Acute occlusion of the fetal posterior cerebral artery: diagnosis and management paradigms

2021 ◽  
pp. 197140092110193
Author(s):  
Mohamad Abdalkader ◽  
Anurag Sahoo ◽  
Julie G Shulman ◽  
Elie Sader ◽  
Courtney Takahashi ◽  
...  

Background and purpose The diagnosis and management of acute fetal posterior cerebral artery occlusion are challenging. While endovascular treatment is established for anterior circulation large vessel occlusion stroke, little is known about the course of acute fetal posterior cerebral artery occlusions. We report the clinical course, radiological findings and management considerations of acute fetal posterior cerebral artery occlusion stroke. Methods We performed a retrospective review of consecutive patients presenting with acute large vessel occlusion who underwent cerebral angiogram and/or mechanical thrombectomy between January 2015 and January 2021. Patients diagnosed with fetal posterior cerebral artery occlusion were included. Demographic data, clinical presentation, imaging findings and management strategies were reviewed. Results Between January 2015 and January 2021, three patients with fetal posterior cerebral artery occlusion were identified from 400 patients who underwent angiogram and/or mechanical thrombectomy for acute stroke (0.75%). The first patient presented with concomitant fetal posterior cerebral artery and middle cerebral artery occlusions. Thrombectomy was performed with recanalisation of the fetal posterior cerebral artery but the patient died from malignant oedema. The second patient presented with isolated fetal posterior cerebral artery occlusion. No endovascular intervention was performed and the patient was disabled from malignant posterior cerebral artery infarct. The third patient presented with carotid occlusion and was found to have fetal posterior cerebral artery occlusion after internal carotid artery recanalisation. No further intervention was performed. The patient was left with residual contralateral homonymous hemianopia and mild left sided weakness. Conclusion Fetal posterior cerebral artery occlusion is a rare, but potentially disabling, cause of ischaemic stroke. Endovascular treatment is feasible. Further investigation is needed to compare the efficacy of medical versus endovascular management strategies.

Author(s):  
Mohamad Abdalkader ◽  
Anurag Sahoo ◽  
Adam A. Dmytriw ◽  
Waleed Brinjikji ◽  
Guilherme Dabus ◽  
...  

Abstract BACKGROUND Fetal posterior cerebral artery (FPCA) occlusion is a rare but potentially disabling cause of stroke. While endovascular treatment is established for acute large vessel occlusion stroke, FPCA occlusions were excluded from acute ischemic stroke trials. We aim to report the feasibility, safety, and outcome of mechanical thrombectomy in acute FPCA occlusions. METHODS We performed a multicenter retrospective review of consecutive patients who underwent mechanical thrombectomy of acute FPCA occlusion. Primary FPCA occlusion was defined as an occlusion that was identified on the pre‐procedure computed tomography angiography or baseline angiogram whereas a secondary FPCA occlusion was defined as an occlusion that occurred secondary to embolization to a new territory after recanalization of a different large vessel occlusion. Demographics, clinical presentation, imaging findings, endovascular treatment, and outcome were reviewed. RESULTS There were 25 patients with acute FPCA occlusion who underwent mechanical thrombectomy, distributed across 14 centers. Median National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale on presentation was 16. There were 76% (19/25) of patients who presented with primary FPCA occlusion and 24% (6/25) of patients who had a secondary FPCA occlusion. The configuration of the FPCA was full in 64% patients and partial or “fetal‐type” in 36% of patients. FPCA occlusion was missed on initial computed tomography angiography in 21% of patients with primary FPCA occlusion (4/19). The site of occlusion was posterior communicating artery in 52%, P2 segment in 40% and P3 in 8% of patients. Thrombolysis in cerebral infarction 2b/3 reperfusion was achieved in 96% of FPCA patients. There were no intraprocedural complications. At 90 days, 48% (12/25) were functionally independent as defined by modified Rankin scale≤2. CONCLUSIONS Endovascular treatment of acute FPCA occlusion is safe and technically feasible. A high index of suspicion is important to detect occlusion of the FPCA in patients presenting with anterior circulation stroke syndrome and patent anterior circulation. Novelty and significance This is the first multicenter study showing that thrombectomy of FPCA occlusion is feasible and safe.


Author(s):  
Phillip A. Bonney ◽  
Parampreet Singh ◽  
Benjamin Yim ◽  
William J. Mack

Abstract: This chapter addresses the neurosurgical management of stroke due to acute middle cerebral artery occlusion. Large vessel occlusion is a common mechanism of acute ischemic stroke. Mechanical thrombectomy has emerged as an important procedure that drastically improves outcomes in this disease. This chapter discusses the diagnosis and treatment of acute ischemic stroke from large vessel occlusion, including the rapid radiographic evaluation with CT, CTA, MRI, and perfusion imaging. The scoring of the stroke using scales such as the ASPECTS score and their use in decision-making is reviewed. The chapter then discusses treatment with both chemical thrombolysis and mechanical thrombectomy, including the technical aspects of the procedure.


2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 277-284 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fabio Settecase

Distal emboli and emboli to new territories occur in up to 14% and 11% of large vessel occlusion mechanical thrombectomies, respectively. A retrospective review was conducted of 18 consecutive patients with large vessel occlusion acute stroke undergoing mechanical thrombecomy, subsequently developing distal emboli and/or emboli to new territory for which thromboaspiration using the 3MAX catheter was performed. Eighteen distal emboli and two emboli to new territory in 18 patients were treated in the distal M2 and M3 middle cerebral artery, pericallosal and callosomarginal arteries, and P2 posterior cerebral artery (all arteries ≥1.5 mm in diameter). 3MAX thromboaspiration was successful in 13/18 distal emboli and 2/2 emboli to new territory (total 15/20, 75%). 3MAX thromboaspiration resulted in improvement in the final modified treatment in cerebral ischaemia (mTICI) score in 14/18 patients (78%) compared with the initial mTICI score after large vessel occlusion thrombectomy. A shift towards higher final mTICI scores was seen with 3MAX catheter aspiration of distal emboli in this series. The initial mTICI score after large vessel occlusion thrombectomy was 2A in 4/18 (22%) patients and 2B in 14/18 (78%) patients. The final mTICI score after distal emboli/emboli to new territory aspiration improved to 2B in 7/18 (39%) patients, 2C in 3/18 (17%) patients and 3 in 8/18 (44%) patients. No procedural complications were noted. In 13 patients with successful distal emboli/emboli to new territory thromboaspiration, a 90-day modified Rankin score of 0–2 was seen in 10 patients (77%). In five patients with unsuccessful distal emboli/emboli to new territory aspiration, a 90-day modified Rankin score of 0–2 was seen in three patients (60%). 3MAX thromboaspiration of select distal emboli and emboli to new territories is feasible. Larger prospective studies are needed to establish the clinical benefit and safety of this approach.


2021 ◽  
pp. neurintsurg-2021-018017
Author(s):  
Andre Monteiro ◽  
Slah Khan ◽  
Muhammad Waqas ◽  
Rimal H Dossani ◽  
Nicco Ruggiero ◽  
...  

BackgroundAcute isolated posterior cerebral artery occlusions (aPCAOs) were excluded or under-represented in major randomized trials of mechanical thrombectomy (MT). The benefit of MT in comparison to intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (alteplase; IV-tPA) alone in these patients remains controversial and uncertain.MethodsWe performed a systematic search of PubMed, MEDLINE, and EMBASE databases for articles comparing MT with or without bridging IV-tPA and IV-tPA alone for aPCAO using keywords (‘posterior cerebral artery’, ‘thrombolysis’ and ‘thrombectomy’) with Boolean operators. Extracted data from patients reported in the studies were pooled into groups (MT vs IV-tPA alone) for comparison. Estimated rates for favorable outcome (modified Rankin scale score 0–2), symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH), and mortality were extracted.ResultsSeven articles (201 MT patients, 64 IV-tPA) were included, all retrospective. There was no statistically significant difference between pooled groups in median age, median presentation National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score, PCAO segment, and median time from symptom onset to puncture or needle. The recanalization rate was significantly higher in the MT group than the IV-tPA group (85.6% vs 53.1%, p<0.00001). Odds ratios for favorable outcome (OR 1.5, 95% CI 0.8 to 2.5), sICH (OR 1.1, 95% CI 0.2 to 5.5), and mortality (OR 1.4, 95% CI 0.5 to 3.6) did not significantly favor any modality.ConclusionsWe found no significant differences in odds of favorable outcome, sICH, and mortality in MT and IV-tPA in comparable aPCAO patients, despite superior MT recanalization rates. Equipoise remains regarding the optimal treatment modality for these patients.


Stroke ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 44 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Maxim Mokin ◽  
Tareq Kass-Hout ◽  
Omar Kass-Hout ◽  
Erol Veznedaroglu ◽  
Fadi Nahab ◽  
...  

Background and Purpose: Acute ischemic stroke due to large vessel occlusion is associated with a poor prognosis. With no consensus about the best treatment option, various treatment modalities including conservative management, intravenous tissue plasminogen activator, and endovascular approach are currently being used. Methods: Retrospective data including demographic information, baseline NIHSS score, site of occlusion (based on CTA, MRA or angiogram), type of treatment and clinical outcomes were collected from 4 centers in the United States during the period of 2010-2011. Results: A total of 423 were included in final analysis: 175 patients received conservative medical management, 54 patients received intravenous (IV) thrombolysis alone, and 194 patients had endovascular treatment (with or without prior IV tPA). Younger patients were more likely to receive endovascular treatment (p<0.001). There was no statistically significant difference among the sex and co-morbid conditions among the three groups. Proximal middle cerebral artery was the most commonly involved vessel. Strokes due to basilar artery occlusion or internal carotid artery occlusion were associated with worst outcomes in all three groups. Conservative medical management had the lowest rates of symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage but also the highest mortality rates at 3 months. Patients who received endovascular treatment within the first 3 hrs had better outcome and lower mortality rates as compared to patients with intervention during 3-8 hours or beyond 8 hrs. Conclusions: Our study represents real world experience on the management and outcomes of acute ischemic strokes due to large vessel occlusion. Our results help understand natural history of strokes with large vessel occlusion, as well as modern trends in managing these patients with intravenous and intraarterial treatment approaches.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 800
Author(s):  
Grzegorz Meder ◽  
Milena Świtońska ◽  
Piotr Płeszka ◽  
Violetta Palacz-Duda ◽  
Dorota Dzianott-Pabijan ◽  
...  

Ischemic stroke due to large vessel occlusion (LVO) is a devastating condition. Most LVOs are embolic in nature. Arterial dissection is responsible for only a small proportion of LVOs, is specific in nature and poses some challenges in treatment. We describe 3 cases where patients with stroke caused by carotid artery dissection were treated with mechanical thrombectomy and extensive stenting with good outcome. We believe that mechanical thrombectomy and stenting is a treatment of choice in these cases.


2017 ◽  
Vol 42 (4) ◽  
pp. E17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hideo Okada ◽  
Yoshikazu Matsuda ◽  
Joonho Chung ◽  
R. Webster Crowley ◽  
Demetrius K. Lopes

Mechanical thrombectomy with stentriever and/or aspiration is the new gold standard for the treatment of acute strokes with large-vessel occlusion. As many as 20% of cases remain refractory to current stentriever and/or aspiration devices. “Saddle clots” obstructing a bifurcation may be a particular challenge for recanalization with conventional techniques and devices. The authors describe an alternative technique to bifurcation occlusions resistant to the conventional mechanical thrombectomy approach in which they simultaneously deployed 2 stentrievers into both branches of an occluded bifurcation. This stentriever Y-configuration was very effective in managing a challenging intracranial bifurcation occlusion.


2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 271-273 ◽  
Author(s):  
Feng Peng ◽  
Junfang Wan ◽  
Wenhua Liu ◽  
Wenguo Huang ◽  
Li Wang ◽  
...  

