Try a new search

Format these results:

Searched for:

person:torrej21

in-biosketch:true

Total Results:

66


Association of Neighborhood Socioeconomic Status With Withdrawal of Life-Sustaining Therapies After Intracerebral Hemorrhage

Melmed, Kara R; Lewis, Ariane; Kuohn, Lindsey; Marmo, Joanna; Rossan-Raghunath, Nirmala; Torres, Jose; Muralidharan, Rajanandini; Lord, Aaron S; Ishida, Koto; Frontera, Jennifer A
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES/OBJECTIVE:Mortality after intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is common. Neighborhood socioeconomic status (nSES) is an important social determinant of health (SDoH) that can affect clinical outcome. We hypothesize that SDoH, including nSES, contribute to differences in withdrawal of life-sustaining therapies (WLSTs) and mortality in patients with ICH. METHODS:tests. We performed multivariable analysis using backward stepwise logistic regression. RESULTS:≤ 0.01 for both). In multivariable analysis adjusting for age and clinical severity scores, patients who lived in zip codes with high-income levels were more likely to have WLST (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.88; 95% CI 1.29-2.74) and mortality before discharge (aOR 1.5; 95% CI 1.06-2.13). DISCUSSION/CONCLUSIONS:SDoH, including nSES, are associated with WLST after ICH. This has important implications for the care and management of patients with ICH.
PMID: 38237088
ISSN: 1526-632x
CID: 5624412

Use of Carotid Web Angioarchitecture for Stroke Risk Assessment

von Oiste, Grace G; Sangwon, Karl L; Chung, Charlotte; Narayan, Vinayak; Raz, Eytan; Shapiro, Maksim; Rutledge, Caleb; Nelson, Peter Kim; Ishida, Koto; Torres, Jose L; Rostanski, Sara K; Zhang, Cen; Yaghi, Shadi; Riina, Howard; Oermann, Eric K; Nossek, Erez
OBJECTIVE:To examine the usefulness of carotid web (CW), carotid bifurcation and their combined angioarchitectural measurements in assessing stroke risk. METHODS:Anatomic data on the internal carotid artery (ICA), common carotid artery (CCA), and the CW were gathered as part of a retrospective study from symptomatic (stroke) and asymptomatic (nonstroke) patients with CW. We built a model of stroke risk using principal-component analysis, Firth regression trained with 5-fold cross-validation, and heuristic binary cutoffs based on the Minimal Description Length principle. RESULTS:The study included 22 patients, with a mean age of 55.9 ± 12.8 years; 72.9% were female. Eleven patients experienced an ischemic stroke. The first 2 principal components distinguished between patients with stroke and patients without stroke. The model showed that ICA-pouch tip angle (P = 0.036), CCA-pouch tip angle (P = 0.036), ICA web-pouch angle (P = 0.036), and CCA web-pouch angle (P = 0.036) are the most important features associated with stroke risk. Conversely, CCA and ICA anatomy (diameter and angle) were not found to be risk factors. CONCLUSIONS:This pilot study shows that using data from computed tomography angiography, carotid bifurcation, and CW angioarchitecture may be used to assess stroke risk, allowing physicians to tailor care for each patient according to risk stratification.
PMID: 38006939
ISSN: 1878-8769
CID: 5617512

Factors Associated With Anxiety After Hemorrhagic Stroke

Olivera, Anlys; Ecker, Sarah; Lord, Aaron; Gurin, Lindsey; Ishida, Koto; Melmed, Kara; Torres, Jose; Zhang, Cen; Frontera, Jennifer; Lewis, Ariane
OBJECTIVE/UNASSIGNED:A significant number of patients develop anxiety after stroke. The objective of this study was to identify risk factors for anxiety after hemorrhagic stroke that may facilitate diagnosis and treatment. METHODS/UNASSIGNED:Patients admitted between January 2015 and February 2021 with nontraumatic hemorrhagic stroke (intracerebral [ICH] or subarachnoid [SAH] hemorrhage) were assessed telephonically 3 and 12 months after stroke with the Quality of Life in Neurological Disorders Anxiety Short Form to evaluate the relationships between poststroke anxiety (T score >50) and preclinical social and neuropsychiatric history, systemic and neurological illness severity, and in-hospital complications. RESULTS/UNASSIGNED:Of 71 patients who completed the 3-month assessment, 28 (39%) had anxiety. There was a difference in Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) scores on admission between patients with anxiety (median=14, interquartile range [IQR]=12-15) and those without anxiety (median=15, IQR=14-15) (p=0.034), and the incidence of anxiety was higher among patients with ICH (50%) than among those with SAH (20%) (p=0.021). Among patients with ICH, anxiety was associated with larger median ICH volume (25 cc [IQR=8-46] versus 8 cc [IQR=3-13], p=0.021) and higher median ICH score (2 [IQR=1-3] versus 1 [IQR=0-1], p=0.037). On multivariable analysis with GCS score, hemorrhage type, and neuropsychiatric history, only hemorrhage type remained significant (odds ratio=3.77, 95% CI=1.19-12.05, p=0.024). Of the 39 patients who completed the 12-month assessment, 12 (31%) had anxiety, and there was a difference in mean National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale scores between patients with (5 [IQR=3-12]) and without (2 [IQR=0-4]) anxiety (p=0.045). There was fair agreement (κ=0.38) between the presence of anxiety at 3 and 12 months. CONCLUSIONS/UNASSIGNED:Hemorrhage characteristics and factors assessed with neurological examination on admission are associated with the development of poststroke anxiety.
PMID: 37667629
ISSN: 1545-7222
CID: 5626372

