Objective:The objectives of this study were to measure the global impact of the pandemic on the volumes for intravenous thrombolysis (IVT), IVT transfers, and stroke hospitalizations over 4 months at the height of the pandemic (March 1 to June 30, 2020) compared with two control 4-month periods.Methods:We conducted a cross-sectional, observational, retrospective study across 6 continents, 70 countries, and 457 stroke centers. Diagnoses were identified by their ICD-10 codes and/or classifications in stroke databases.Results:There were 91,373 stroke admissions in the 4 months immediately before compared to 80,894 admissions during the pandemic months, representing an 11.5% (95%CI, -11.7 to - 11.3, p<0.0001) decline. There were 13,334 IVT therapies in the 4 months preceding compared to 11,570 procedures during the pandemic, representing a 13.2% (95%CI, -13.8 to -12.7, p<0.0001) drop. Interfacility IVT transfers decreased from 1,337 to 1,178, or an 11.9% decrease (95%CI, -13.7 to -10.3, p=0.001). Recovery of stroke hospitalization volume (9.5%, 95%CI 9.2-9.8, p<0.0001) was noted over the two later (May, June) versus the two earlier (March, April) pandemic months. There was a 1.48% stroke rate across 119,967 COVID-19 hospitalizations. SARS-CoV-2 infection was noted in 3.3% (1,722/52,026) of all stroke admissions.Conclusions:The COVID-19 pandemic was associated with a global decline in the volume of stroke hospitalizations, IVT, and interfacility IVT transfers. Primary stroke centers and centers with higher COVID19 inpatient volumes experienced steeper declines. Recovery of stroke hospitalization was noted in the later pandemic months.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic led to profound changes in the organization of health care systems worldwide. Aims: We sought to measure the global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the volumes for mechanical thrombectomy (MT), stroke, and intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) hospitalizations over a 3-month period at the height of the pandemic (March 1 to May 31, 2020) compared with two control 3-month periods (immediately preceding and one year prior). Methods: Retrospective, observational, international study, across 6 continents, 40 countries, and 187 comprehensive stroke centers. The diagnoses were identified by their ICD-10 codes and/or classifications in stroke databases at participating centers. Results: The hospitalization volumes for any stroke, ICH, and MT were 26,699, 4,002, and 5,191 in the 3 months immediately before versus 21,576, 3,540, and 4,533 during the first 3 pandemic months, representing declines of 19.2% (95%CI,-19.7 to -18.7), 11.5% (95%CI,-12.6 to -10.6), and 12.7% (95%CI,-13.6 to -11.8), respectively. The decreases were noted across centers with high, mid, and low COVID-19 hospitalization burden, and also across high, mid, and low volume stroke/MT centers. High-volume COVID-19 centers (-20.5%) had greater declines in MT volumes than mid- (-10.1%) and low-volume (-8.7%) centers (p<0.0001). There was a 1.5% stroke rate across 54,366 COVID-19 hospitalizations. SARS-CoV-2 infection was noted in 3.9% (784/20,250) of all stroke admissions. Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic was associated with a global decline in the volume of overall stroke hospitalizations, MT procedures, and ICH admission volumes. Despite geographic variations, these volume reductions were observed regardless of COVID-19 hospitalization burden and pre-pandemic stroke/MT volumes.

OBJECTIVE Flow diversion for posterior circulation aneurysms performed using the Pipeline embolization device (PED) constitutes an increasingly common off-label use for otherwise untreatable aneurysms. The safety and efficacy of this treatment modality has not been assessed in a multicenter study. METHODS A retrospective review of prospectively maintained databases at 8 academic institutions was performed for the years 2009 to 2016 to identify patients with posterior circulation aneurysms treated with PED placement. RESULTS A total of 129 consecutive patients underwent 129 procedures to treat 131 aneurysms; 29 dissecting, 53 fusiform, and 49 saccular lesions were included. At a median follow-up of 11 months, complete and near-complete occlusion was recorded in 78.1%. Dissecting aneurysms had the highest occlusion rate and fusiform the lowest. Major complications were most frequent in fusiform aneurysms, whereas minor complications occurred most commonly in saccular aneurysms. In patients with saccular aneurysms, clopidogrel responders had a lower complication rate than did clopidogrel nonresponders. The majority of dissecting aneurysms were treated in the immediate or acute phase following subarachnoid hemorrhage, a circumstance that contributed to the highest mortality rate in those aneurysms. CONCLUSIONS In the largest series to date, fusiform aneurysms were found to have the lowest occlusion rate and the highest frequency of major complications. Dissecting aneurysms, frequently treated in the setting of subarachnoid hemorrhage, occluded most often and had a low complication rate. Saccular aneurysms were associated with predominantly minor complications, particularly in clopidogrel nonresponders.

