title: Impact of ASPECT scores and infarct distribution on outcomes among patients undergoing thrombectomy for acute ischemic stroke with the ADAPT technique.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the associations between Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score (ASPECTS) or distribution and sidedness of acute infarction and clinical outcomes following intervention with a direct aspiration first pass technique (ADAPT).
  
  
  METHODS
  A review was performed of patients who had undergone thrombectomy with ADAPT for emergent large vessel occlusions of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) between December 2012 and May 2015. Preintervention CT scans were reviewed by a blinded radiologist to calculate ASPECTS and determine the distribution of infarction. Clinical outcomes were compared for subsets of patients depending upon ASPECTS and regional infarction distribution (cortical, subcortical, or both).
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred and fifty-four patients (50% female, mean age 67) underwent thrombectomy using ADAPT for MCA emergent large vessel occlusion. The median presenting National Institute of Health Stroke Scale score was 15. Fifty-five per cent of patients had left-side occlusions. Similar good outcomes were achieved for patients with perfect and non-perfect ASPECTS (modified Rankin Scale (mRS) 0-2: 63% vs 51%, respectively; p=0.20). Similar outcomes were also achieved for patients with 'poor' ASPECTS (≤6) compared with those with ASPECTS >6 (mRS 0-2: 52% vs 53%, respectively; p=0.91). Regional distribution and sidedness of core infarction on preintervention CT also did not correlate with worse outcomes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with moderate-sized core infarcts involving various distributions in either hemisphere can potentially achieve similar good outcomes compared with those with no core infarction at presentation. A treatment algorithm for acute ischemic stroke, which employs hardline ASPECTS thresholds or excludes patients with basal ganglia infarcts, might preclude patients who would potentially benefit from mechanical thrombectomy with ADAPT.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA.
authors.forename: John P
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9668-3528
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Hungerford
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA.
authors.forename: Madison
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hyer
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA.
authors.forename: Aquilla S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Turk
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA.
authors.forename: Raymond D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Turner
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA.
authors.forename: M Imran
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Chaudry
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA.
authors.forename: Kyle M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Fargen
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA.
authors.forename: Alejandro M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Spiotta
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D020244:Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020768:Middle Cerebral Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D020521:Stroke / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*; D017131:Thrombectomy / Q000379:methods*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Stroke; Thrombectomy