MULTIMODAL REPERFUSION THERAPY IN PATIENTS WITH ACUTE BASILAR ARTERY OCCLUSION

Abstract OBJECTIVE Multimodal reperfusion therapy (MMRT) has been advocated for the treatment of acute basilar artery occlusion (ABAO). We aimed to identify prognostic factors in patients with ABAO who underwent MMRT. METHODS Clinical and radiological data from consecutive ABAO patients were analyzed. All patients underwent MMRT on an emergency basis. Stroke subtypes were categorized according to TOAST (Trial of ORG 10172 in Acute Stroke Treatment) criteria. Good outcome was defined as a modified Rankin Scale score of 3 or less and poor outcome as a score of 4 or more at 30 days poststroke. RESULTS Twenty-four patients were included (18 men, 6 women) with a mean age of 54.7 years (age range, 26–70 years). Six patients died (25%), and 8 of the surviving 18 patients (44%) achieved a modified Rankin Scale score of 3 or less at 30 days. We could not identify any clinical or radiological variables that were associated with a greater likelihood of good or poor outcome at 30 days other than the presence of good collateral circulation, which was associated with better outcome on univariate analysis. CONCLUSION MMRT resulted in high survival and good outcome rates. We could not identify prognostic factors in patients with ABAO treated with MMRT other than the presence of collateral flow. Our results imply that patients should not be excluded from treatment based on clinical or radiological parameters, and that all patients with ABAO should be given the chance to benefit from therapy.

Download Full-text

Flow Diversion Radial Artery Bypass Graft Coupled With Terminal Basilar Artery Occlusion for the Treatment of Complex Basilar Apex Aneurysms: Operative Nuances

Operative Neurosurgery ◽

10.1227/neu.0b013e31827bf2d8 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 72 (2) ◽

pp. ons116-ons126 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Jeffrey C. Mai ◽

Farzana Tariq ◽

Louis J. Kim ◽

Laligam N. Sekhar

Keyword(s):

Scale Score ◽

Cerebral Artery ◽

Basilar Artery ◽

Collateral Circulation ◽

Posterior Cerebral Artery ◽

Artery Bypass ◽

Artery Occlusion ◽

High Flow ◽

Basilar Artery Occlusion ◽

Modified Rankin Scale

Abstract BACKGROUND: A subset of basilar apex aneurysms are unsuitable for either primary microsurgical clipping or endovascular coiling. These complex aneurysms can be treated by terminal basilar artery occlusion, but only if collateral circulation is adequate. To circumvent these complications, a high-flow vertebral artery-posterior cerebral artery or middle cerebral artery-posterior cerebral artery bypass may be performed to create an adequate collateral circulation to allow treatment of the aneurysm by basilar artery occlusion and/or clipping. OBJECTIVE: To discuss the operative nuances of this approach in the case of a 47-year-old man with progressive hemiparesis resulting from brainstem compression from a giant, unruptured basilar apex aneurysm with absent posterior communicating artery collaterals and incorporation of bilateral superior cerebellar arteries and posterior cerebral arteries within the aneurysm neck. METHODS: The patient underwent a staged bypass from V3 to P2 coupled with terminal basilar artery occlusion. RESULTS: The patient initially presented as modified Rankin Scale score 2 with right hemiparesis. The aneurysm ruptured after the first stage of the operation, and the patient underwent a V3 to P2 bypass the next day. His postprocedural neurologic decline improved at the 14-month follow-up to modified Rankin Scale score 2, with substantial reduction in aneurysm size observed at 9 months. The outcomes for 3 other bypass cases for basilar apex aneurysms are also summarized. CONCLUSION: We discuss the indications, preoperative diagnostic workup, operative management, and postoperative outcomes in managing challenging basilar apex aneurysms. In our experience, high-flow bypass procedures with or without hunterian ligation in the treatment of these aneurysms are well tolerated with good long-term results.

Download Full-text

Vertebral Artery Patency and Thrombectomy in Basilar Artery Occlusions

Stroke ◽

10.1161/strokeaha.118.022466 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 50 (2) ◽

pp. 389-395 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Tobias Boeckh-Behrens ◽

David Pree ◽

Nina Lummel ◽

Benjamin Friedrich ◽

Christian Maegerlein ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Vertebral Artery ◽

Scale Score ◽

Basilar Artery ◽

Odds Ratio ◽

Artery Occlusion ◽

Low Flow ◽

Basilar Artery Occlusion ◽

Modified Rankin Scale ◽

Flow Conditions ◽

Vertebral Arteries

Background and Purpose— Factors influencing recanalization success in basilar artery occlusions are largely unknown. Preliminary evidence has suggested that flow arrest in the vertebral artery contralateral to the catheter bearing vertebral artery may facilitate recanalization. The aim of this analysis was to assess the impact of anatomic variations and flow conditions on recanalization success in basilar artery occlusion treated with mechanical thrombectomy. Methods— Consecutive basilar artery occlusions treated with second-generation thrombectomy devices at a single-center were retrospectively analyzed. Baseline patients’ characteristics, occlusion length, collateral circulation, underlying stenosis, incomplete occlusions, and patency of the vertebral arteries were analyzed with regards to recanalization success. Aplastic or hypoplastic vertebral artery contralateral to the catheter position was defined as contralateral low flow condition. Logistic regression analysis was used to examine the association between anatomic variations and flow conditions in relation to complete recanalization and the modified Rankin Scale score while controlling for several potentially confounding variables. Clinical impact was evaluated using the modified Rankin Scale score of ≤3. Results— One hundred fifteen patients were included (mean age 71.5±12.8, m:f=2:1, median National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale =15, interquartile range =10–22). Complete recanalization was more often observed in patients with contralateral low flow conditions (80.6% versus 50.0%), which remained an independent predictor of complete recanalization in multivariable analysis (adjusted odds ratio, 5.81; 95% CI, 1.97–17.19). Patients with complete posterior recanalization had lower in-hospital mortality (16.4% versus 41.7%) and more often achieved modified Rankin Scale score of ≤3 (49.4% versus 8.3%), even after adjusting for potential confounders (adjusted odds ratio, 15.93; 95% CI, 1.42–179.00). Conclusions— Contralateral low flow condition (vertebral artery aplasia or hypoplasia) seems to be an independent factor for fewer distal emboli and complete recanalization in basilar artery occlusion patients treated by modern endovascular devices. Complete recanalization reflecting the absence of peri-interventional clot fragmentation brings clear clinical benefit. Further studies are warranted to evaluate the need for contralateral flow modulation or ipsilateral balloon guide catheter during posterior circulation thrombectomy in patients with bilaterally patent vertebral arteries.

Download Full-text

Stent Retriever-Assisted Mechanical Thrombectomy for Acute Basilar Artery Occlusion: Single US Institution Experience

Operative Neurosurgery ◽

10.1227/neu.0000000000001163 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 12 (3) ◽

pp. 250-259 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Ashish Sonig ◽

Chandan Krishna ◽

Sabareesh K Natarajan ◽

Jian Liu ◽

L Nelson Hopkins ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Standard Deviation ◽

Scale Score ◽

Basilar Artery ◽

Mechanical Thrombectomy ◽

Artery Occlusion ◽

Posterior Circulation ◽

Basilar Artery Occlusion ◽

Modified Rankin Scale ◽

Stent Retrievers

Abstract BACKGROUND Acute basilar artery occlusion causes devastating strokes that carry high mortality and morbidity. OBJECTIVE To report the outcomes of mechanical thrombectomy in the posterior circulation with a focus on safety and efficacy of stent retrievers. METHODS We retrospectively reviewed our endovascular database for all patients treated with stent retrievers for posterior circulation stroke between June 2012 and June 2014. Twelve patients were identified. The following data were analyzed: thrombus location, previous stroke or transient ischemic attack, thrombus etiology, comorbidities, time from presentation to initiation of endovascular treatment, time from start of angiography to revascularization, and whether intravenous tissue plasminogen activator was administered pre-thrombectomy. Outcome was considered poor when modified Rankin Scale score was >2. RESULTS Mean patient age was 63.42 years (median, 64.5; range, 28-83 years); 7 were women. Successful recanalization (Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction grade 2b or 3) was achieved in 11 of 12 patients (91.7%). Mean discharge modified Rankin Scale score was 2.3 (median, 2.0; standard deviation 1.96; range, 0-6), with a favorable discharge outcome in 9 of 12 (75%) patients. Two patients died as inpatients. Mean follow-up modified Rankin Scale score was 1.4 (median, 1.00; standard deviation 1.075; range, 0-4). Good outcome was achieved in 9 of 10 (90%) patients at last follow-up (mean follow-up duration, 132.42 days [median, 90.50; standard deviation 80.2; range, 8-378 days]). CONCLUSION Our single-institution study has shown that good clinical outcomes and successful recanalization with acceptable mortality can be achieved with current stent retrievers.

Download Full-text

Abstract P619: A Non-Linear Relationship Between Time From Onset to Endovascular Therapy and Outcomes in Patients With Acute Basilar Artery Occlusion in Clinical Practice

Stroke ◽

10.1161/str.52.suppl_1.p619 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 52 (Suppl_1) ◽

Author(s):

Hongfei Sang ◽

Junjie Yuan ◽

Shuai Liu ◽

Weidong Luo ◽

Fengli Li ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Intracerebral Hemorrhage ◽

Scale Score ◽

Basilar Artery ◽

Endovascular Therapy ◽

Functional Independence ◽

Artery Occlusion ◽

Favorable Outcome ◽

Basilar Artery Occlusion ◽

Modified Rankin Scale ◽

Symptomatic Intracerebral Hemorrhage

Objective: Faster time from onset to puncture (OPT) using endovascular therapy (EVT) in acute large-vessel occlusion of anterior circulation has been associated with better clinical outcomes. However, the relationship in acute basilar artery occlusion (BAO) is still not well delineated. Methods: We analyzed acute BAO patients receiving EVT from a nationwide registry of BASILAR (Endovascular Treatment for Acute Basilar Artery Occlusion study). The primary outcome was favorable functional outcome (defined as modified Rankin Scale score 0-3) at 90 days. Secondary outcomes included function independence (defined as modified Rankin Scale score 0-2), mortality and symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage. The associations between OPT and outcomes were evaluated using multivariable logistic regression (OPT as a categorical variable) and restricted cubic spline regression (OPT as a continuous variable). Results: Among 639 eligible patients, the median age was 65 years, and median OPT was 328 mins (interquartile range, 220-490). Treatment within 4 hours were associated with higher rates of functional independence (adjusted OR, 0.60 [95% CI, 0.37-0.97] and 0.46 [95% CI, 0.22-0.97], respectively) and favorable outcome (adjusted OR, 0.63 [95% CI, 0.40-0.99] and 0.46 [95% CI, 0.24-0.96], respectively) compared with treatment within 4-8 hours and 8-12 hours. In the restricted cubic spline models, nonlinear relationships were consistently observed between OPT with favorable outcome, functional independence and mortality, with significant benefit loss throughout the first 10 hours but then a relative flat afterwards. However, the odds of symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage did not significantly change with longer delay to EVT. Conclusion: Among patients with acute BAO in routine practice, earlier treatment with EVT was associated with better outcomes throughout the first 10 hours after onset, but benefit sustained unchanged afterwards. Future trials or pooled analysis of larger size BAO patients are needed to confirm these results.

Download Full-text

Mechanical thrombectomy in acute basilar artery occlusion: A safety and efficacy single centre study

Interventional Neuroradiology ◽

10.1177/1591019916631145 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 22 (3) ◽

pp. 310-317 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Mariano Werner ◽

Antonio Lopez-Rueda ◽

Federico Zarco ◽

Luis San Román ◽

Jordi Blasco ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mortality Rate ◽

Tracheal Intubation ◽

Clinical Outcome ◽

Scale Score ◽

Basilar Artery ◽

Mechanical Thrombectomy ◽

Artery Occlusion ◽

Basilar Artery Occlusion ◽

Modified Rankin Scale ◽

Level Of Consciousness

Objectives The objective of this study was to add more evidence about the efficacy and safety of mechanical thrombectomy in patients with basilar artery occlusion and secondarily to identify prognostic factors. Methods Twenty-two consecutive patients (mean age 60.5 years, 15 men) with basilar artery occlusion treated with mechanical thrombectomy were included. Clinical, procedure and radiological data were collected. Primary outcomes were the modified Rankin scale score with a good outcome defined by a modified Rankin scale score of 0–2 and mortality rate at three months. Results The median National Institutes of Health stroke scale at admission was 24 (interquartile range 11.5–31.25). Twelve patients (54.5%) required tracheal intubation due to a decreased level of consciousness. Successful recanalisation (modified treatment in cerebral ischaemia scale 2b–3) was achieved in 20 patients (90.9%). A favourable clinical outcome (modified Rankin scale score 0–2) was observed in nine patients (40.9%) and the overall mortality rate was 40.9% (nine patients). Haemorrhagic events were observed in three patients (13.63%). A decreased level of consciousness requiring intubation in the acute setting was more frequent in patients with poor outcomes (84.6%) than in patients with favourable outcomes (11.1%), and in patients who died (100%) compared with those who survived (23.1%), with a statistically significant difference ( P = 0.002 and P = 0.001, respectively). Conclusion Mechanical thrombectomy is feasible and effective in patients with acute basilar artery occlusion. A decreased level of consciousness requiring tracheal intubation seems to be a prognostic factor and is associated with a poor clinical outcome and higher mortality rate. These initial results must be confirmed by further prospective studies with a larger number of patients.

Download Full-text

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

Download Full-text

Extent of Hypoattenuation on CT Angiography Source Images in Basilar Artery Occlusion

Stroke ◽

10.1161/strokeaha.111.622175 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 42 (12) ◽

pp. 3454-3459 ◽

Cited By ~ 42

Author(s):

Volker Puetz ◽

Andrei Khomenko ◽

Michael D. Hill ◽

Imanuel Dzialowski ◽

Patrik Michel ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Functional Outcome ◽

Ct Angiography ◽

Basilar Artery ◽

Functional Independence ◽

Artery Occlusion ◽

Posterior Circulation ◽

Favorable Outcome ◽

Basilar Artery Occlusion ◽

Modified Rankin Scale ◽

Scale Scores

Background and Purpose— The posterior circulation Acute Stroke Prognosis Early CT Score (pc-ASPECTS) quantifies the extent of early ischemic changes in the posterior circulation with a 10-point grading system. We hypothesized that pc-ASPECTS applied to CT angiography source images predicts functional outcome of patients in the Basilar Artery International Cooperation Study (BASICS). Methods— BASICS was a prospective, observational registry of consecutive patients with acute symptomatic basilar artery occlusion. Functional outcome was assessed at 1 month. We applied pc-ASPECTS to CT angiography source images of patients with CT angiography for confirmation of basilar artery occlusion. We calculated unadjusted and adjusted risk ratios (RRs) of pc-ASPECTS dichotomized at ≥8 versus <8. Primary outcome measure was favorable outcome (modified Rankin Scale scores 0–3). Secondary outcome measures were mortality and functional independence (modified Rankin Scale scores 0–2). Results— Of 158 patients included, 78 patients had a CT angiography source images pc-ASPECTS ≥8. Patients with a pc-ASPECTS ≥8 more often had a favorable outcome than patients with a pc-ASPECTS <8 (crude RR, 1.7; 95% CI, 0.98–3.0). After adjustment for age, baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score, and thrombolysis, pc-ASPECTS ≥8 was not related to favorable outcome (RR, 1.3; 95% CI, 0.8–2.2), but it was related to reduced mortality (RR, 0.7; 95% CI, 0.5–0.98) and functional independence (RR, 2.0; 95% CI, 1.1–3.8). In post hoc analysis, pc-ASPECTS dichotomized at ≥6 versus <6 predicted a favorable outcome (adjusted RR, 3.1; 95% CI, 1.2–7.5). Conclusions— pc-ASPECTS on CT angiography source images independently predicted death and functional independence at 1 month in the CT angiography subgroup of patients in the BASICS registry.

Download Full-text

Abstract P478: One-Year Outcome After Endovascular Treatment for Acute Basilar Artery Occlusion

Stroke ◽

10.1161/str.52.suppl_1.p478 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 52 (Suppl_1) ◽

Author(s):

Fengli Li ◽

Hongfei Sang ◽

Jiaxing Song ◽

Zhangbao Guo ◽

Shuai Liu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Endovascular Treatment ◽

