title: Partial recanalization of concomitant internal carotid-middle cerebral arterial occlusions promotes distal recanalization of residual thrombus within 24 h.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Acute, simultaneous, concomitant internal carotid artery (ICA) and middle cerebral arteries (MCA) occlusions almost invariably lead to significant neurological disability if left untreated. Endovascular therapy is frequently the method of treatment in such situations but there remains a chance of incomplete recanalization. Successful recanalization of the proximal aspect of the occlusion may allow for endogenous thrombolysis and facilitate further endogenous recanalization of any residual MCA occlusion.
  
  
  METHODS
  Consecutive patients with acute ischemic stroke undergoing endovascular therapy for tandem extracranial ICA-MCA or contiguous intracranial ICA-MCA occlusions were retrospectively analyzed. Rates of facilitated endogenous recanalization at 24 h (FER(24)) were compared by imaging within the immediate post-intervention 5-24 h period in those with proximal recanalization and in those without.
  
  
  RESULTS
  17 patients were included in the analysis. 12 patients had good initial proximal recanalization but a residual partial or total occlusion of the MCA while five patients failed any recanalization. Seven patients (58.3%) in the first group and none in the second had FER(24) on interval imaging after intervention (p=0.04). The probability of death and disability at discharge was less in patients with FER(24) than those without (p=0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  More than half of all patients who present with both ICA and MCA occlusions who are only partially recanalized will undergo facilitated endogenous recanalization within the subsequent 24 h following intervention.
authors: Division of Neurosurgery, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA. yincer@yahoo.com
authors: Y
authors: Y
authors: Loh
authors: D S
authors: DS
authors: Liebeskind
authors: Z S
authors: ZS
authors: Shi
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Jahan
authors: N R
authors: NR
authors: Gonzalez
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Tateshima
authors: P M
authors: PM
authors: Vespa
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Starkman
authors: J L
authors: JL
authors: Saver
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Viñuela
authors: G R
authors: GR
authors: Duckwiler
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002341:Carotid Artery Thrombosis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D002343:Carotid Artery, Internal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020244:Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020768:Middle Cerebral Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017131:Thrombectomy / Q000379:methods; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D017585:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Transcranial