Daniel Giansante Abud

Background: Randomized trials have demonstrated substantial benefit of mechanical thrombectomy (MT) in selected patients treated 6–24 h after stroke onset. However, these trials relied on advanced imaging not typically available in resource-constrained settings. The RESILIENT-Extend trial aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of MT in the 8- to 24-h window using a pragmatic imaging selection based on non-contrast computed tomography (CT) and CT angiography alone. Methods: RESILIENT-Extend is a multicenter, randomized, controlled, open-label, blinded-endpoint, phase 3 trial conducted in Brazil. The planned sample size is 376 participants. Patients presenting with anterior-circulation large vessel occlusion within 8–24 h from time last known well will be randomized 1:1 to receive either MT plus best medical management (BMM) or BMM alone. The trial uses a minimization algorithm to balance prognostic variables including age, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score (ASPECTS), occlusion site, time window, and clinical site. The primary outcome is the distribution of 90-day modified Rankin Scale scores assessed by blinded central adjudication. Discussion: RESILIENT-Extend is one of the first randomized trials to evaluate MT in the extended window using a pragmatic selection strategy based exclusively on widely available imaging modalities (non-contrast CT and CT angiography), with a focus on scalability in real-world and resource-constrained settings. Trial Registration: clinicaltrials.govNCT04256096

Background and purpose: Flow diverters (FDs) have become one of the primary treatments for intracranial aneurysms (IAs). However, their use in distal IA has been associated with higher complication rates compared with other techniques. The development of coated FDs, in combination with novel antiplatelet regimens, offers promising strategies to improve the safety profile of FDs in this context. This trial aimed to compare mono antiplatelet therapy (MAPT) using prasugrel versus dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) with aspirin and prasugrel for the treatment of distal IA using the p48 MW HPC FD (WallabyPhenox). Methods: This was a multicenter, prospective, parallel-group, single-blind, non-inferiority randomized trial. Between February 2021 and February 2025, 140 patients were enrolled. After excluding 11 patients, 129 were included in the final analysis. The primary endpoint was the absence of new neurological deficits, defined as no shift in the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score. The secondary endpoint was the incidence of any stroke. Results: At the 30-day follow-up, 66 patients (98.5%) in the MAPT group and 59 patients (95.2%) in the DAPT group showed no new neurological deficits. With a predefined non-inferiority margin of 5%, the difference of 3.35% confirmed the non-inferiority of MAPT compared with DAPT (p=0.002). The incidence of any stroke was 4/67 (5.9%) in the MAPT group and 6/62 (9.6%) in the DAPT group (p=0.431). Conclusion: Prasugrel monotherapy for the treatment of distal IAs using the p48 MW HPC was non-inferior to DAPT within the first 30 days following treatment. Clinical trial registration: https://ensaiosclinicos.gov.br/rg/RBR-3q9zb73. UTN code: U1111-1290-2489. Research Ethics Committee of the Hospital das Clínicas de Ribeirão Preto - Universidade de São Paulo. CAAE number: 29848720.0.1001.5440.

Introduction The management of chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) faces a high recurrence rate. Cohort studies have demonstrated a reduction in recurrence with middle meningeal artery embolization (MMAE). This study aims to demonstrate that this therapy is a safe and effective treatment and that, when combined with surgical drainage, it is superior to surgical treatment alone in reducing the recurrence rate. Methods This is a single-center, prospective, randomized study designed to evaluate the superiority of surgery followed by MMAE in reducing the recurrence rate of CSDH compared to surgery alone. A total of 76 hematomas were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive surgery followed by MMAE or conventional surgical treatment, with 69 patients evaluated at the end of the study. The primary outcome assessed was the recurrence rate of these hematomas within 90 days post-randomization. Results A total of 76 chronic subdural hematomas were included in this study, with 43 randomized to the control group and 33 to the intervention group. Hematoma recurrence within 90 days occurred in 1 patient (4.2%) in the intervention group compared to 4 patients (12.5%) in the control group (Absolute Risk Reduction, 8.3%; p = 0.379). The 90-day mortality rate was 6.1% in the intervention group and 11.6% in the control group (p = 0.434). No differences were observed in hospitalization duration or severe complication rates. Conclusions In symptomatic patients who underwent surgical treatment for CSDH drainage, the addition of MMA embolization showed a trend toward reducing the recurrence rate and 90-day mortality.