Urgent Endarterectomy for Symptomatic Carotid Occlusion is Associated with a High Mortality

Schlacter, Jamie A; Ratner, Molly; Siracuse, Jeffrey; Patel, Virendra; Johnson, William; Torres, Jose; Chang, Heepeel; Jacobowitz, Glenn; Rockman, Caron; Garg, Karan
OBJECTIVE:Interventions for carotid occlusions are infrequently undertaken and the outcomes are poorly defined. We sought to study patients undergoing urgent carotid revascularization for symptomatic occlusions. METHODS:The Society for Vascular Surgery Vascular Quality Initiative database was queried from 2003 to 2020 to identify patients with carotid occlusions undergoing carotid endarterectomy (CEA). Only symptomatic patients undergoing urgent interventions within 24 hours of presentation were included. Patients were identified based on CT and MRI imaging. This cohort was compared to symptomatic patients undergoing urgent intervention for severe stenosis (≥80%). Primary endpoints were perioperative stroke, death, myocardial infarction (MI) and composite outcomes as defined by the SVS reporting guidelines. Patient characteristics were analyzed to determine predictors of perioperative mortality and neurological events. RESULTS:inhibitor (32.0%), aspirin (77.9%) and renin-angiotensin inhibitor (43.7%) preoperatively. When compared to patients undergoing urgent endarterectomy for severe stenosis (≥80%), those with symptomatic occlusion were well matched with regards to risk factors, but the severe stenosis cohort appeared better medically managed and less likely to present with cortical stroke symptoms. Perioperative outcomes were significantly worse for the carotid occlusion cohort, primarily driven by higher perioperative mortality (2.8% vs 0.9%, P<.001). The composite endpoint of stroke/death/MI was also significantly worse in the occlusion cohort (7.7% vs 4.9%, P=.014). On multivariate analysis, carotid occlusion was associated with increased mortality (OR, 3.028; 95% CI, 1.362-6.730; P=.007) and composite outcome of stroke, death, or MI (OR, 1.790; 95% CI, 1.135-2.822, P=.012). CONCLUSIONS:Revascularization for symptomatic carotid occlusion constitutes approximately 2% of carotid interventions captured in the VQI, affirming the rarity of this undertaking. These patients have acceptable rates of perioperative neurologic events but are at an elevated risk of overall perioperative adverse events, primarily driven by higher mortality, compared to those with severe stenosis. Carotid occlusion appears to be the most significant risk factor for the composite endpoint of perioperative stroke, death, or MI. While intervention for a symptomatic carotid occlusion may be performed with acceptable rate of perioperative complications, judicious patient selection is warranted in this high-risk cohort.
PMID: 37076104
ISSN: 1097-6809
CID: 5466232

Psychosocial Barriers to Completion of a Cleft and Craniofacial Speech Home Exercise Program [Meeting Abstract]

Lico, M; Aceste, J; Torres, J
Background/Purpose: Home exercise programs (HEP) supplement treatment with the intent to promote retention and generalization of skills (Muratori et al., 2013). With an increased frequency of skill practice, neural connections have greater opportunity to restore and 'enhance the stability of recall and recognition schemas' (Maas et al., 2008). Unfortunately, psychosocial barriers can lead to inconsistent implementation of speech HEPs but minimal research exists identifying these factors. One study assessed HEP implementation for patients with childhood apraxia of speech, but psychosocial barriers experienced by parents of children with cleft palate and other craniofacial conditions has not been researched (Lim et al., 2020). Through this study, the authors aim to ascertain the barriers involved in suppressing the implementation of speech HEPs within the cleft and craniofacial population. Methods/Description: This is a single center survey study distributed in October 2022 consisting of 3 components including: demographics (e.g., ethnicity, diagnosis), speech services (e.g., frequency, additional services), and psychosocial barriers (e.g., mental health of parent, patient motivation). Approximately 30-40 parents/caregivers of children with cleft palate and/or other craniofacial conditions who were assigned speech HEPs submitted survey responses via Qualtrics. Parents/caregivers were presented with 20 items which included a combination of multiple choice and open-ended questions. The survey was translated into both English and Spanish. At the time of survey completion, patients had already undergone a speech evaluation and therapy was initiated as indicated by the treating speechlanguage pathologist (SLP). Descriptive statistics were utilized to analyze data and gather conclusions.
Result(s): Researchers analyzed preliminary data as responses continue to be collected at the time of abstract submission. Preliminary data suggests a diverse demographic sample comprised of a variety of ethnicities, religions, and places of residence. Receiving additional community-based speech services displayed as routine for all patients. To date, 100% of respondents identified at least one psychosocial barrier impacting their ability to execute HEPs. All respondents were mothers who indicated that the main barriers to implementation of their speech HEPs included parent fatigue, parent mental health, and child behavior/noncompliance of the task.
Conclusion(s): The preliminary findings from this study confirm the hypothesis that psychosocial barriers negatively impact a parent/caregiver's ability to execute a speech home exercise program. Data also provides insight into what specific barriers affect HEP fulfillment despite the foreseen benefits of the assigned tasks. Limitations include a small sample size and potential for selection bias, suggesting that additional multi-center studies should be conducted to gain further insight into these psychosocial barriers
EMBASE:641346836
ISSN: 1055-6656
CID: 5514652

Borderzone infarction and recurrent stroke in intracranial atherosclerosis

Kvernland, Alexandra; Torres, Jose; Raz, Eytan; Nossek, Erez; de Havenon, Adam; Gebregziabher, Mulugeta; Khatri, Pooja; Prabhakaran, Shyam; Liebeskind, David S; Yaghi, Shadi
BACKGROUND:Intracranial stenosis (ICAS) is a common cause of stroke worldwide and patients with symptomatic ICAS exhibit a high rate of recurrence, particularly in the early period after the initial event. In this study, we aimed to study the association between borderzone infarct and recurrent ischemic stroke in patients hospitalized with symptomatic ICAS. METHODS:This is a retrospective single center study that included patients hospitalized with acute ischemic stroke in the setting of intracranial stenosis (50% or more and an acute ischemic stroke in the territory supplied by the stenosed artery) over a 32-month period. We excluded patients who did not receive a brain MRI or did not have an infarct on brain imaging. The primary predictor is infarct pattern (any borderzone vs. no borderzone infarct) and the primary outcome was recurrent cerebrovascular events (RCVE) within 90 days. We used unadjusted, and age and sex adjusted logistic regression models to determine associations between infarct pattern and RCVE at 90-days. RESULTS:Among 99 patients who met the inclusion criteria (4 tandem), the mean age was 70.1 ± 11.2 years and 41.4% were women; 43 had borderzone infarcts and 19 had RCVE. In adjusted binary logistic regression analysis, borderzone infarct was associated with increased risk of RCVE (adjusted OR 4.00 95% CI 1.33-11.99, p=0.013). The association between borderzone infarction and RCVE was not different among anterior circulation ICAD (adjusted HR 2.85 95% CI 0.64-12.76, p=0.172) vs. posterior circulation ICAD (adjusted HR 6.69 95% CI 1.06-42.11, p=0.043), p-value for interaction = 0.592. CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:In real world post-SAMMPRIS medically treated patients with ICAD, the borderzone infarct pattern was associated with 90-day RCVE. Borderzone infarcts are likely a surrogate marker of impaired distal blood flow, highlighting the importance of targeting stroke mechanisms and developing alternative treatment strategies for high-risk cohorts.
PMID: 36402094
ISSN: 1532-8511
CID: 5371792

Markers of infection and inflammation are associated with post-thrombectomy mortality in acute stroke

Irvine, Hannah; Krieger, Penina; Melmed, Kara R; Torres, Jose; Croll, Leah; Zhao, Amanda; Lord, Aaron; Ishida, Koto; Frontera, Jennifer; Lewis, Ariane
OBJECTIVE:We explored the relationship between markers of infection and inflammation and mortality in patients with acute ischemic stroke who underwent thrombectomy. METHODS:We performed retrospective chart review of stroke patients who underwent thrombectomy at two tertiary academic centers between December 2018 and November 2020. Associations between discharge mortality, WBC count, neutrophil percentage, fever, culture data, and antibiotic treatment were analyzed using the Wilcoxon rank sum test, Student's t-test, and Fisher's exact test. Independent predictors of mortality were identified with multivariable analysis. Analyses were repeated excluding COVID-positive patients. RESULTS:Of 248 patients who underwent thrombectomy, 41 (17 %) died prior to discharge. Mortality was associated with admission WBC count (11 [8-14] vs. 9 [7-12], p = 0.0093), admission neutrophil percentage (78 % ± 11 vs. 71 % ± 14, p = 0.0003), peak WBC count (17 [13-22] vs. 12 [9-15], p < 0.0001), fever (71 % vs. 27 %, p < 0.0001), positive culture (44 % vs. 15 %, p < 0.0001), and days treated with antibiotics (3 [1-7] vs. 1 [0-4], p < 0.0001). After controlling for age, admission NIHSS and post-thrombectomy ASPECTS score, mortality was associated with admission WBC count (OR 13, CI 1.32-142, p = 0.027), neutrophil percentage (OR 1.03, CI 1.0-1.07, p = 0.045), peak WBC count (OR 301, CI 24-5008, p < 0.0001), fever (OR 24.2, CI 1.77-332, p < 0.0001), and positive cultures (OR 4.24, CI 1.87-9.62, p = 0.0006). After excluding COVID-positive patients (n = 14), peak WBC count, fever and positive culture remained independent predictors of mortality. CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:Markers of infection and inflammation are associated with discharge mortality after thrombectomy. Further study is warranted to investigate the causal relationship of these markers with clinical outcome.
PMID: 36272394
ISSN: 1872-6968
CID: 5359072

Severity of stenosis in symptomatic patients undergoing carotid interventions may influence perioperative neurologic events

Garg, Karan; Chang, Heepeel; Siracuse, Jeffrey J; Jacobowitz, Glenn R; Torres, Jose; Veith, Frank J; Patel, Virendra I; Maldonado, Thomas S; Sadek, Mikel; Cayne, Neal S; Rockman, Caron B
OBJECTIVE:Carotid artery plaque burden, indirectly measured by the degree of stenosis, quantifies future embolic risk. In natural history studies, patients with moderate degrees of stenosis have a lower stroke risk than those with severe stenosis. However, patients with symptomatic carotid stenosis who have experienced TIA or stroke are found to have both moderate and severe degrees of stenosis. We sought to examine the association carotid artery stenosis severity with outcomes in symptomatic patients undergoing carotid interventions including carotid endarterectomy (CEA), transfemoral carotid artery stenting (CAS) and transcervical carotid artery revascularization (TCAR). METHODS:The Society for Vascular Surgery Quality Initiative database was queried for all patients undergoing CAS, CEA and TCAR between 2003 and 2020. Patients were stratified into two groups based on the severity of stenosis - non-severe (0 - 69%) and severe (≥ 70%). Primary endpoints were periprocedural neurologic events (strokes and transient ischemic attacks (TIAs)). Secondary endpoints were periprocedural death, myocardial infarction (MI) and composite outcomes of stroke/death and stroke/death/MI per reporting standards for carotid interventions. RESULTS:Of 29,614 symptomatic patients included in the analysis, 5,296 (17.9%) patients underwent TCAR, 7,844 (26.5%) underwent CAS, and 16,474 (55.6%) underwent CEA for symptomatic carotid artery stenosis. In the CEA cohort, the neurologic event rate was similarly significantly lower in patients with severe stenosis when compared to those with non-severe stenosis (2.6% vs. 3.2%, P=.024). In the TCAR cohort, the periprocedural neurologic even rate was lower in patients with severe stenosis when compared to those with non-severe stenosis (3% vs. 4.3%, P=.033). There was no similar difference noted in the CAS cohort, with periprocedural neurologic event rates of 3.8% in the severe group versus 3.5% in the non-severe group (P=.518). On multivariable analysis, severe stenosis was associated with significantly decreased odds of post procedural neurologic events in patients undergoing CEA (odds ratio [OR] 0.75, 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.6 - 0.92; P=.007) and TCAR (OR .83; CI, .69 - 0.99; P=.039), but not CAS. CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:Severe carotid stenosis as opposed to more moderate degrees of stenosis was associated with decreased rates of periprocedural stroke and TIAs in symptomatic patients undergoing TCAR and CEA, but not CAS. The finding of increased rates of periprocedural neurologic events in symptomatic patients with lesser degrees of stenosis undergoing TCAR and CEA warrants further evaluation with a particular focus on plaque morphology and brain physiology, and their inherent risks with carotid revascularization procedures.
PMID: 35272001
ISSN: 1097-6809
CID: 5183632

