Intra-arterial Thrombectomy with Stent Retriever for Acute Ischemic Stroke ­ a Retrospective, Single-centered Study from Brazil

Objective To report our initial experience with intra-arterial thrombectomy (IAT) with stent retriever for acute ischemic stroke. Methods We conducted a retrospective review of patients with acute ischemic stroke who underwent IAT from September 2010 to August 2016. Results Forty-one patients were included; mean age was 57 years (range: 29­85), and 54% were women. There were 32 anterior circulation occlusions, and 11 posterior circulation occlusions. The mean value of the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) upon admission (available in 9/41 patients) was 14 (range: 6­20). Nineteen patients had favorable outcomes (modified Rankin Scale [mRS]: 0­2 at 6 months), and 22 had unfavorable outcomes (mRS: 3­6 at 6 months). The mortality rate was 37% (15/41). Favorable outcomes were associated with revascularization within the first 360 minutes of the onset of symptoms (p » 0.000001), and satisfactory revascularization (thrombolysis in cerebral infarction [TICI] scale: 2b or 3) (p » 0.0018). Conclusion It is of paramount importance to educate stroke teams on the benefits of IAT for acute ischemic stroke and the population on identifying stroke and seeking immediate care following symptom onset.

Objetivo Relatar nossa experiência inicial com trombectomia intra-arterial (TIA) com uso de stent retriever em acidente vascular encefálico isquêmico (Avei) agudo. Métodos Análise retrospectiva de pacientes com Avei submetidos a TIA de setembro de 2010 a agosto de 2016. Resultados Foram incluídos 41 pacientes; a idade média foi 57 anos (intervalo: 29­85), e 54% dos pacientes eram mulheres. Trombos ocluindo vasos da circulação anterior foram encontrados em 32 casos, e 11 na circulação posterior. A média do valor da Escala de Acidente Vascular Encefálico do National Institutes of Health (NIH) na admissão (disponível para 9 dos 41 pacientes) foi 14 (intervalo: 6­20). Um total de 19 pacientes teve resultados favoráveis (Escala de Rankin modificada [ERm]: 0­2 em 6 meses), e 22 tiveram resultados não favoráveis (ERm: 3­6 em 6 meses). A mortalidade foi de 37% (15/41). Resultados favoráveis foram associados com revascularização dentro dos primeiros 360 minutos de instalação dos sintomas (p » 0.000001) e revascularização satisfatória (escala de trombólise em infarto cerebral [TEIC]: 2b ou 3) (p » 0.0018). Conclusão É de suma importância educar as equipes de acidente vascular encefálico sobre os benefícios da TIA para Avei agudo, e a população, na identificação do Avei, para que seja buscado atendimento imediato após o início dos sintomas.

Efficacy analysis of intravenous thrombolysis bridging intra-arterial thrombectomy for the treatment of acute intracranial large-vessel occlusion / 中国脑血管病杂志

