Local intra-arterial fibrinolysis of thromboemboli occurring during neuroendovascular procedures with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator.
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.
Hähnel
Stefan
S
Division of Neuroradiology, University of Heidelberg Medical Center, Heidelberg, Germany. Stefan_Haehnel@med.uni-heidelberg.de
Schellinger
Peter D
PD
Gutschalk
Alexander
A
Geletneky
Karsten
K
Hartmann
Marius
M
Knauth
Michael
M
Sartor
Klaus
K
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*
D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator