BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Successful revascularization can often improve functional outcome after large intracranial arterial occlusions. However, incomplete or unsuccessful recanalization is often the end result after attempted mechanical thrombectomy. A study was undertaken to determine whether partial recanalization of proximal isolated middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusions facilitates endogenous thrombolysis and spontaneous recanalization. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed consecutive patients with acute ischemic stroke undergoing mechanical thrombectomy using the Merci Retriever System for occlusions involving any portion of the M1 segment of the MCA. Only those patients with a residual obstruction of the proximal MCA segments were included. The rates of facilitated endogenous recanalization (FER₅) by imaging within the 5 h following intervention were compared in patients with partial proximal recanalization and those in whom recanalization was unsuccessful. RESULTS: Forty-two patients were included in the analysis. Twenty-six patients had good recanalization of the proximal aspect of the target lesion with an arterial occlusive lesion score of 2 or 3 but a residual partial or total occlusion of the MCA, while 16 patients failed to recanalize any portion of the target occlusion. Twelve patients (46%) in the first group and only one (5.9%) in the second group had facilitated endogenous recanalization on interval imaging 5 h after intervention (OR 12.9, 95% CI 1.5 to 112.2). Nine patients with proximal recanalization had good clinical outcomes at discharge (mRS ≤2) compared with none without recanalization (p=0.01), but FER did not have a relationship with clinical outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Despite initially incomplete proximal mechanical thrombectomy, nearly half of all patients with residual M1 occlusions will undergo further endogenous recanalization within the subsequent 5 h.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Successful revascularization can often improve functional outcome after large intracranial arterial occlusions. However, incomplete or unsuccessful recanalization is often the end result after attempted mechanical thrombectomy. A study was undertaken to determine whether partial recanalization of proximal isolated middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusions facilitates endogenous thrombolysis and spontaneous recanalization. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed consecutive patients with acute ischemic stroke undergoing mechanical thrombectomy using the Merci Retriever System for occlusions involving any portion of the M1 segment of the MCA. Only those patients with a residual obstruction of the proximal MCA segments were included. The rates of facilitated endogenous recanalization (FER₅) by imaging within the 5 h following intervention were compared in patients with partial proximal recanalization and those in whom recanalization was unsuccessful. RESULTS: Forty-two patients were included in the analysis. Twenty-six patients had good recanalization of the proximal aspect of the target lesion with an arterial occlusive lesion score of 2 or 3 but a residual partial or total occlusion of the MCA, while 16 patients failed to recanalize any portion of the target occlusion. Twelve patients (46%) in the first group and only one (5.9%) in the second group had facilitated endogenous recanalization on interval imaging 5 h after intervention (OR 12.9, 95% CI 1.5 to 112.2). Nine patients with proximal recanalization had good clinical outcomes at discharge (mRS ≤2) compared with none without recanalization (p=0.01), but FER did not have a relationship with clinical outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Despite initially incomplete proximal mechanical thrombectomy, nearly half of all patients with residual M1 occlusions will undergo further endogenous recanalization within the subsequent 5 h.
Authors: Yince Loh; Amytis Towfighi; David S Liebeskind; David L MacArthur; Paul Vespa; Nestor R Gonzalez; Satoshi Tateshima; Sidney Starkman; Jeffrey L Saver; Zhong-Song Shi; Reza Jahan; Fernando Viñuela; Gary R Duckwiler Journal: Stroke Date: 2009-08-06 Impact factor: 7.914
Authors: Pooja Khatri; Joddi Neff; Joseph P Broderick; Jane C Khoury; Janice Carrozzella; Thomas Tomsick Journal: Stroke Date: 2005-10-13 Impact factor: 7.914
Authors: Y Pierre Gobin; Sidney Starkman; Gary R Duckwiler; Thomas Grobelny; Chelsea S Kidwell; Reza Jahan; John Pile-Spellman; Alan Segal; Fernando Vinuela; Jeffrey L Saver Journal: Stroke Date: 2004-10-28 Impact factor: 7.914
Authors: Oh Young Bang; Brian H Buck; Jeffrey L Saver; Jeffry R Alger; Sa Rah Yoon; Sidney Starkman; Bruce Ovbiagele; Doojin Kim; Latisha K Ali; Nerses Sanossian; Reza Jahan; Gary R Duckwiler; Fernando Viñuela; Noriko Salamon; J Pablo Villablanca; David S Liebeskind Journal: Ann Neurol Date: 2007-08 Impact factor: 10.422
Authors: Wade S Smith; Gene Sung; Jeffrey Saver; Ronald Budzik; Gary Duckwiler; David S Liebeskind; Helmi L Lutsep; Marilyn M Rymer; Randall T Higashida; Sidney Starkman; Y Pierre Gobin; Donald Frei; Thomas Grobelny; Frank Hellinger; Dan Huddle; Chelsea Kidwell; Walter Koroshetz; Michael Marks; Gary Nesbit; Isaac E Silverman Journal: Stroke Date: 2008-02-28 Impact factor: 7.914