Publications by authors named "Ghasan Ahmad"
Background: Patients with severe stroke are at high risk of secondary neurologic decline (ND) from the development of malignant cerebral edema (MCE). However, early infarcts are hard to diagnose on conventional head computed tomography (CT). We hypothesize that high-energy (190 keV) virtual monochromatic imaging (VMI) from dual-energy CT (DECT) imaging enables earlier detection of ND from MCE.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- Spinal arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is a rare vascular condition in the spine that can cause serious spinal cord dysfunction, including loss of motor skills.
- Early detection is crucial, as it often requires alert and knowledgeable physicians to refer patients to appropriate specialists for treatment.
- A case study is presented where a patient with worsening neurological symptoms was successfully diagnosed and treated with embolization, leading to excellent recovery outcomes.
Objective: Coding for neurosurgical procedures is a complex process that is dynamically changing year to year, through the annual introduction and removal of codes and modifiers. The authors hoped to elucidate if publicly available artificial intelligence (AI) could offer solutions for neurosurgeons with regard to coding.
Methods: Multiple publicly available AI platforms were asked to provide Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes and Revenue Value Units (RVU) values for common neurosurgical procedures of the brain and spine with a given indication for the procedure.
Background & Purpose: Ischemia affecting two thirds of the MCA territory predicts development of malignant cerebral edema. However, early infarcts are hard to diagnose on conventional head CT. We hypothesize that high-energy (190keV) virtual monochromatic images (VMI) from dual-energy CT (DECT) imaging enables earlier detection of secondary injury from malignant cerebral edema (MCE).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPeri-procedural decrease in hemoglobin following mechanical thrombectomy for ischemic stroke.
Interv Neuroradiol
October 2023
Article Synopsis
- Peri-procedural blood loss and hemodilution during mechanical thrombectomy for strokes can lead to significant decreases in hemoglobin levels, which are linked to procedural factors like the number of thrombectomy passes and total procedure time.
- In a study of 445 patients, an average decrease of 1.27 g/dL in hemoglobin was observed post-procedure, with 11.5% of patients developing severe anemia (hemoglobin < 10 g/dL), particularly those undergoing multiple thrombectomy passes.
- New-onset severe anemia after thrombectomy is associated with worse clinical outcomes at 90 days, including higher odds of poor recovery and increased mortality risk, emphasizing the need for careful monitoring and management of hem
Mildly elevated INR is associated with worse outcomes following mechanical thrombectomy for acute ischemic stroke.
J Neurointerv Surg
September 2023
Background: Elevated International Normalized Ratio (INR) is a marker of coagulopathy, but its impact on outcomes following mechanical thrombectomy (MT) in patients with stroke is unclear. This study investigates the impact of mild INR elevations on clinical outcomes following MT.
Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, consecutive patients with stroke treated with MT were identified from 2015 to 2020 at a Comprehensive Stroke Center.
Modern neuroimaging studies frequently combine data collected from multiple scanners and experimental conditions. Such data often contain substantial technical variability associated with image intensity scale (image intensity scales are not the same in different images) and scanner effects (images obtained from different scanners contain substantial technical biases). Here we evaluate and compare results of data analysis methods without any data transformation (RAW), with intensity normalization using RAVEL, with regional harmonization methods using ComBat, and a combination of RAVEL and ComBat.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: Pulmonary vein (PV) isolation using cryoballoon ablation (CBA) is a common therapy for patients with drug-refractory paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF). However, initial CBA is successful in only 70-80% of patients. The role of an atypical left common PV (LCPV) and PV anatomical indices on CBA outcomes remains unclear.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: Acute ischemic stroke due to proximal intracranial vessel occlusion is associated with poor prognosis and neurologic outcomes. Outcomes specifically in patients with stroke due to these occlusions and lower National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores (0-7 range) have not been described previously.
Methods: We retrospectively reviewed discharge outcomes (reported in our 'Get With the Guidelines-Stroke' database) in patients with an admission NIHSS score of 0-7 due to proximal intracranial large vessel occlusion (based on CT angiography results) who were excluded from receiving intravenous (IV) thrombolysis with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator and endovascular intra-arterial (IA) stroke interventions.