title: Endovascular mechanical thrombectomy in basilar artery occlusion: initial experience.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was conducted to assess the efficacy and safety of endovascular mechanical thrombectomy (EMT) for patients diagnosed with basilar artery (BA) occlusion.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively analyzed clinical and imaging data of 16 patients diagnosed with BA occlusion who were treated with endovascular intervention from July 2012 to February 2013. Direct suction using the Penumbra system and thrombus retrieval by the Solitaire stent were the main endovascular techniques used to restore BA flow. The outcomes were evaluated based on rate of angiographic recanalization, rate of improvement of National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score, rate of modified Rankin Scale (mRS) at discharge and after 3 months, and rate of cerebral hemorrhagic complications. Successful recanalization was defined as achieving Thrombolysis In Cerebral Infarction (TICI) of II or III.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixteen patients received thrombectomy. The mean age was 67.8 ± 11 years and the mean NIHSS score was 12.3 ± 8.2. Eight patients treated within 6 hours of symptom onset were grouped as A and the other 8 patients treated beyond 6 hours (range, 6-120) were grouped as B. Successful recanalization was met in six patients (75%) for group A and 7 (87.5%) for group B. Favorable outcome occurred in 4 patients (50%) for group A and 5 (62.5%) for group B.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study supports the effectiveness and safety of endovascular mechanical thrombectomy in treating BA occlusion even 6 hours after symptom onset.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Korea.
authors.forename: Bum-Soo
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Chang-Woo
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Hyon-Jo
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.forename: Seung-Won
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Seon-Hwan
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hyeon-Song
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Koh
authors.forename: Jin-Young
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Youm
authors.forename: Shi-Hun
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Song
keywords: Basilar artery occlusion; Endovascular mechanical thrombectomy; Recanalization; Therapeutic time window