ABSTRACT
Objective: To compare the effectiveness of first-line mechanical thrombectomy (MT) with other types of endovascular treatment (EVT) in patients with acute vertebrobasilar artery occlusion (VBAO). Methods: From May 2012 to December 2019, acute VBAO patients diagnosed by angiographic examinations were consecutively enrolled from Nanjing Stroke Registry. Patients were divided into first-line MT group who were treated with stent retriever and direct aspiration, and other types of EVT group who underwent intraarterial thrombolysis, tirofiban infusion, balloon dilation, and stent placement etc. Clinical characteristics at baseline with statistical trends (P<0.1) between different groups were analyzed to calculate propensity scores, which were adjusted in binary Logistic regression for the relationship between first-line treatment and clinical outcome. Results: A total of 107 patients were enrolled in this study including 82 males and 25 females with average age 62 years old (35-82). The overall recanalization rate was 82.2% (88/107). During follow-up, 33.6% (36/107) and 37.1% (39/105) patients achieved good outcome (defined as modified Rankin Scale score 0-3) at 90 days and 1 year, respectively. The MT group received EVT earlier than the other types of EVT group (median year: 2017 vs. 2015, P=0.017), as well as higher proportion of atrial fibrillation history (21.6% vs. 0, P=0.002), higher baseline National Institution of Health Stroke Scale scores (median: 26 vs. 23, P=0.049), lower Glasgow Coma Scale scores (median: 6 vs. 7, P=0.027), and longer estimated occlusion to groin-puncture time (median: 367 min vs. 283 min, P=0.023). There were significant differences in the stroke etiologies between two groups (P=0.002). The MT group had a lower ratio of rescue device treatment (28.4% vs. 54.5%, P=0.009). After propensity scores were adjusted, the recanalization rate of MT group was significantly higher than that in the other group [odds ratio (95% confidence interval [CI]):5.201, 95%CI 1.562-17.317, P=0.007]. No difference was noted regarding other clinical outcomes. Subgroup analysis indicated that recanalization rates in patients without atherosclerosis were different between intervention types [odds ratio (95%CI): 7.859, 95%CI 1.469-42.042, P=0.016], while the recanalization rates was comparable in population with atherosclerosis [odds ratio (95%CI): 3.739, 95%CI 0.613-22.812, P=0.153]. Conclusion: In acute VBAO patients, first-line MT is associated with higher recanalization rate compared with other types of EVT, especially in non-atherosclerosis patients.
