Abstract
Introduction:
Mechanical thrombectomy (MT) for acute stroke is the current standard of care treatment. Level 1 evidence for efficacy of thrombectomy has been established in multiple randomized controlled trials on selective patient populations; however, the high effect size of MT had led multiple centers in the US and globally to expand their patient selection to include populations that were not studied in major trials. To provide ongoing data on MT outcomes in different patient populations from the real-world, we have initiated an international multicenter initiative, STAR (Stroke Thrombectomy and Aneurysm Registry).
Methods:
STAR is a multicenter and international platform to curate patient outcome data after MT for acute ischemic stroke at comprehensive stroke centers. STAR includes all patients who underwent MT for acute ischemic stroke irrespective of age, time from onset, ASPECT score, and NIHSS. Patients were curated from 01/2015 to date and is prospectively maintained. Patient charts are reviewed for demographics, baseline functioning, and admission deficits. Procedure notes are reviewed for technical variables and technical outcomes. Clinical outcomes were collected at 90-day follow-up by stroke neurologist.
Results:
A total of 24 centers globally have enrolled in STAR. By December 2018, the total number of enrolled and verified patients in STAR was 3,850 (mean age 69±14, 51% females). Anterior circulation strokes were treated in 89% of cases, average NIHSS on admission was 15.5±7, and 73% had pre-stroke mRS below 2. Around 51% of patients received IV-tPA. Mechanical thrombectomy was performed using aspiration (45%), stent retriever (28%), primary combined approach (24%) or intracranial stenting (3%). Successful recanalization was achieved in 84% of cases, the rate of favorable outcome (mRS 0-2) was 41%, and mortality was 25%. Complication rate was 6% and rate of symptomatic post-procedural hemorrhage was 6%.
Conclusions:
STAR represent a large real-world international registry for outcomes after MT, and constitutes a statistically robust platform to study real-world practice outcome in patient sub-populations that are under-represented in randomized trials.
Link:
https://medicine.musc.edu/departments/neurosurgery/star