A single-center study on endovascular thrombectomy for acute ischemic stroke

Objective To evaluate the efficiency and safety of endovascular thrombectomy for acute ischemic stroke caused by acute large vessel occulsion.  Methods A total of 41 patients with acute ischemic stroke caused by acute large vessel occulsion were treated with endovascular thrombectomy. Time from onset to admission, from admission to femoral artery puncture, from onset to recanalization were recorded. Modified Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction (mTICI) was used to assess the recanalization immediately after operation. National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) was used to evaluate the neurological function at 24 h after operation. Modified Rankin Scale (mRS) was used to evaluate clinical prognosis at 90 d after operation. Perioperative procedure-related complications and occurrence rate of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage within at 90 d after operation were recorded. American Society of Interventional and Therapeutic Neuroradiology/Society of Interventional Radiology (ASITN/SIR) Collateral Flow Grading System (ACG) was used to assess collateral compensation of anterior circulation. BATMAN score was used to assess collateral compensation of posterior circulation.  Results Among 41 patients, 12 (29.27%) were treated with recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator (rt-PA) intravenous thrombolysis. There were 32 patients (78.05%) achieved successful recanalization, including 20 patients (80%, 20/25) in anterior circulation and 12 (12/16) in posterior circulation, and no significant difference was seen between them (adjusted χ 2 = 1.424, P = 0.706). At 24 h after operation, 28 patients (68.29%) had better neurological function than preoperation (NIHSS decreasing ≥ 4 score), including 18 patients (72%, 18/25) with anterior circulation occlusion and 10 (10/16) with posterior circulation occlusion, and there was no significant difference between them (χ 2 = 0.407, P = 0.524). Eleven patients (26.83%) died within 90 d after operation, including 4 patients (16%, 4/25) with anterior circulation occlusion and 7 (7/16) with posterior circulation occlusion, and there was no significant difference between them (adjusted χ 2 = 2.130, P = 0.144). Among the 11 dead, 3 died of complicated pulmonary infection and respiratory failure, and 8 died of ischemic stroke.  The other 30 patients were followed up for 3 months to one year, average (231.92 ± 95.36) d. At 90 d after operation, 14 patients (34.15%) had good outcome (mRS ≤ 2 score), including 10 patients (47.62%, 10/21) with anterior circulation occlusion and 4 (4/9) with posterior circulation occlusion, and there was no significant difference between them (adjusted χ 2 = 0.493, P = 0.483). Among 41 patients, 6 patients (14.63% ) had symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage, including 4 patients (16% , 4/25) with anterior circulation occlusion and 2 (2/16) with posterior circulation occlusion, and no significant difference was seen between them (adjusted χ 2 = 3.303, P = 0.856). Collateral compensation was evaluated in 33 patients (20 with anterior circulation occlusion and 13 with posterior patients circulation occlusion). In 20 patients with anterior circulation occlusion, 14 patients (70%) had good collateral compensation, in whom 9 (9/14) had good outcome 90 d after operation, while the other 6 patients (30%) had poor collateral compensation and then had good outcome 90 d after operation, and significant difference was seen between them (Fisher exact probability: P = 0.014). Among 13 patients with posterior circulation occlusion, 3 patients (3/13) had good collateral compensation and had good outcome 90 d after operation, while the other 10 (10/13) had poor collateral compensation, in whom one (1/10) had good outcome 90 d after operation, and significant difference was seen between them (Fisher exact probability: P = 0.014).  Conclusions Endovascular thrombectomy is an efficient and safe method for acute ischemic stroke caused by acute large vessel occlusion. Rigorously master the indication and preoperative evaluation, and perfect acute rescue procedure and treatment for stroke may increase the efficacy of endovascular thrombectomy. DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1672-6731.2017.11.005