Endovascular Revascularization of Multi Segment Chronically Occluded ICA [Case Report]

Mulchan, Nicholas; Yeun, Phillip; Frontera, Jennifer; Farkas, Jeffrey; Berekashvili, Ketevan; Sanger, Matthew; Torres, Jose; Tiwari, Ambooj
This case report describes a novel endovascular method for treating chronically occluded internal carotid artery (COICA). The patient is a 55-year-old male with vascular risk factors who presented to an outside institution with right-sided weakness and dysarthria, was diagnosed as having a stroke, and discharged with medical management. The patient's symptoms failed to improve throughout the week prompting him to visit another outside institution, where computed tomography (CT) angiography showed bilateral occlusion of the ICAs at their origins extending intracranially. The patient was then transferred to our hospital, where head CT revealed bilateral acute infarcts predominantly in the left centrum ovale/corona radiata and left temporoparietal region. CT perfusion showed a large area of hypoperfusion in the entire left hemisphere as well as part of the right hemisphere (mismatch volume of 438-526 mL). The patient had significant neurological deficits despite sustained high perfusion pressure, so the following morning, the patient was taken for angiography showing complete occlusion of the left ICA with support mostly from the left external carotid artery (ECA)/ophthalmic collateralization. The microcatheter was able to be advanced to the level of the ophthalmic segment of the left ICA, so the decision was made to proceed with stenting from the left ophthalmic ICA to the cervical ICA. Seven consecutive coronary-carotid stents were placed to essentially reconstruct the left ICA. Post-stenting, the patient was treated with an Integrilin drip and transitioned to Aspirin and Brilinta the following morning. The patient's symptoms markedly improved after the procedure. CT perfusion, as well as diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), revealed recovery of the patient's penumbra and stability of the existing infarcts despite the delayed nature of revascularization respectively. This is a rarely reported study in literature describing the successful deployment of multiple stents in recreating the ICA from its extracranial to intracranial portion.
PMID: 35576859
ISSN: 1532-8511
CID: 5275882

Pre-admission antithrombotic use is associated with 3-month mRS score after thrombectomy for acute ischemic stroke

Krieger, Penina; Melmed, Kara R; Torres, Jose; Zhao, Amanda; Croll, Leah; Irvine, Hannah; Lord, Aaron; Ishida, Koto; Frontera, Jennifer; Lewis, Ariane
In patients who undergo thrombectomy for acute ischemic stroke, the relationship between pre-admission antithrombotic (anticoagulation or antiplatelet) use and both radiographic and functional outcome is not well understood. We sought to explore the relationship between pre-admission antithrombotic use in patients who underwent thrombectomy for acute ischemic stroke at two medical centers in New York City between December 2018 and November 2020. Analyses were performed using analysis of variance and Pearson's chi-squared tests. Of 234 patients in the analysis cohort, 65 (28%) were on anticoagulation, 64 (27%) were on antiplatelet, and 105 (45%) with no antithrombotic use pre-admission. 3-month Modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score of 3-6 was associated with pre-admission antithrombotic use (71% anticoagulation vs. 77% antiplatelet vs. 56% no antithrombotic, p = 0.04). There was no relationship between pre-admission antithrombotic use and Thrombolysis in Cerebral Iinfarction (TICI) score, post-procedure Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score (ASPECTS) score, rate of hemorrhagic conversion, length of hospital admission, discharge NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS), discharge mRS score, or mortality. When initial NIHSS score, post-procedure ASPECTS score, and age at admission were included in multivariate analysis, pre-admission antithrombotic use was still significantly associated with a 3-month mRS score of 3-6 (OR 2.36, 95% CI 1.03-5.54, p = 0.04). In this cohort of patients with acute ischemic stroke who underwent thrombectomy, pre-admission antithrombotic use was associated with 3-month mRS score, but no other measures of radiographic or functional outcome. Further research is needed on the relationship between use of specific anticoagulation or antiplatelet agents and outcome after acute ischemic stroke, but moreover, improve stroke prevention.
PMCID:9302951
PMID: 35864280
ISSN: 1573-742x
CID: 5279342