title: Mechanical thrombectomy in acute ischemic stroke-experience from 6 years of practice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We present our results from the first 6 years with mechanical thrombectomy in the treatment of ischemic stroke.
  
  
  METHODS
  Every patient treated with mechanical thrombectomy for acute ischemic stroke from September 2005 to December 2011 was consecutively included in this retrospective analysis. Baseline and outcome data were retrieved from computerized records at the hospital. National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score and the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score were used as outcome parameters. Favorable outcome was defined as a mRS score of 0-2, corresponding to independence in activities of daily living. We also evaluated revascularization and severe adverse events, with focus on symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Good functional outcome (mRS 0-2) was achieved in 50 % (120/240) of all patients. For patients with no neurological deficit prior to stroke onset (i.e., mRS = 0 before stroke), the proportion with good functional outcome was 54 %. Symptomatic hemorrhages occurred in 4.6 % of the cases (5.7 % in the anterior circulation).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In summary, our results supports that mechanical thrombectomy is a safe and effective method to restore blood flow in selected patients suffering from an acute ischemic stroke.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden, asa.kuntze-soderqvist@karolinska.se.
authors.forename: Asa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kuntze Söderqvist
authors.forename: Magnus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kaijser
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Söderman
authors.forename: Staffan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Holmin
authors.forename: Nils
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Wahlgren
authors.forename: Tommy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Andersson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020127:Recovery of Function; D020521:Stroke / Q000628:therapy*; D013548:Sweden; D017131:Thrombectomy / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants