Abstract 1122‐000068: Basilar Artery Occlusion Thrombectomy Between Evidence Based Medicine and the Real‐World Practice, Single Centre Experience

Introduction : BAO (basilar artery occlusion) is well known by catastrophic outcomes whether death or disability in approximately 70 %. 1 Thrombectomy as an intervention in large vessel occlusion of anterior proximal circulation was approved after multiple RCTs and meta‐analyses. 2 In spite of two RCTs that appeared lately, there is still uncertainty about the effect of thrombectomy in BAO. 9, 10 Our study aims to report the outcome of BAO, as a further clue of MT effectiveness in BAO and variables affecting good outcome and mortality rate. Methods : We retrospectively collected the clinical and radiological data of 30 BAO patients treated in our center between 2016 and 2020. There is no limitation as regard age or presenting NIHHS. Twenty‐two patients who came to the emergency within 4.5 hours had I.V. thrombolytic therapy (73.3%). A favorable clinical outcome was considered if mRS ≤ 2. Angioplasty, stenting, or I.A thrombolysis were used as a rescue treatment. Symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage within two days after the initiation of treatment and mortality at 90 days were reported. The radiological outcome was assessed by modified Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction (mTICI) score where mTICI ≥ 2b or 3 at the end of the intervention was considered a favorable radiological result. Multiple variables were tested for their effect on favorable clinical outcomes and mortality (Table 1). Results : Among 30 patients, the mean age was 61.23 ± 16.81 years; 20/30 (66.7%) male. A favorable functional outcome was achieved in (40.7%). Successful revascularization was achieved in 26 patients (86.7 %). Four patients had procedural complications (13.3%). Symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage occurred in three cases (11%) and mortality at 90 days was 11 patients (36.7 %). The presenting NIHSS is the only predictor of mortality and the optimal cut‐off value for death was 15 with AUC = 0.758 (sensitivity 91 % and specificity 59%) and p‐value = 0.02. TOR (time of onset to recanalization) had no effect on the clinical outcome which is controversy with the paradigm of early reperfusion leading to a good outcome Conclusions : In spite of two RCSs approved no statistical difference between medical treatment and thrombectomy, thrombectomy is still an effective procedure in real‐world practice in selected cases. The presenting NIHSS is the only predictor of mortality in our studies. More studies are warranted to discover other predictors of BAO thrombectomy outcome to improve case selection and avoid futile recanalization.

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Intracranial Stenting as Rescue Therapy After Failure of Mechanical Thrombectomy for Basilar Artery Occlusion: Data From the ANGEL-ACT Registry

Frontiers in Neurology ◽

10.3389/fneur.2021.739213 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Gang Luo ◽

Feng Gao ◽

Xuelei Zhang ◽

Baixue Jia ◽

Xiaochuan Huo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Ischemic Stroke ◽

Acute Ischemic Stroke ◽

Clinical Outcomes ◽

Intracranial Hemorrhage ◽

Basilar Artery ◽

Mechanical Thrombectomy ◽

Rescue Therapy ◽

Artery Occlusion ◽

Basilar Artery Occlusion ◽

Symptomatic Intracranial Hemorrhage

Background and Purpose: Studies on rescue therapy for acute posterior circulation stroke due to basilar artery occlusion (BAO) are limited in the modern era of mechanical thrombectomy (MT). The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of rescue stenting (RS) following MT failure in patients with BAO.Methods: Data were collected from the Endovascular Treatment Key Technique and Emergency Work Flow Improvement of Acute Ischemic Stroke (ANGEL-ACT) prospective registry in China. Patients who underwent MT for BAO with failure of recanalization were enrolled in this study. The patients were divided into the RS and non-RS groups. Clinical and laboratory findings, procedural details, and clinical outcomes were compared between the two groups.Results: Overall, 93 patients with acute BAO were analyzed. The RS group included 81 (87.1%) patients, and the non-RS group included 12 patients. A modified treatment in cerebral infarction (mTICI) score of 2b/3 was achieved in 75 (92.6%) patients in the RS group. Compared with the non-RS group, the RS group had a significantly higher rate of successful recanalization and favorable clinical outcomes (modified Rankin Scale score at 90 days post-procedure, 0–3: 16.7 vs. 51.9%, respectively; P = 0.023) without an increase in the rate of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage and a significantly lower mortality rate (58.3 vs. 18.5%, respectively; P = 0.006). Furthermore, the use of a glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitor improved the rate of recanalization of the target artery without increasing the rate of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage.Conclusions: Permanent stenting appears to be a feasible rescue modality when MT fails and might provide functional benefits in patients with acute ischemic stroke due to BAO.

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Extended Thrombolysis In Cerebral Infarction (eTICI) grade 2c: a potential angiographic target for endovascular treatment in acute basilar artery occlusion?

Journal of NeuroInterventional Surgery ◽

10.1136/neurintsurg-2021-018026 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. neurintsurg-2021-018026

Author(s):

Luming Chen ◽

Chenghao Zhao ◽

Jiaxing Song ◽

Wenjie Zi ◽

Hongfei Sang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cerebral Infarction ◽

Endovascular Treatment ◽

Clinical Outcomes ◽

Intracranial Hemorrhage ◽

Basilar Artery ◽

Functional Outcomes ◽

Artery Occlusion ◽

Basilar Artery Occlusion ◽

Symptomatic Intracranial Hemorrhage ◽

The Impact

BackgroundHigher extended Thrombolysis In Cerebral Infarction (eTICI) grades are associated with better clinical outcomes after endovascular treatment (EVT) for proximal intracranial occlusion of the anterior circulation. However, the relationship between eTICI grade and outcomes after EVT in patients with acute basilar artery occlusion (BAO) remains unclear. We aimed to explore which eTICI category was the cut-off correlating with better clinical outcomes in patients with BAO undergoing EVT.MethodsWe included patients treated via EVT from the BASILAR study. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the impact of eTICI grades on 90-day favorable functional outcomes, defined as a modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score of 0–3. Other outcomes were functional independence (mRS 0–2), all-cause mortality, and symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage.ResultsAmong 647 patients treated with EVT, 127 (19.6%), 128 (24.5%), 110 (21.1%), and 282 (54%) patients achieved eTICI grades of 0–2a, 2b, 2c, and 3, respectively. Compared with eTICI grades 0–2a, higher rates of favorable functional outcomes (adjusted OR (aOR) 2.96, 95% CI 1.33 to 6.57, and aOR 7.40, 95% CI 3.63 to 15.09, respectively) were observed for grades 2c and 3, not 2b (aOR 1.93, 95% CI 0.86 to 4.36). The risks of mortality and symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage were also lower for eTICI grades 2c and 3 than for grades 0–2a.ConclusionsAn eTICI grade of 2c/3 may be a target for successful reperfusion after EVT in patients with acute BAO; however, further studies with larger sample sizes and clinical trials are needed.

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SYMPTOMATIC INTRACRANIAL HEMORRHAGE AFTER THROMBOLYSIS AND ADJUNCT ANTICOAGULATION IN BASILAR ARTERY OCCLUSION

10.26226/morressier.58e389aed462b802923857bc ◽

2017 ◽

Author(s):

Tiina Sairanen

Keyword(s):

Intracranial Hemorrhage ◽

Basilar Artery ◽

Artery Occlusion ◽

Basilar Artery Occlusion ◽

Symptomatic Intracranial Hemorrhage

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Predictors of Good Outcome After Stent-Retriever Thrombectomy in Acute Basilar Artery Occlusion

Stroke ◽

10.1161/strokeaha.115.010840 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 46 (10) ◽

pp. 2972-2975 ◽

Cited By ~ 50

Author(s):

Woong Yoon ◽

Seul Kee Kim ◽

Tae Wook Heo ◽

Byung Hyun Baek ◽

Yun Young Lee ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Basilar Artery ◽

Artery Occlusion ◽

Stent Retriever ◽

Basilar Artery Occlusion ◽

Good Outcome

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Neuroimaging Predictors of Clinical Outcome in Acute Basilar Artery Occlusion

Frontiers in Neurology ◽

10.3389/fneur.2017.00293 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Ravi Garg ◽

José Biller

Keyword(s):