PurposeTo evaluate the effectiveness and safety of rescue stenting (RS) after failed mechanical thrombectomy (MT) for patients with large artery occlusion in the anterior circulation.MethodsConsecutive patients who experienced failed reperfusion and subsequently did or did not undergo RS at 16 comprehensive stroke centers were enrolled from January 2015 to June 2018. Propensity score matching was used to achieve baseline balance between the patient groups. Symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH) at 48 hours and the modified Rankin Scale scores and mortality at 3 months in the two groups were compared.ResultsA total of 90 patients with RS and 117 patients without RS after failed MT were enrolled. Propensity score matching analysis selected 132 matched patients. The good outcome rate was significantly higher in matched patients with RS than in those without RS (36.4% vs 19.7%, p=0.033), whereas the sICH (13.6% vs 21.2%, p=0.251) and mortality (31.9% vs 43.9%, p=0.151) were not significantly different between the groups.ConclusionsRS seems to be an effective safe choice for patients with large vessel occlusion of the anterior circulation who underwent failed MT.


2013 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 174-178 ◽  
Author(s):  
Felix Goehre ◽  
Hiroyasu Kamiyama ◽  
Akira Kosaka ◽  
Toshiyuki Tsuboi ◽  
Shiro Miyata ◽  
...  

Abstract BACKGROUND: In a short window of time, intravenous and intra-arterial thrombolysis is the first treatment option for patients with an acute ischemic stroke caused by the occlusion of one of the major brain vessels. Endovascular treatment techniques provide additional treatment options. In selected cases, high revascularization rates following microsurgical thromboembolectomy in the anterior circulation were reported. A technical note on successful thromboembolectomy of the proximal posterior cerebral artery has not yet been published. OBJECTIVE: To describe the technique of microsurgical thromboembolectomy of an acute proximal posterior cerebral artery occlusion and the brainstem perforators via the anterior temporal approach. METHODS: The authors present a technical report of a successful thromboembolectomy in the proximal posterior cerebral artery. The 64-year-old male patient had an acute partial P1 thromboembolic occlusion, with contraindications for intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator. The patient underwent an urgent microsurgical thromboembolectomy after a frontotemporal craniotomy. RESULTS: The postoperative computerized tomography angiography showed complete recanalization of the P1 segment and its perforators, which were previously occluded. The early outcome after 1 month and 1 year follow-ups showed improvement from modified Rankin scale 4 to modified Rankin scale 1. CONCLUSION: Microsurgical thromboembolectomy can be an effective treatment option for proximal occlusion of the posterior cerebral artery in selected cases and experienced hands. Compared with endovascular treatment, direct visual control of brainstem perforators is possible.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 648-653 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arthur Wang ◽  
Grace K Mandigo ◽  
Peter D Yim ◽  
Philip M Meyers ◽  
Sean D Lavine

BackgroundCOVID-19 infections have been shown to be associated with a range of thromboembolic disease.ObjectiveTo describe our endovascular experience in a consecutive series of patients with COVID-19 who presented with large vessel occlusions, and to describe unique findings in this population.MethodsMechanical thrombectomy was performed on five consecutive patients with COVID-19 with large vessel occlusions. A retrospective study of these patients was performed. Patient demographics, laboratory values, mechanical thrombectomy technique, and clinical and angiographic outcomes were reviewed.ResultsFour patients with COVID-19 presented with anterior circulation occlusions and one patient with COVID-19 presented with both anterior and posterior circulation occlusions. All patients had coagulation abnormalities. Mean patient age was 52.8 years. Three patients presented with an intracranial internal carotid artery occlusion. Two patients presented with an intracranial occlusion and a tandem thrombus in the carotid bulb. One patient presented with an occlusion in both the internal carotid and basilar arteries. Clot fragmentation and distal emboli to a new vascular territory were seen in two of five (40%) patients, and downstream emboli were seen in all five (100%) patients. Patient clinical outcome was generally poor in this series of patients with COVID-19 large vessel occlusion.ConclusionOur series of patients with COVID-19 demonstrated coagulation abnormalities, and compared with our previous experience with mechanical thrombectomy in large vessel occlusion, this group of patients were younger, had tandem or multiple territory occlusions, a large clot burden, and a propensity for clot fragmentation. These patients present unique challenges that make successful revascularization difficult.


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