title: The MERCI Retrieval System for the management of acute ischaemic stroke--the NNI Singapore experience.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Systemic and local intra-arterial thrombolysis in patients with large vessel ischaemic stroke is hampered by poor re-canalisation rates and risk of haemorrhage. The Merci Retrieval System is an endovascular device for removal of acute intracranial thrombus. We present our initial experience using this device in conjunction with existing thrombolytic therapy already in place in our institute.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective data in all patients presenting with large vessel ischaemic stroke treated using the Merci Retrieval System from July 2007 to March 2009 were analysed. Selection criteria for patients were similar to the multi- Merci trial of 2008. We compared re-canalisation rate, National Institutes of Health Stroke Score (NIHSS) and modified Rankin score (mRS) outcomes to the published trial results.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventeen patients were reviewed; none suffered immediate post-procedural complications. Fifteen underwent successful thrombus retrieval but in 2 cases the device failed due to technical considerations. Sites of vascular occlusion included: ICA/ICA-'T' junctions 27%, middle cerebral artery 13% and vertebrobasilar artery 60%. Of the 15 patients treated by MERCI with or without adjuvant thrombolytic therapy, complete re-canalisation was achieved in 60%, partial re-canalisation in 20%, partial re-canalisation with persistent distal vessel occlusion in 6% and failure of re-canalisation in 14%. Asymptomatic haemorrhage occurred in 33% and there was 1 death (6%) from symptomatic haemorrhage. Pre-treatment median NIHSS was 17.88 and 9.5 immediately post-treatment. Median mRS at 30 days was 2.6 for patients who achieved complete re-canalisation and 4.5 in failure or partial re-canalisation with or without persistent distal vessel occlusion.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Re-canalisation rates using the Merci Retrieval System was comparable to the multi-Merci trial. Haemorrhagic complications and safety were also found to be satisfactory. Importantly, treatment success with eventual good clinical outcome hinges strongly on the ability of the device to achieve complete re-canalisation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroradiology, National Neuroscience Institute, Singapore. wickly_lee@nni.com.sg
authors.forename: Wickly
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Yih-Yian
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Sitoh
authors.forename: C C Tchoyoson
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Winston E H
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Francis K H
authors.initials: FK
authors.lastname: Hui
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D002536:Cerebral Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D002548:Cerebral Revascularization; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020767:Intracranial Thrombosis / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011859:Radiography; D012846:Singapore; D020521:Stroke / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D017131:Thrombectomy / Q000295:instrumentation*