BACKGROUND: Y-stent-assisted coiling for wide-neck intracranial aneurysms required further investigation. PURPOSE:Our aim was to analyze outcomes after Y-stent placement in wide-neck aneurysms. DATA SOURCES:We performed a systematic search of 3 data bases for studies published from 2000 to 2018. STUDY SELECTION:According to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, we included studies reporting Y-stent-assisted coiling of wide-neck aneurysms.DATA ANALYSIS: Random-effects meta-analysis was used to pool the following: aneurysm occlusion rate, complications, and factors influencing the studied outcomes. DATA SYNTHESIS:We included 27 studies and 750 aneurysms treated with Y-stent placement. The immediate complete/near-complete occlusion rate was 82.2% (352/468; 95% CI, 71.4%-93%; I 2 ϭ 92%), whereas the long-term complete/near-complete occlusion rate was 95.4% (564/598; 95% CI, 93.7%-97%; I 2 ϭ 0%) (mean radiologic follow-up of 14 months). The aneurysm recanalization rate was 3% (20/496; 95% CI, 1.5%-4.5%; I 2 ϭ 0%), and half of the recanalized aneurysms required retreatment. The treatment-related complication rate was 8.9% (63/614; 95% CI, 5.8%-12.1%; I 2 ϭ 44%). Morbidity and mortality after treatment were 2.4% (18/540; 95% CI, 1.2%-3.7%; I 2 ϭ 0%) and 1.1% (5/668; 95% CI, 0.3%-1.9%; I 2 ϭ 0%), respectively. Crossing Y-stent placement was associated with a slightly lower complication rate compared with the kissing configuration (56/572 ϭ 8.4%; 95% CI, 5%-11%; I 2 ϭ 46% versus 4/30 ϭ 12.7%; 95% CI, 3%-24%; I 2 ϭ 0%). Occlusion rates were quite comparable among Enterprise, Neuroform, and LVIS stents, whereas the Enterprise stent was associated with lower rates of complications (8/89 ϭ 6.5%; 95% CI, 1.6%-11%; I 2 ϭ 0%) compared with the others (20/131 ϭ 14%; 95% CI, 5%-26%; I 2 ϭ 69% and 9/64 ϭ 11%; 95% CI, 3%-20%; I 2 ϭ 18%). LIMITATIONS:This was a small, retrospective series. CONCLUSIONS: Y-stent-assisted coiling yields high rates of long-term angiographic occlusion, with a relatively low rate of treatmentrelated complications. Y-stent placement with a crossing configuration appears to be associated with better outcomes. Although Y-configuration can be obtained using many types of stents with comparable occlusion rates, the Enterprise stent is associated with lower complication rates.ABBREVIATIONS: IQR ϭ interquartile range; PRISMA ϭ Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses; SAC ϭ stent-assisted coiling;Y-SAC ϭ Y-stent-assisted coiling W ith the improvement of angiographic imaging, operator experience, and widespread use of more complex techniques, an increased number of intracranial aneurysms can be effectively treated with endovascular techniques. However, aneurysms with wide necks, unfavorable anatomic configurations, and partial incorporation of bifurcation branches are still challenging lesions for endovascular treatment, and each technique presents specific limitations. Balloon-assisted coiling may not be suitable in case of very wide-neck aneu...

Our data support the use of a flow diversion technique as a safe and effective therapeutic modality for BBA of the supraclinoid ICA.