Perfusion Imaging Predicts Favorable Outcomes after Basilar Artery Thrombectomy

Carlo W. Cereda, Giovanni Bianco, Michael Mlynash, Nicole Yuen, Abid Y. Qureshi, Archana Hinduja, Seena Dehkharghani, Adam E. Goldman-Yassen, Kevin Li Chun Hsieh, Dan Victor Giurgiutiu, Dan Gibson, Emmanuel Carrera, Fana Alemseged, Tobias D. Faizy, Jens Fiehler, Marco Pileggi, Bruce Campbell, Gregory W. Albers, Jeremy J. Heit

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

23 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective: Perfusion imaging identifies anterior circulation stroke patients who respond favorably to endovascular thrombectomy (ET), but its role in basilar artery occlusion (BAO) is unknown. We hypothesized that BAO patients with limited regions of severe hypoperfusion (time to reach maximum concentration in seconds [Tmax] > 10) would have a favorable response to ET compared to patients with more extensive regions involved. Methods: We performed a multicenter retrospective cohort study of BAO patients with perfusion imaging prior to ET. We prespecified a Critical Area Perfusion Score (CAPS; 0–6 points), which quantified severe hypoperfusion (Tmax > 10) in cerebellum (1 point/hemisphere), pons (2 points), and midbrain and/or thalamus (2 points). Patients were dichotomized into favorable (CAPS ≤ 3) and unfavorable (CAPS > 3) groups. The primary outcome was a favorable functional outcome 90 days after ET (modified Rankin Scale = 0–3). Results: One hundred three patients were included. CAPS ≤ 3 patients (87%) had a lower median National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score (NIHSS; 12.5, interquartile range [IQR] = 7–22) compared to CAPS > 3 patients (13%; 23, IQR = 19–36; p = 0.01). Reperfusion was achieved in 84% of all patients, with no difference between CAPS groups (p = 0.42). Sixty-four percent of reperfused CAPS ≤ 3 patients had a favorable outcome compared to 8% of nonreperfused CAPS ≤ 3 patients (odds ratio [OR] = 21.0, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.6–170; p < 0.001). No CAPS > 3 patients had a favorable outcome, regardless of reperfusion. In a multivariate regression analysis, CAPS ≤ 3 was a robust independent predictor of favorable outcome after adjustment for reperfusion, age, and pre-ET NIHSS (OR = 39.25, 95% CI = 1.34–>999, p = 0.04). Interpretation: BAO patients with limited regions of severe hypoperfusion had a favorable response to reperfusion following ET. However, patients with more extensive regions of hypoperfusion in critical brain regions did not benefit from endovascular reperfusion. ANN NEUROL 2022;91:23–32.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)23-32
Number of pages10
JournalAnnals of Neurology
Volume91
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2022

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Neurology
  • Clinical Neurology

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