title: Acute stroke patients treated with stent retrievers in carotid "T" occlusions have improved recanalization and outcome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recanalization rates and patient outcomes in acute occlusion of the carotid terminus have previously been poor. The use of stent-retrievers has resulted in better recanalization and patient outcomes. We sought to compare outcomes in patients treated with stent-retrievers to outcomes in older techniques.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively compared a stent-retriever cohort to a historical cohort. We evaluated recanalization rates and good outcomes (defined as mRS < 2 at 30 days or 10 point drop in NIHSS).
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were twenty patients treated with stent-retrievers versus nine without. The recanalization rate in patients treated with stent retrievers was significantly higher than that of other modalities (90% vs 33%, p=0.004). Good outcomes were significantly higher in the stent retriever cohort (70% vs 22%, p=0.041).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of stent-retrievers in patients with carotid "T" occlusions shows promise in comparison to older techniques. A randomized trial comparing stent-retriever therapy to IV thrombolysis is warranted to determine the efficacy of this new generation of devices.
authors.affiliation: 1Ottawa Stroke Research Group,Ottawa Hospital Research Institute,University of Ottawa,Ottawa,ON,Canada.
authors.forename: Trent H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Orton
authors.affiliation: 1Ottawa Stroke Research Group,Ottawa Hospital Research Institute,University of Ottawa,Ottawa,ON,Canada.
authors.forename: Cheemun
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lum
authors.affiliation: 1Ottawa Stroke Research Group,Ottawa Hospital Research Institute,University of Ottawa,Ottawa,ON,Canada.
authors.forename: Mohammed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alhazzaa
authors.affiliation: 1Ottawa Stroke Research Group,Ottawa Hospital Research Institute,University of Ottawa,Ottawa,ON,Canada.
authors.forename: Howard
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lesiuk
authors.affiliation: 1Ottawa Stroke Research Group,Ottawa Hospital Research Institute,University of Ottawa,Ottawa,ON,Canada.
authors.forename: Dar
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dowlatshahi
authors.affiliation: 1Ottawa Stroke Research Group,Ottawa Hospital Research Institute,University of Ottawa,Ottawa,ON,Canada.
authors.forename: Marlise P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: dos Santos
authors.affiliation: 1Ottawa Stroke Research Group,Ottawa Hospital Research Institute,University of Ottawa,Ottawa,ON,Canada.
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Iancu
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D020878:Device Removal / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D015424:Reperfusion / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015607:Stents; D020521:Stroke / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome