title: Local intra-arterial fibrinolysis of thromboemboli occurring during neuroendovascular procedures with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  There is a lack of systematic data regarding local intra-arterial fibrinolysis (LIF) of thromboemboli occurring during neuroendovascular procedures with the use of recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rtPA). We report our technique for treating LIF of intracerebral thromboemboli occurring during neuroendovascular procedures.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nine of 723 patients (1.2%) who underwent neuroendovascular procedures during the period from January 1997 to September 2002 suffered thromboembolic complications. These patients were treated by LIF with a maximum dose of 0.9 mg rtPA per kilogram body weight. Recanalization was categorized as successful (Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction [TIMI] grade 2 or 3) versus unsuccessful (TIMI grade 0 or 1), and clinical outcome was categorized as independent (Rankin Scale score 0 to 2) versus dependent or dead (Rankin Scale score 3 to 6).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The minimum time between thrombus detection and beginning of LIF was 10 minutes, and the maximum time was 90 minutes. Successful recanalization was achieved in 4 of 9 patients (44%). All 9 patients suffered cerebral ischemic infarctions, and none of the patients sustained intracerebral hemorrhage. Two patients (22%) died from malignant brain infarctions. Four patients (44%) remained moderately disabled, and 3 patients (33%) were severely disabled 3 months after LIF.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although we used relatively high doses of rtPA, the recanalization rates and clinical outcome of LIF in our patients were not satisfactory. Strategies for the prevention of thromboemboli during neuroendovascular procedures must be improved, and novel fibrinolytic or thrombolytic techniques should be developed.
authors.affiliation: Division of Neuroradiology, University of Heidelberg Medical Center, Heidelberg, Germany. Stefan_Haehnel@med.uni-heidelberg.de
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hähnel
authors.forename: Peter D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Schellinger
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gutschalk
authors.forename: Karsten
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Geletneky
authors.forename: Marius
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hartmann
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Knauth
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sartor
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005342:Fibrinolysis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013923:Thromboembolism / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D013997:Time Factors; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator