MRI was 10.5 years (SD = 4.9). Children had on average seven previous MRIs before our survey (Range: 1–33). Twenty‐three percent of the children were to be sedated during the examination. Results: Parents and children reported low to medium levels of burden, high knowledge and high information status. For the children, most stressful factors during the MRI were boredom and noise. Main information resources were the radiologists or self‐searches. Parents of children with their first MRI reported higher anxiety levels in their children and stated a worse information status (main information source: self‐searches/internet). Parents reported needs regarding organization of the MRI (e.g., reduction of waiting times), age‐appropriate information and communication during the MRI. Children wished to visit the MRI room prior the examination (44%) and to get more information (44%). Children suggested improvements such as better sound quality of films/music, more transparency about the procedure, being in contact with a parent and shorter examinations. Conclusion: Results suggest that preparation, information provision and care is perceived positively by families. Needs and suggestions for improvement were, for example, higher transparency of procedures, better communication and reduction of stress. Findings indicate that preparation in routine‐care should follow an individualized child‐focused approach, should focus on families without previous MRIs and should address children with high anxiety levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The benefit of best medical treatment including intravenous alteplase (IVT) before mechanical thrombectomy (MT) in patients with acute ischemic stroke and extensive early ischemic changes on baseline CT remains uncertain. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the benefit of IVT for patients with low ASPECTS (Alberta Stroke Programme Early CT Score) compared with patients with or without MT. Methods This multicenter study pooled consecutive patients with anterior circulation acute stroke and ASPECTS≤5 to analyze the impact of IVT on functional outcome, and to compare bridging IVT with direct MT. Functional endpoints were the rates of good (modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score ≤2) and very poor (mRS ≥5) outcome at day 90. Safety endpoint was the occurrence of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH). Results 429 patients were included. 290 (68%) received IVT and 168 (39%) underwent MT. The rate of good functional outcome was 14.4% (95% CI 7.1% to 21.8%) for patients who received bridging IVT and 24.4% (95% CI 16.5% to 32.2%) for those who underwent direct MT. The rate of sICH was significantly higher in patients with bridging IVT compared with direct MT (17.8% vs 6.4%, p=0.004). In multivariable logistic regression analysis, IVT was significantly associated with very poor outcome (OR 2.22, 95% CI 1.05 to 4.73, p=0.04) and sICH (OR 3.44, 95% CI 1.18 to 10.07, p=0.02). Successful recanalization, age, and ASPECTS were associated with good functional outcome. Conclusions Bridging IVT in patients with low ASPECTS was associated with very poor functional outcome and an increased risk of sICH. The benefit of this treatment should therefore be carefully weighed in such scenarios. Further randomized controlled trials are required to validate our findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Patients presenting with large baseline infarctions are often excluded from mechanical thrombectomy (MT) due to uncertainty surrounding its effect on outcome. We hypothesized that computed tomography perfusion (CTP)- based selection may be predictive of functional outcome in low Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score (ASPECTS) patients. Methods This was a double- center, retrospective analysis of patients presenting with ASPECTS≤5 who received multimodal admission CT imaging between May 2015 and June 2020. The predicted ischemic core (pCore) was defined as a reduction in cerebral blood flow (rCBF), while mismatch volume was defined using time to maximum (Tmax). The pCore perfusion mismatch ratio (CPMR) was also calculated. These parameters (pCore, mismatch volume, and CPMR), as well as a combined radiological score consisting of ASPECTS and collateral status (ASCO score), were tested in logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses. The primary outcome was favorable modified Rankin Scale (mRS) at discharge (≤3). Results A total of 113 patients met the inclusion criteria. The median ischemic core volume was 74.1 mL (IQR 43.8--121.8). The ASCO score was associated with favorable outcome at discharge (aOR 3.7, 95% CI 1.8 to 10.7, P=0.002), while no association was observed for the CTP parameters. A model including the ASCO score also had significantly higher area under the curve (AUC) values compared with the CTP- based model (0.88 vs 0.64, P=0.018). Conclusions The ASCO score was superior to the CTP- based model for the prediction of good functional outcome and could represent a quick, practical, and easily implemented method for the selection of low ASPECTS patients most likely benefit from MT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Rapid development in endovascular aneurysm therapy continuously drives demand for suitable neurointerventional training opportunities. Objective To