Evaluation of DeGIR registry data on endovascular treatment of cerebral vasospasm in Germany 2018-2021: an overview of the current care situation

Background Evaluation of endovascular therapies for cerebral vasospasm (CVS) documented in the DeGIR registry from 2018-2021 to analyse the current clinical care situation in Germany. Methods Retrospective analysis of the clinical and procedural data on endovascular spasm therapies (EST) documented anonymously in the DeGIR registry. We analysed: pre-interventional findings of CTP and consciousness; radiation dose applied, interventional-technical parameters (local medication, devices, angiographic result), post-interventional symptoms, complications and mortality. Results 3584 patients received a total of 7628 EST (median age/patient: 53 [range: 13-100, IQR: 44-60], 68.2 % women) in 91 (2018), 92 (2019), 100 (2020) and 98 (2021) centres; 5388 (70.6 %) anterior circulation and 378 (5 %) posterior circulation (both involved in 1862 cases [24.4 %]). EST was performed once in 2125 cases (27.9 %), with a mean of 2.1 EST/patient. In 7476 times, purely medicated EST were carried out (nimodipine: 6835, papaverine: 401, nitroglycerin: 62, other drug not specified: 239; combinations: 90). Microcatheter infusions were documented in 1132 times (14.8 %). Balloon angioplasty (BA) (additional) was performed in 756 EST (9.9 %), other mechanical recanalisations in 154 cases (2 %) and stenting in 176 of the EST (2.3 %). The median dose area product during ET was 4069 cGycm(2) (drug: 4002/[+]BA: 8003 [p < 0.001]). At least 1 complication occurred in 95 of all procedures (1.2 %) (drug: 1.1 %/[+] BA: 4.2 % [p < 0.001]). Mortality associated with EST was 0.2 % (n = 18). After EST, overall improvement or elimination of CVS was found in 94.2 % of cases (drug: 93.8 %/[+]BA: 98.1 % [p < 0.001]). In a comparison of the locally applied drugs, papaverine eliminated CVS more frequently than nimodipine (p = 0.001). Conclusion EST have a moderate radiation exposure and can be performed with few complications. Purely medicated EST are predominantly performed, especially with nimodipine. With (additional) BA, radiation exposure, complication rates and angiographic results are higher or better. When considering drug EST alone, there is evidence for an advantage of papaverine over nimodipine, but a different group size has to be taken into account. In the analysis of EST, the DeGIR registry data are suitable for answering more specific questions, especially due to the large number of cases; for this purpose, further subgroupings should be sought in the data documentation.