Clinical Outcome ◽

Basilar Artery ◽

Artery Occlusion ◽

Basilar Artery Occlusion

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Erratum. Mechanical thrombectomy in basilar artery occlusion: influence of reperfusion on clinical outcome and impact of the first-line strategy (ADAPT vs stent retriever)

Journal of Neurosurgery ◽

10.3171/2017.7.jns171043a ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 129 (6) ◽

pp. 1649 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Benjamin Gory ◽

Bertrand Lapergue

Keyword(s):

Clinical Outcome ◽

Basilar Artery ◽

Mechanical Thrombectomy ◽

Artery Occlusion ◽

Stent Retriever ◽

Basilar Artery Occlusion ◽

First Line

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Initial factors affecting the clinical outcome after successful recanalization via MR-based mechanical thrombectomy in patients with acute ischemic stroke due to basilar artery occlusion

Journal of NeuroInterventional Surgery ◽

10.1136/neurintsurg-2015-011912 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 8 (9) ◽

pp. 889-893 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Seungnam Son ◽

Yong-Won Kim ◽

Min Kyun Oh ◽

Soo-Kyoung Kim ◽

Ki-Jong Park ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Ischemic Stroke ◽

Clinical Outcome ◽

Acute Ischemic Stroke ◽

Basilar Artery ◽

Mechanical Thrombectomy ◽

Artery Occlusion ◽

Basilar Artery Occlusion ◽

Nihss Score ◽

Diffusion Weighted Images ◽

Outcome Group

Background and purposeTo determine the initial factors, including patient characteristics, stroke etiology and severity, time factors, and imaging findings, that could affect the clinical outcome of patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) caused by basilar artery occlusion (BAO) where successful recanalization was achieved via mechanical thrombectomy.MethodsBetween March 2011 and December 2014, 35 patients with AIS caused by BAO received MRI/MR angiography-based mechanical thrombectomies, and recanalization was achieved with a Thrombolysis In Cerebral Infarction score of >2b. The patients were divided into a good outcome group (n=19), defined as those with a modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score of 0–2 at 3 months after stroke onset, and a poor outcome group (n=16), defined as a mRS score of 3–6. The differences between the groups were analyzed.ResultsInitial National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score (good vs poor: 17.9±8.9 vs 27.6±8.5, p=0.003), posterior circulation Acute Stroke Prognosis Early CT Score (pc-ASPECTS) based on initial diffusion-weighted images (DWI) (good vs poor: 7.8±1.6 vs 5.4±1.8, p=0.001), pc-ASPECTS based on contrast staining on the post-thrombectomy control CT (good vs poor: 9.2±1.5 vs 6.3±2.2, p<0.001), and presence of contrast staining in the brainstem on that CT (good vs poor: 15.8% vs 81.6%, p<0.001) were significantly different between the groups.ConclusionsPatients with AIS caused by BAO with a lower initial NIHSS score, fewer lesions on initial DWI, and less contrast staining on the post-thrombectomy control CT have higher probabilities of a good clinical outcome after successful recanalization via a mechanical thrombectomy.

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Abstract WP26: Improved Clinical Outcome of Acute Basilar Artery Occlusion Since Introduction of Endovascular Thrombectomy Devices

Stroke ◽

10.1161/str.44.suppl_1.awp26 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 44 (suppl_1) ◽

Author(s):

Peter A Ringleb ◽

Lars Kellert ◽

Markus Moehlenbruch ◽

Simon Nagel ◽

Julian Boesel ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Clinical Outcome ◽

