title: New mechanical recanalization devices - the future in pediatric stroke treatment?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the recanalization rate and clinical outcome in children with acute ischemic stroke following treatment with innovative mechanical thrombectomy devices.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three subjects aged 7-16 years presenting with acute cerebral vascular occlusions (thrombolysis in myocardial infarction [TIMI] 0) were treated with either the Penumbra System, operating on an aspiration platform, or the Phenox clot retriever device, a flexible wire compound with perpendicularly-oriented polyamid microfilaments. Target vessels were the internal carotid artery, the middle cerebral artery and the basilar artery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Successful recanalization (TIMI 3) was attained in all cases. No device-related complications or intracranial hemorrhage occurred. Follow up was conducted for up to 30 days. A 10- to 26-point improvement in the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score was achieved.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Mechanical thrombectomy devices possess a dual advantage whereby they can achieve instant recanalization as well as minimize the number of bleeds that customarily accompany intravenous and intra-arterial therapy. These new devices could contribute greatly to treatment decisions in a field not yet clearly defined by current guidelines.
authors.affiliation: Acute Vascular Imaging Centre, Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford OX3 9DU, United Kingdom. i.grunwald@web.de
authors.forename: Iris Quasar
authors.initials: IQ
authors.lastname: Grunwald
authors.forename: Silke
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Walter
authors.forename: Mohammed Ghiath
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Shamdeen
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dautermann
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Roth
authors.forename: Anton
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Haass
authors.forename: Linet Jenifa
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Bolar
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Reith
authors.forename: Anna Luisa
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Kühn
authors.forename: Panagiotis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Papanagiotou
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D015901:Angiography, Digital Subtraction; D001488:Basilar Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002404:Catheterization; D002533:Cerebral Angiography; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020521:Stroke / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D017131:Thrombectomy / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends; D014619:Vacuum Curettage / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends