Endovascular therapy of acute ischemic stroke by interventional cardiologists: initial national experience

Abstract

Objectives: We report our initial experience with thrombectomy devices in patients with acute ischemic stroke.

Aim We reported our initial experience with thrombectomy devices in patients with acute ischemic stroke.

Methods Demographic, clinical, and angiographical findings of nineteen consecutive patients (mean age 61.4±12.5 years; 7 females and 12 males) with acute ischemic stroke were evaluated retrospectively.

Results The mean initial National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score was 19.5±5.6. Middle cerebral artery was the occluded artery in all of the patients (proximal occlusion in eleven, distal in eight and tandem occlusions in seven patients). Successful revascularization achieved in 16 patients (84%). The mean NIHSS score was 8.4±8.2 at 24 hours after the procedure, and 60% of patients showed a modified Rankin scale score of ≤2 at 90 days. New occlusion by migrated emboli was observed in two (11%) cases. No patients experienced post-procedural symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage and three patients died during three months follow up. In all patients thrombectomy was performed with retrievable Solitaire AB stent system.

Conclusion This single center experience with mechanical thrombectomy devices demonstrated that it could be performed with high success rates by experienced interventional cardiologists in accoutered cath labs all over the country.