Background There is limited data available regarding the prevalence of intracranial arterial stenosis (ICAS) among acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients in Brazil and Latin America. Objective The present study sought to investigate the frequency and predictors of ICAS among patients with AIS or transient ischemic attack (TIA) in a Brazilian center, with transcranial color-coded duplex sonography (TCCS) technique. Methods Consecutive AIS and TIA patients, admitted to an academic public comprehensive stroke center in Brazil from February to December 2014, evaluated by TCCS were prospectively selected. Vascular narrowings > 50% were considered as ICAS, based on ultrasound criteria previously defined in the literature. Results We assessed 170 consecutive patients with AIS or TIA, of whom 27 (15.9%) were excluded due to an inadequate transtemporal acoustic bone window. We confirmed ICAS in 55 patients (38.5%). The most common location was the proximal segment of the middle cerebral artery (28.2%), followed by the vertebral (15.4%), posterior cerebral (13.6%), terminal internal carotid (9.1%) and basilar (8.2%) arteries. On multivariate models adjusting for potential confounders, systolic blood pressure (OR: 1.03, 95%CI: 1.01–1.04; p = 0.008) was independently associated with ICAS. Conclusion We found significant ICAS in approximately ⅓ of patients admitted with symptoms of AIS or TIA in a public tertiary academic stroke center in Brazil. The TCCS is an accessible and noninvasive technique that can be used to investigate the presence of moderate and severe ICAS, especially in patients who cannot be exposed to more invasive exams, such as the use of intravenous contrast agents.

Background A new generation of modified surface flow diverters (FDs) and monotherapy using new antiplatelets may reduce both ischemic and hemorrhagic complications during the treatment of intracranial aneurysms. Previous preliminary safety analysis of distal unruptured intracranial aneurysms treated with the FD p48 MW HPC (phenox-Wallaby, Bochum, Germany) under antiplatelet monotherapy with prasugrel showed promising results. However, the long term outcomes of distal intracranial aneurysms treated with FDs under antiplatelet monotherapy are not known. Methods This was a single center, prospective, pivotal, open single arm study. The primary (safety) endpoint was absence of any new neurological deficits after treatment until the 24 month follow-up. The primary (efficacy) endpoint was the incidence of complete aneurysm occlusion 24 months after treatment. The secondary (efficacy) endpoints were any incidence of aneurysm dome reduction 24 months after treatment. Results 21 patients harboring 27 distal aneurysms of the anterior circulation were included. No patient had neurologic deficits in the time from treatment to the 24 month follow-up. Complete aneurysm occlusion occurred in 20 (74%) of 27 aneurysms at the 24 month follow-up. Four aneurysms (14.8%) had dome reduction, and three aneurysms (11.1%) remained unchanged. Conclusions In this pilot trial, treatment of distal unruptured intracranial aneurysms with an FD under monotherapy with prasugrel, followed by monotherapy with aspirin, appeared to be safe and effective. Randomized studies with long term follow-up are needed to confirm these results.