investigate the value of an integrated modular neurovascular training environment for aneurysm embolization using additively manufactured vascular models. Methods A large portfolio of 30 patient-specific aneurysm models derived from different treatment settings (eg, coiling, flow diversion, flow disruption) was fabricated using additive manufacturing. Models were integrated into a customizable neurointerventional simulator with interchangeable intracranial and cervical vessel segments and physiological circuit conditions ('HANNES'; Hamburg ANatomic Neurointerventional Endovascular Simulator). Multiple training courses were performed and participant feedback was obtained using a questionnaire. results Training for aneurysm embolization could be reliably performed using HANNES. Case-specific clinical difficulties, such as difficult aneurysm access or coil dislocation, could be reproduced. During a training session, models could be easily exchanged owing to standardized connectors in order to switch to a different treatment situation or to change from 'treated' back to 'untreated' condition. Among 23 participants evaluating hands-on courses using a five-point scale from 1 (strongly agree) to 5 (strongly disagree), HANNES was mostly rated as 'highly suitable for practicing aneurysm coil embolization' (1.78±0.79). Conclusion HANNES offers a wide variability and flexibility for case-specific hands-on training of intracranial aneurysm treatment, providing equal training conditions for each situation. The high degree of standardization offered may be valuable for analysis of device behavior or assessment of physician skills. Moreover, it has the ability to reduce the need for animal experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose Several different training environments for practicing neurointerventional procedures have been realized in silico, in vitro, and in vivo. We seek to replace animal-based training with suitable alternatives. In an effort to determine present training model distribution and preferences, we interviewed interventional neuroradiologists from 25 different countries about their experience in distinct training environments. Methods A voluntary online survey comprising 24 questions concerning the different training facilities was designed and electronically conducted with the members of the european society for Minimally invasive neurological Therapy. Results Seventy-one physicians with an average experience of 11.8 (±8.7) years completed the survey. The majority of participants had experience with animal-based training (eg, stroke intervention: 36; 50.7%). Overall, animal-based training was rated as the most suitable environment to practice coil embolization (20 (±6)), flow diverter placement (13 (±7)), and stroke intervention (13.5 (±9)). In-vitro training before using a new device in patients was supported by most participants (35; 49.3%). additionally, preference for certain training models was related to the years of experience. Conclusion This survey discloses the preferred training modalities in european neurointerventional centers with the majority of physicians supporting the general concept of in-vitro training, concomitantly lacking a standardized curriculum for educating neurointerventional physicians. Most suitable training modalities appeared to be dependent on procedure and experience. As animalbased training is still common, alternate artificial environments meeting these demands must be further developed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose: Flow disruption achieved by braided intrasaccular implants is a novel treatment strategy for cerebrovascular aneurysms. We hypothesized that the degree of intra-aneurysmal flow disruption can be quantified in vitro and is influenced by device position across the aneurysm neck. We tested this hypothesis using the Medina® Embolization Device (MED). Methods: Ten different patient-specific elastic vascular models were manufactured. Models were connected to a pulsatile flow circuit, filled with a blood-mimicking fluid and treated by two operators using a single MED. Intra-aneurysmal flow velocity was measured using conventional and high-frequency digital subtraction angiography (HF-DSA) before and after each deployment. Aneurysm neck coverage by the implanted devices was assessed with flat detector computed tomography on a three-point Likert scale. Results: A total of 80 individual MED deployments were performed by the two operators. The mean intra-aneurysmal flow velocity reduction after MED implantation was 33.6% (27.5–39.7%). No significant differences in neck coverage (p = 0.99) or flow disruption (p = 0.84) were observed between operators. The degree of flow disruption significantly correlated with neck coverage (ρ = 0.42, 95% CI: 0.21–0.59, p = 0.002) as well as with neck area (ρ = -0,35, 95% CI: -0.54 –-0.13, p = 0.024). On multiple regression analysis, both neck coverage and total neck area were independent predictors of flow disruption. Conclusions: The degree of intra-aneurysmal flow disruption after MED implantation can be quantified in vitro and varies considerably between different aneurysms and different device configurations. Optimal device coverage across the aneurysm neck improves flow disruption and may thus contribute to aneurysm occlusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]