Mechanical thrombectomy in patients with acute basilar occlusion using stent retrievers.
BACKGROUND
Early arterial recanalisation with stent retrievers (SR) has been recently demonstrated to improve clinical outcome of patients with large-vessel occlusion of the anterior circulation. However, the benefit of SR thrombectomy in the setting of acute basilar artery occlusion (BAO) has not been proven yet. This study evaluated a series of consecutive patients with BAO treated with SR, focusing on the efficacy, safety and clinical results.


METHODS
We analysed 24 consecutive patients with acute BAO who were treated with SR mechanical thrombectomy. Good clinical outcome at three months was defined as mRS ≤ 2. Data from patients with good outcome were compared to that from patients with poor outcome.


RESULTS
Sufficient recanalisation (TICI 2 b or 3) was achieved in 63% (15/24) of patients. At three months, 33% (8/24) of patients had died; good clinical outcome was obtained in 21% (5/24). Age (46 vs. 60 years old, p = 0.05) and time from symptoms onset to recanalisation (370 vs. 521 minutes, p = 0.048) was significantly lower in patients with good outcome as compared to patients with poor outcome. There were three cases (12.5%) of periprocedural complications, all of them related to arterial wall dissection/perforation.


CONCLUSIONS
SR thrombectomy might be an efficient and safe treatment for patients with acute BAO occlusion and might help improve outcome.
Neuroradiology Department, Centro Hospitalar do Porto, Portugal angelocarneiro.neurorradiologia@chporto.min-saude.pt.
Angelo António Silva
AA
Carneiro
Neuroradiology Department, Centro Hospitalar do Porto, Portugal.
João Tiago Lopes
JT
Rodrigues
Neuroradiology Department, Centro Hospitalar do Porto, Portugal.
José Pedro Rocha
JP
Pereira
Neuroradiology Department, Centro Hospitalar do Porto, Portugal.
José Viriato
JV
Alves
Neuroradiology Department, Centro Hospitalar do Porto, Portugal.
João Abel Marques
JA
Xavier
D001488:Basilar Artery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015607:Stents; D020521:Stroke / Q000601:surgery*; D017131:Thrombectomy / Q000295:instrumentation*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
Basilar artery occlusion; stent retrievers; thrombectomy