The clinical utility of dual-energy CT in post-thrombectomy care: Part 1, predictors and outcomes of subarachnoid and intraparenchymal hemorrhage

Objectives: Dual-energy CT allows differentiation between blood and iodinated contrast. We aimed to determine predictors of subarachnoid and intraparenchymal hemorrhage on dual-energy CT performed immediately post-thrombectomy and the impact of these hemorrhages on 90-day outcomes.

Materials and methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on patients who underwent thrombectomy for anterior circulation large-vessel occlusion and subsequent dual-energy CT at a comprehensive stroke center from 2018-2021. The presence of contrast, subarachnoid hemorrhage, or intraparenchymal hemorrhage immediately post-thrombectomy was assessed by dual-energy CT. Univariable and multivariable analyses were performed to identify predictors of post-thrombectomy hemorrhages and 90-day outcomes. Patients with unknown 90-day mRS were excluded.

Results: Of 196 patients, subarachnoid hemorrhage was seen in 17, and intraparenchymal hemorrhage in 23 on dual-energy CT performed immediately post-thrombectomy. On multivariable analysis, subarachnoid hemorrhage was predicted by stent retriever use in the M2 segment of MCA (OR,4.64;p=0.017;95%CI,1.49-14.35) and the number of thrombectomy passes (OR,1.79;p=0.019;95%CI,1.09-2.94;per an additional pass), while intraparenchymal hemorrhage was predicted by preprocedural non-contrast CT-based ASPECTS (OR,8.66;p=0.049;95%CI,0.92-81.55;per 1 score decrease) and preprocedural systolic blood pressure (OR,5.10;p=0.037;95%CI,1.04-24.93;per 10 mmHg increase). After adjusting for potential confounders, intraparenchymal hemorrhage was associated with worse functional outcomes (OR,0.25;p=0.021;95%CI,0.07-0.82) and mortality (OR,4.30;p=0.023,95%CI,1.20-15.36), while subarachnoid hemorrhage was associated with neither.

Conclusions: Intraparenchymal hemorrhage immediately post-thrombectomy was associated with worse functional outcomes and mortality and can be predicted by low ASPECTS and elevated preprocedural systolic blood pressure. Future studies focusing on management strategies for patients presenting with low ASPECTS or elevated blood pressure to prevent post-thrombectomy intraparenchymal hemorrhage are warranted.