Introduction:
Current guidelines recommend administration of intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (IVT) for all eligible patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) with large vessel occlusion (LVO). Recent observational data question the safety and efficacy of IVT in AIS patients with LVO undergoing mechanical thrombectomy (MT).
Methods:
Retrospective analysis using prospectively collected database on all AIS patients with LVO treated at our institution over 3 consecutive years. Stroke outcomes and adverse events were compared between patients who underwent IVT+MT versus MT only. Stroke outcomes were adjusted for known comorbidities, last know well time and core volume on pretreatment imaging.
Results:
158 AIS patients with LVO were treated. 69 patients had treatment strategy of IVT+MT, 89 patients MT only. 7 (10%) patients treated with IVT had successful reperfusion before MT. IVT+MT, compared with MT alone, was associated with reduced 90day mortality (22.4% vs 40.8%, p:0.03) and reduced 90day severe disability or death (mRS 4-6: 48% vs 67%, p:0.03). Door-to-puncture time (DTP) was longer with IVT. IVT was not associated with increased intracranial hemorrhage but was associated with increased access site hematomas (16.9% vs 5.7%, p:0.03). Both groups showed similar proportion of patients ≥TICI2c (IVT+MT: 48% vs MT: 47%), however IVT+MT patients had greater proportion of TICI2c than TICI3. (IVT+MT TICI2c:30.4% vs MT TICI2c:17%)
Conclusions:
IVT before MT in AIS with LVO, results in reperfusion prior to thrombectomy in 10% of patients, and is associated with reduced mortality and severe disability at 90days. However, IVT+MT is associated with more access site hematomas and increased TICI 2C vs TICI 3 reperfusion, suggesting increased distal embolization due to thrombus fragmentation. The use of balloon guide for proximal flow arrest and aspiration during thrombectomy should be considered.
Recanalization rate and clinical outcome of intravenous tissue plasminogen activator at 0.6mg/kg and intra-arterial urokinase in acute ischemic stroke with large vessel occlusion