Basilar Artery ◽

Conventional Treatment ◽

Artery Occlusion ◽

Basilar Artery Occlusion ◽

Modified Rankin Scale ◽

Treatment Groups ◽

Excellent Outcome ◽

Follow Up Study

Background and Objective: To report the results of clinical follow-up at 1 year among patients in the BASILAR registry. Design, Setting, and Participants: The BASILAR study was an investigator-initiated prospective registry, which consecutively enrolled stroke patients with acute basilar artery occlusion from 47 comprehensive stroke centers in China between January, 2014, and May, 2019. Patients were divided into conventional treatment or endovascular treatment groups according to the treatment their received. We assessed clinical outcomes 1 year after patients were enrolled in the BASILAR registry. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome was the score on the modified Rankin scale (range, 0 to 6 points, with higher scores indicating more severe disability) at 1 year assessed as a common odds ratio using ordinal logistic regression shift analysis, adjusted for prespecified prognostic factors. Secondary outcomes included categories scores of the modified Rankin scale at 1 year (0 to 1 [excellent outcome], 0 to 2 [good outcome], and 0 to 3 [favorable outcome]), and death from any cause during the 1-year period after enrollment. Results: Of the 829 patients who were enrolled in the original study, 1-year data for this extended follow-up study were available for 785 patients (94.7%). The distribution of outcomes on the modified Rankin scale favored endovascular treatment over conventional treatment (adjusted common odds ratio, 4.50; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.81 to 7.29; P < 0.001). There were significant differences between the treatment groups in the percentage of patients who had excellent outcome, good outcome and favorable outcome. The cumulative 1-year mortality rate was 54.6% in the endovascular treatment group and 83.5% in the conventional treatment group (adjusted hazard ratio, 4.36; 95% CI, 2.69 to 7.29; P < 0.001). Conclusions and Relevance: In this extended follow-up study, the beneficial effect of endovascular treatment on functional outcome at 1 year in patients with acute basilar artery occlusion was similar to that reported at 90 days in the original study.

Download Full-text

The history of basilar artery occlusion: when art aids science

Arquivos de Neuro-Psiquiatria ◽

10.1590/0004-282x20180030 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 76 (5) ◽

pp. 355-357

Author(s):

Francisco Antunes Dias ◽

Daniel Giansante Abud ◽

Octavio Marques Pontes-Neto

Keyword(s):

Basilar Artery ◽

Rare Condition ◽

Reperfusion Therapy ◽

Artery Occlusion ◽

Basilar Artery Occlusion ◽

High Morbidity ◽

Medical Sciences ◽

Randomized Controlled ◽

History Of ◽

The Impact

ABSTRACT Basilar artery occlusion (BAO) ischemic stroke is a relatively rare condition with high morbidity and mortality rates. To date, the best acute reperfusion therapy for BAO has still not been established, mainly due to the lack of randomized controlled trials in this field. In this article, we review the history of BAO diagnosis and treatment, and the impact of modern technological resources on the clinical evolution and prognosis of BAO over time. Furthermore, we describe historical events and nonmedical literature descriptions related to BAO. We conclude that BAO is a singular example of how art may help medical sciences with accurate descriptions of medical conditions.

Download Full-text

Acute Basilar Artery Occlusion Presenting With Convulsive Movements: A Systematic Review

Frontiers in Neurology ◽

10.3389/fneur.2021.803618 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Dan Zhang ◽

Yigang Chen ◽

Yonggang Hao ◽

Xingyue Hu ◽

Xudong He

Keyword(s):

Basilar Artery ◽

Reperfusion Therapy ◽

Artery Occlusion ◽

Acute Onset ◽

Basilar Artery Occlusion ◽

Institutional Review ◽

Initial Symptoms ◽

Convulsive Seizures ◽

The Right ◽

Vessel Dissection

Background and Purpose: Convulsive seizures related to posterior circulation stroke are considered rare. However, some patients with acute basilar artery occlusion (BAO) can present with convulsive movements. Misdiagnosed as seizures may delay the reperfusion therapy for acute BAO. In this study, we have summarized the clinical features and possible mechanisms of BAO presenting with convulsive movements.Methods: We performed an Institutional Review Board-approved institutional database query from 2015 to 2020 and a literature search of the online database PubMed. Clinical data were collected and analyzed.Results: In total, 14 patients with acute BAO presented with convulsions. There were 10 men and 4 women, with a mean age of 53 (range, 23–77) years. All of these patients had different degrees of impaired consciousness (100.0%, 14/14). Convulsive movements were the initial symptoms in 78.6% (11/14) of patients. Further, 64.3% (9/14) of patients presented with paralysis or cranial nerve abnormalities, and 85.7% (12/14) of patients were treated with reperfusion therapy (thrombolysis, 35.7% [5/14]; endovascular thrombectomy, 64.3% [9/14]). The BAO etiology and mechanism were related to embolism, vessel dissections, and severe stenosis of the right vertebral artery in 57.1% (8/14), 21.4% (3/14), and 7.1% (1/14) of patients, respectively; they were undefined in 14.3% (2/14) of patients. Moreover, 42.9% (6/14) of patients had a 90-day modified Rankin Scale score of 0–2, and the mortality rate was 21.4% (3/14).Conclusions: Acute BAO, especially that related to embolism or vessel dissection, may present with convulsive movements. Acute BAO is a devastating, but treatable disease if diagnosed in time. Considering the possibility of BAO is important when dealing with patients presenting with acute-onset convulsive movements. Prompt diagnosis and reperfusion therapy may help achieve a better prognosis.

Download Full-text