Functional Outcome ◽

Basilar Artery ◽

Treatment Strategies ◽

Artery Occlusion ◽

Basilar Artery Occlusion ◽

Good Clinical Outcome ◽

Entire Cohort ◽

Before And After ◽

Common Clinical Practice

Background: Survival and functional outcome of patients with acute basilar artery occlusion (BAO) are highly dependent on vessel recanalization. Therefore intra-arterial thrombolysis is recommended in international guidelines. For several years, thrombectomy-devices are used for intra-arterial therapy. We analyzed if the use of those devices modified the outcome of patients with BAO in our institution. Method: Retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data on consecutive patients with acute BAO since 1998. In July 2009 for the first time a thrombectomy device was used in a patient with BAO. Thereafter the cohort was split into two chronological groups. All patients were treated at a dedicated neurological ICU following institutional SOPs. Functional outcome was assessed three months after treatment using the modified Rankin Scale (mRS); good clinical outcome was defined as mRS 0-2. Symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH) was defined as intracranial blood on follow-up imaging up to 36 hours after treatment associated with clinical worsening of at least 4 points of the NIHSS or leading to death. Results: From the entire cohort of N=124 patients, n=91 patients were treated before and n=33 after July 2009. A “bridging concept” (i.e. IVT + IAT) was applied in 20% vs. 64% of the patients before and after July 2009, respectively. Complete recanalization (TICI 3) was achieved in 45% before and 77% after July 2009 (p=0.005). SICH occurred in 7% of the earlier and 3% of the later cohort (p=0.67); good clinical outcome was observed in 10% of the earlier and 33% of the later cohort (p=0.004); mortality was 57% in the earlier and 30% in the later group (p=0.01). After adjustment for baseline imbalances (proportion of patients with previous stroke, time until first treatment) the differences remained significant for good clinical outcome (OR 3.86; 95%CI 1.27 - 11.7; p=0.017) and mortality (OR 0.38; 95%CI 0.15-0.99; p=0.047). Conclusion: Modern thrombectomy-devices as well as the increased use of bridging approaches for treatment of BAO have significantly improved good clinical outcome and attenuated mortality. Especially in patients with BAO - where endovascular treatment strategies are common clinical practice - those devices should be used more frequently.

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Blood pressure characteristics in patients with acute basilar artery occlusion undergoing endovascular thrombectomy

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-019-49769-8 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Slaven Pikija ◽

Katharina Millesi ◽

Monika Killer-Oberpfalzer ◽

J. Sebastian Mutzenbach ◽

Laszlo K. Sztriha ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Blood Pressure ◽

Basilar Artery ◽

Reference Value ◽

Artery Occlusion ◽

Basilar Artery Occlusion ◽

Good Outcome ◽

Frequent Use ◽

Life Threatening ◽

Lowering Drug ◽

The Individual

Abstract Acute basilar artery occlusion (BAO) is a rare but potentially life-threatening neurological condition. While endovascular therapy (EVT) has been shown to improve outcome, there is limited knowledge about prognostic factors beyond early recanalization. We studied whether blood pressure (BP) exceeds or falls below suggested thresholds during intervention and whether these changes are associated with complications and outcome. BP measurements mostly with one-minute intervals were available in 39 patients. An individual systolic blood pressure (SBP) reference value was defined as the median of the first five intra-procedural measurements. Half of the patients (51.3%) received drugs for BP augmentation and two a BP lowering drug (5.1%). Thrombolysis in cerebral infarction grade 2b and 3 (TICI) was achieved in 29 (74.4%) and 23 patients (58.9%) had good outcome at three months. We observed a continuous intra-procedural increase of median SBP (+11%) and mean arterial pressure (MAP, +10%, both p < 0.001), and a unique temporal pattern of intermittent peaks and troughs. Successful recanalization was more common in patients whose intra-procedural duration with SBP under 140 mmHg was shorter (p = 0.009). Patients with isolated tip of basilar artery (TBA) occlusion had significantly more BP excursion of 20% below the reference SBP and required more frequent use of sympathomimetic drugs compared to vertebrobasilar occlusion (p = 0.008 and p = 0.041, respectively). Brain hemorrhage was more prevalent in patients who experienced SBP excursions at least 20% above the individual reference value (p = 0.038) and a longer duration of time spent with SBP above 180 mmHg (p = 0.029). Patients with higher pre-procedural mean SBP had a greater chance of a good outcome (p = 0.03). This study using high resolution BP monitoring suggests a relationship between intra-procedural BP characteristics and recanalization, hemorrhagic complications and outcome in patients receiving EVT for acute posterior circulation cerebrovascular syndromes. Differences with regard to BP regulation during recanalization therapy for vertebrobasilar and TBA occlusion deserves further attention.

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