TWIN2WIN (Double Stent (DS-EVT) Versus Primary Thrombectomy With One Stent (SS-EVT))

Prospective, multicenter, randomized, controlled, open and blinded trial of patients with acute stroke with acute large vessel occlusion (LGO) identified by ASD, in which two strategies will be compared: primary double stent (DS-EVT) versus simple stent (SS-EVT) as an initial attempt at thrombectomy.

Assignment will be stratified according to the initial location of the occlusion: terminal ICA, distal M1, and basilar artery.

The primary objective will be to evaluate the efficacy of the primary strategy DS-EVT defined as first-pass angiographic complete recanalization (TICI 2c-3) compared to SS-EVT.

The primary safety endpoint will assess the safety of the primary DS-EVT strategy compared to SS-EVT, defined as the occurrence of symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (sICH), along with any other serious procedure-related adverse events. (excluding those already accounted for in sICH) within 24 hours (-8/+12) after the procedure.

A designated Data Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) will review the primary safety endpoint after every 25 new patients enrolled in the study and determine continuation of the study based on the occurrence of adverse events in each study arm to assess early completion of the study. A first interim efficacy analysis will be performed after enrolling 106 patients and enrollment will be stopped if a significant difference in first-pass recanalization between both groups is demonstrated according to pre-specified stopping rules.

The primary analysis will be a between-group comparison of first-pass effect rate (TICI 2c-3). The primary analysis for this study will be conducted using the intention-to-treat paradigm.

As secondary criteria, the following will be assessed:

Security

• Evaluation of ICH (Intracerebral Hemorrhage); Any symptomatic or asymptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage at 24 (-8/+12h) hours, evaluated by MRI/CT. ICH is defined as any extravascular blood in the brain or within the skull, ICH is considered symptomatic if it is associated with clinical deterioration, (NIHSS score worsening of ≥4 points), or leading to death and is identified as the predominant cause of neurological impairment as adjudicated by investigators.
• Assessment of neurological deterioration in ≥4 NIHSS points at 24 hours (-8/+12h), evaluated by an investigator not involved in the thrombectomy procedure.
• Evaluation of embolization in a territory previously not involved in the cerebral angiogram.
• Mortality rate related to the procedure at 5 days (+/- 12h) or at discharge.
• Evaluation of the complications of the procedure: arterial perforation, arterial dissection and embolization in a previously uninvolved vascular territory.
• Evaluation of the infarct in a previously unaffected vascular territory, as assessed by 24-hour imaging (MRI/CT) after the procedure.

Effectiveness

• Satisfactory reperfusion, defined as the achievement of a modified Thrombolysis in ----.----Cerebral Infarction - mTICI ≥2b in the target vessel in 3 passes and at the end of the procedure.
• Procedure time, defined as the time from the puncture to obtaining mTICI ≥2b or, if not obtained, until the final angiography.
• Neurological status at 24 hours, at day 5 (+/- 12 hours) or discharge, and at 90 days (+/- 14 days), determined by NIHSS score.
• mRS score at day 5 (+/- 12 hours) or at discharge and at 90 days

The sample size is expected to be 180 patients. Informed consent will be obtained after the identification of the possible candidates once the reference neuroimaging has been obtained. Once the location of the occlusion is confirmed, the patient will be included in the study and randomized to receive one of the two treatment strategies.

Patients will be included if all of the following criteria are met:

Clinic

• Age ≥18 and ≤85 years.
• Informed consent obtained from the patient or an acceptable surrogate for the patient (ie, next of kin or legal representative).
• A new disabling focal neurological deficit compatible with acute cerebral ischemia.
• Baseline NIHSS obtained before the procedure, ≥ 6 points.
• Preictal mRS score of 0 or 2.
• Treatable as soon as possible and at least within 24 hours of symptom onset, defined as the time the patient was last seen well (at baseline).
• Patients for whom IV t-PA is indicated and who are available for treatment are treated with IV t-PA. For those patients for whom IV t-PA is indicated and available for treatment, IV t-PA should be administered as recommended in the AHA/ASA Guidelines for the Early Management of Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke ( AIS).

Neuroimaging

• Occlusion (flow TICI 0 or TICI 1), of the terminal internal carotid artery, segments or distal M1 of the basilar or middle cerebral artery, suitable for mechanical embolectomy, confirmed by conventional angiography.
• The patient is indicated for neurothrombectomy treatment by the Interventionist.
• Participating NRIs will have to complete a teaching module on the DS-EVT

The patient will not be included if any of the following conditions exist Clinic

• Functional disability prior to stroke on the modified Rankin scale (mRS >2).
• Initial treatment with a different thrombectomy device.
• Clinical symptoms suggestive of bilateral stroke or stroke in multiple territories.
• Known bleeding diathesis, coagulation factor deficiency, or known oral anticoagulant therapy with INR > 3.0.
• Baseline platelet count < 50,000.
• Serious, advanced or terminal illness with an expected life expectancy of less than six months.
• Subjects with identifiable intracranial tumors.
• Brain vasculitis.
• Evidence of active systemic infection.
• Known current use of cocaine at the time of treatment.
• Woman of childbearing age who is known to be pregnant, and/or breastfeeding, or who has a positive pregnancy test at the time of admission.
• Patient participating in a study involving an investigational drug or device that may affect this study.
• Patients who are unlikely to be available for a 90-day follow-up (eg, homeless, visitor from abroad).

Neurological imaging

• Hypodensity on CT or diffusion-restricted resulting in an ASPECTS score of < 6 on CT or < 5 on DMR (diffusion-weighted MRI).
• Evidence of hemorrhage on CT or MRI (the presence of microbleeds is allowed).
• Angiographic evidence of carotid artery dissection, high-grade stenosis impeding access to the clot, or vasculitis.
• Significant mass effect with midline shift.
• Patients with known or suspected underlying intracranial atherosclerotic lesions responsible for the target occlusion.
• Patients with occlusions in multiple vascular territories (for example, bilateral anterior circulation or anterior/posterior circulation).
• Evidence of intracranial tumor (except small meningiomas).
• Suspected aortic dissection, suspected septic embolus, or suspected bacterial endocarditis.

Estimated Enrollment Duration: 4-6 patients/month/site, 5 Recruitment Sites: 160 patients should be enrolled in 6-9 months.