Objective To investigate the safety and effectiveness of intravenous thrombolysis bridging intra-arterial thrombectomy for opening the acute occlusion of intracranial large artery.Methods Theclinical data of 63 patients with acute intracranial large artery occlusion treated with intravenous thrombolysis bridging intra-arterial thrombectomy in Beijing Xuanwu Hospital,Capital Medical University from January to September 2016 were analyzed retrospectively. The initiation time of intravenous thrombolysis was within 4. 5 h after onset. The initiation time of endovascular therapy (femoral artery puncture)was within 6 h after onset. They were divided into either a simple stent mechanical thrombectomy group (n=41)or a stent mechanical thrombectomy combined with catheter suction group (n=22)according to the ways of thrombectomy. There were no significant differences in the gender composition,average age,occlusion site and National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS)score on admission between the two groups of patients (all P <0. 05). The modified Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction (mTICI)was used evaluate the effect of vascular patency. The vascular recanalization time,number of thrombectomy,NIHSS scores on admission,at 72 h after procedure and at day 90,and intraoperative and postoperative complications treated with two kinds of intra-arterial treatment under the intravenous thrombolysis bridging were analyzed. Results (1)In the simple stent mechanical thrombectomy group,there were 37 patients with anterior circulation occlusion (90. 2%)and 4 with posterior circulation occlusion (9. 8%). In the stent mechanical thrombectomy combined with catheter suction group, there are 20 patients with anterior circulation occlusion (90. 9%)and 2 with posterior circulation occlusion (9. 1%). There were no significant differences between the two groups of patients (P<0. 05). After treatment, the large vessels achieved good recanaliazation (mTICI grade:Ⅱb-Ⅲ). (2)The mean recanalization time of the simple stent mechanical thrombectomy group was 86 ± 11 min and the mean number of arterial embolectomy was 2. 8 ± 0. 9 times. The complication rate after procedure was 14. 6%(5 symptomatic intracranial hemorrhages and 1 cardiac death). The patients of mRS 0-2 accounted for 51. 2%(21/41)at 90 days of follow-up. The mean recanalization time of the stent mechanical thrombectomy combined with catheter suction group was 83 ± 11 min and the mean number of arterial embolectomy was 2. 2 ± 0. 8 times. The compli-cation rate after procedure was 13. 6%(2 symptomatic intracranial hemorrhages and 1 cardiac death). The patients of mRS 0-2 accounted for 59. 1%(13/22)at 90 days of follow-up. There were significant differ-ences in the above indices between the two groups(all P<0.05).Conclusion Both intravenous throm-bolysis bridging simple stent mechanical thrombectomy and stent mechanical thrombectomy combined with catheter suction can quickly make the recanalization of intracranial occlusion of large artery,and the stent mechanical thrombectomy combined with catheter suction has a better recanalization rate. However, both techniques need to be further studied in improving the clinical prognosis of patients.

Prognostic analysis of arterial embolectomy of acute cardiogenic cerebral embolism caused by atrial fibrillation / 中国脑血管病杂志

Objective To investigate the related factors of the prognosis of arterial embolectomy of acute cardiogenic cerebral embolism caused by atrial fibrillation.Methods The clinical data of using vein thrombolysis bridging artery embolectomy or arterial embolectomy alone for the treatment of patients with acute cardiogenic cerebral embolism of cerebral large artery occlusion due to atrial fibrillation were analyzed retrospectively.From January 2015 to December 2016,22 consecutive inpatients with cardioembolic cerebral embolism caused by paroxysmal or persistent atrial fibrillation were enrolled,including 10 patients with the 90-day modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score 0-2 (good recovery group) and 12 patients with mRS scores 3-6 (poor recovery group).The clinical features,imaging data,and treatment of the patients in both groups were compared.The factors such as age,gender,preoperative international standardization ratio (INR),embolism position,whether bridging vein thrombolysis before thrombectomy,National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score at the onset,time of onset to reperfusion (TOR),whether using tirofiban,times of thrombectomy,modified Thrombolysis In Cerebral Infarction (mTICI) blood flow grade,and postoperative intracranial symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage were analyzed.Results There were no significant differences in age,gender,preoperative INR,embolism position,the number of intravenous thrombolysis before thrombectomy,the number of using tirofiban in surgery,the proportion of the above mTICI 2b grade,and the proportion of symptomatic cerebral hemorrhage after surgery of the patients between the two groups (P>0.05).The NIHSS score 15.2±2.0 at the onset in the good recovery group was lower than 22.9±8.4 in the poor recovery group.There was significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05).The TOR time (307±86 min) in the good recovery group was less than that of the poor recovery group (426±145 min).There was significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05).Embolectomy was performed 1.5 (0.5,3.0) times in the good recovery group,which was less than the poor recovery group (4.0 [2.0,7.0] times).There was significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05).Conclusions Shortening the time of reperfusion and reducing the number of embolectomy during operation are the important factors for improving the prognosis of patients when atrial fibrillation causes arterial embolectomy in patients with acute cerebral embolism.However,a study of larger sample is needed for further exploration.