Comprehensive Venous Outflow Predicts Functional Outcomes in Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke Treated by Thrombectomy

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE:

Cortical venous outflow has emerged as a robust measure of collateral blood flow in acute ischemic stroke. The addition of deep venous drainage to this assessment may provide valuable information to further guide the treatment of these patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

We performed a multicenter retrospective cohort study of patients with acute ischemic stroke treated by thrombectomy between January 2013 and January 2021. The internal cerebral veins were scored on a scale of 0–2. This metric was combined with existing cortical vein opacification scores to create a comprehensive venous outflow score from 0 to 8 and stratify patients as having favorable-versus-unfavorable comprehensive venous outflow. Outcome analyses were primarily conducted using the Mann-Whitney U and χ² tests.

RESULTS:

Six hundred seventy-eight patients met the inclusion criteria. Three hundred fifteen were stratified as having favorable comprehensive venous outflow (mean age, 73 years; range, 62–81 years; 170 men), and 363, as having unfavorable comprehensive venous outflow (mean age, 77 years; range, 67–85 years; 154 men). There were significantly higher rates of functional independence (mRS 0–2; 194/296 versus 37/352, 66% versus 11%, P < .001) and excellent reperfusion (TICI 2c/3; 166/313 versus 142/358, 53% versus 40%, P < .001) in patients with favorable comprehensive venous outflow. There was a significant increase in the association of mRS with the comprehensive venous outflow score compared with the cortical vein opacification score (−0.74 versus −0.67, P = .006).

CONCLUSIONS:

A favorable comprehensive venous profile is strongly associated with functional independence and excellent postthrombectomy reperfusion. Future studies should focus on patients with venous outflow status that is discrepant with the eventual outcome.