Background: Intra-arterial chemotherapy (IAC) has been used to treat multiple cancers including liver metastasis from uveal and cutaneous melanoma but not as primary tumor treatment. We report the compassionate use of chemoreduction with intra-arterial melphalan before ruthenium brachytherapy to salvage an eye with choroidal melanoma. Case presentation: A 61-year-old female patient complained of decreased vision and central-temporal scotoma in OS (left eye) for 1 month. Visual acuity was 20/20 in right eye (OD) and 20/125 OS. Anterior segment examination and intraocular pressure were unremarkable in both eyes, as was fundus examination of the OD. Fundus examination of OS revealed a brown, solid tumor partially obscuring the temporal optic disc margin and extending to the equatorial fundus midzone. Serous retinal detachment was present over the lesion and around it. Ultrasonography revealed a solid choroidal tumor with a largest basal diameter (LBD) of 13.0 mm and thickness of 10.4 mm. The tumor presented acoustic hollowness and a superimposing retinal detachment. After metastatic screening was negative, the patient underwent intra-arterial chemotherapy with melphalan. Three weeks later, her visual acuity was 20/200 and there was noticeable tumor regression to 11.9 mm (LBD) by 7.9 mm (thickness) allowing brachytherapy to be performed. Ten weeks after brachytherapy (13 weeks after IAC), visual acuity was HM due to biopsy-related vitreous hemorrhage (VH). Tumor dimensions were 9.9 (LBD) mm and 6.5 mm (thickness) and PPV was performed to remove VH. Six weeks after PPV (20 weeks after IAC), her visual acuity was 20/200 and further reduction of tumor dimensions was observed: largest basal diameter was 8.9 mm and thickness was 4.9 mm. Conclusion: This case illustrates the feasibility of combining induction IAC prior to ruthenium brachytherapy for large choroidal melanoma. More studies are warranted to confirm these early preliminary findings.

Resumo As técnicas de gastrostomia guiadas por imagem, por via transoral e transabdominal podem ser realizadas quando há falha na técnica endoscópica ou em cenários clínicos em que a endoscopia não pode ser realizada. Este ensaio iconográfico pretende mostrar as técnicas de gastrostomia percutânea, suas indicações, aspectos técnicos, cuidados pós-procedimento e complicações.

The image-guided gastrostomy techniques, as transoral and transabdominal, can be performed when there is a failure of the endoscopic procedure or in some specific clinical scenarios. This pictorial essay intends to show the percutaneous gastrostomy techniques, indications, technical approaches, post-procedure care, and complications.

Purpose The jugular and tympanic glomus are rare neoplasms in the general population, being even more uncommon in the pediatric population. There is considerable morbidity associated with both disease and treatment. Treatment is essentially surgical, carried out in recent years in a multidisciplinary manner using preoperative embolization associated with microsurgery and eventually adjuvant radiotherapy. The outcome depends on the location of the lesion and its proximity to noble structures in addition to multidisciplinary monitoring in the postoperative period. Methods In this article, a literature review was carried out in the PubMed database, finding reports from 17 patients diagnosed with the disease. Only articles in English were considered. Results Moreover, we reported a case of a 14-year-old patient diagnosed with jugulotympanic glomus who underwent radical surgical treatment of the lesion. Conclusion This is a rare case of jugulotympanic glomus in a pediatric patient, who underwent surgical treatment associated with multidisciplinary therapy, with a favorable postoperative outcome.

Background: Jugular foramen paragangliomas (JFP) treatment represents a challenge for surgeons due to its close relationship with facial nerve (FN), lower cranial nerves (LCN), and internal carotid artery. Due to its hypervascularization, preoperative tumor embolization has been indicated. Methods: Retrospective analysis of the clinical evolution of 26 patients with JFP class C/D previously embolized treated through infratemporal/cervical access without FN transposition. Results: Total and subtotal resections were 50% each, regrowth/recurrence were 25%, and 23%, respectively, and mortality was 3.9%. Postoperatively, 68.4% of patients had FN House and Brackmann (HB) Grades I/II. New FN deficits were 15.4% post embolization and 30.7% postoperatively. Previous FN deficits worsened in 46.1%. Tumor involved the FN in 30.8% and in 62.5% of them these nerves were resected and grafted (60% of them had HB III). Lateral fall, ear murmur, and vertigo improved in all patients. Tinnitus improved in 77.8% and one patient developed tinnitus after surgery. Hearing loss did not improve, eight partial hearing loss remained unchanged and four worsened. New postoperative LCN deficits were 64.3%. Postoperative KPS between 80 and 100 dropped 8.3%. Two patients with secretory paragangliomas with arterial hypertension difficult to control had better postoperative blood pressure control. Conclusion: Although still with significant morbidity due to FN and LCN injuries, the treatment of patients with JFP Fisch C/D has good long-term results. Surgical techniques without FN transposition have less intraoperative nerve damage, lower rates of total resection, and higher recurrence. Preoperative embolization of JFP reduces the intraoperative blood loss but can cause FN deficit.