Purpose: Aspirin has beneficial effects on coiling, even in acute subarachnoid hemorrhage, but there is also a perceived risk of increased bleeding and, importantly, a concern regarding ventriculostomy-associated hemorrhage (VAH) in those with complicating hydrocephalus. We aimed to assess the rate and extent of VAH in patients specifically treated with procedural intravenous aspirin during endovascular coiling of ruptured intracranial aneurysms. Materials and Methods: This was a single neurovascular center retrospective observational study of consecutive patients treated over a three-year period. The rate of VAH assessed using computed tomography and clinical outcomes were compared in patients receiving intraprocedural intravenous aspirin loading (n=90) versus those that did not receive the drug (n=40). Results: There was a significantly elevated rate of VAH in patients receiving intravenous aspirin (30% vs. 2.5%, odds ratio 16.7 [95% confidence interval: 2.2–128.0], P<0.0001). The majority of VAH was <10 mm in size (70%) with the largest bleed measuring 20 mm. No hematoma required surgical evacuation. No difference in favorable outcome at discharge was demonstrated. There was no difference in mortality between the 2 groups. Conclusion Loading with intravenous aspirin during endovascular treatment of ruptured intracranial aneurysms significantly increases the risk of VAH, but most are small with minimal impact on clinical outcome at discharge. Intravenous aspirin should probably be reserved for selected cases but should not be withheld based on risk of VAH.

Purpose: Aspirin has beneficial effects on coiling, even in acute subarachnoid hemorrhage, but there is also a perceived risk of increased bleeding and, importantly, a concern regarding ventriculostomy-associated hemorrhage (VAH) in those with complicating hydrocephalus. We aimed to assess the rate and extent of VAH in patients specifically treated with procedural intravenous aspirin during endovascular coiling of ruptured intracranial aneurysms. Materials and Methods: This was a single neurovascular center retrospective observational study of consecutive patients treated over a three-year period. The rate of VAH assessed using computed tomography and clinical outcomes were compared in patients receiving intraprocedural intravenous aspirin loading (n=90) versus those that did not receive the drug (n=40). Results: There was a significantly elevated rate of VAH in patients receiving intravenous aspirin (30% vs. 2.5%, odds ratio 16.7 [95% confidence interval: 2.2–128.0], P<0.0001). The majority of VAH was <10 mm in size (70%) with the largest bleed measuring 20 mm. No hematoma required surgical evacuation. No difference in favorable outcome at discharge was demonstrated. There was no difference in mortality between the 2 groups. Conclusion Loading with intravenous aspirin during endovascular treatment of ruptured intracranial aneurysms significantly increases the risk of VAH, but most are small with minimal impact on clinical outcome at discharge. Intravenous aspirin should probably be reserved for selected cases but should not be withheld based on risk of VAH.

PURPOSE: The safety and efficacy of endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) for patients with proximal occlusive stroke presenting beyond 6 hours and selected on the basis of favorable neuroimaging remains unclear. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A systematic search was performed from four electronic databases from their inception to Jan 2017. A meta-analysis of outcomes from studies with patients treated beyond 6 hours was compared to those treated within the established 6 hour therapeutic window in randomized trials, selected using conventional imaging methods with CT/CT angiography. RESULTS: A total of 8 articles met inclusion criteria for the study population (a prospective single-center study, 5 retrospective single-center studies and 2 retrospective multicenter studies). These were compared to the results of three prospective trials of patients treated within 6 hours selected using CT/CT angiography. For patients treated >6 hours and <6 hours respectively, the weighted mean age was 64.7 vs. 67.0 years; the presenting NIHSS was 15.7 vs. 17.1 and the time from symptom onset to puncture was 4.0 hours vs. 15.1 hours. Weighted pooled estimates of successful recanalization (TIMI 2/3 or TICI 2b/3) and favorable outcome (mRS ≤2) were similar between both groups, 70.1% vs. 70.6%, P=0.75 and 38.9% vs. 38.4%, P=0.88 respectively. Pooled mortality measured at 3 months was 22.8% for those treated >6 hours and 12.5% for <6 hours, P<0.0001. Symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage was not significantly different (10.0% vs. 7.7%, P=0.33). CONCLUSION: When compared to established methods of patient selection, EVT employed beyond 6 hours in those selected with imaging to exclude large core infarcts achieves similar rates of recanalization, and functional outcome but there is a significant increase in mortality despite no increase in symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage.
Angiography ; Humans ; Intracranial Hemorrhages ; Mortality ; Neuroimaging ; Patient Selection ; Perfusion ; Prospective Studies ; Punctures ; Retrospective Studies ; Stroke* ; Thrombectomy*