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Intermediate Catheters Reduce the Length of Mechanical Thrombectomy Procedures in Acute Basilar Artery Occlusions

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Abstract

Background and Purpose

In the past years, technical developments have raised recanalization rates of endovascular treatments of intracerebral artery occlusions in acute ischemic stroke. By using stent retrievers, several prospective trials have reported recanalization rates up to 79 % as well as good neurological outcome in up to 58 % of the cases. The degree of the recanalization and the length of the procedure are factors known to influence the clinical outcome of patients treated endovascularly. Yet, still little is known about factors influencing the angiographic results of thrombectomy procedures. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the use of intermediate catheters affects the angiographic results of thrombectomy procedures in basilar artery occlusions.

Materials and Methods

A total of 47 consecutive patients with acute basilar artery occlusions who underwent endovascular treatment with stent retrievers in our department were retrospectively identified. We analyzed the angiographic data regarding the use of intermediate catheters, the lengths of the procedures, the number of passes of the stent retrievers, the angiographic results, and the site of access to the basilar artery.

Results

Recanalization with modified thrombolysis in cerebral infarction (mTICI) ≥ 2b was achieved in 74.5 %. Intermediate catheters were used in 13 cases. The mean length of the procedures was significantly shorter when intermediate catheters were used (44.8 ± 27.6 vs. 70.7 ± 41.4 min, P = .043). There were no significant differences in the number of passes or in the final mTICI scores.

Conclusions

The use of intermediate catheters significantly reduces the length of mechanical thrombectomy procedures in acute basilar artery occlusions.

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Conflict of Interest

We declare that we have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neuroradiology, Saarland University Hospital, Kirrberger Str., 66424, Homburg/Saar, Germany

    R. Mühl-Benninghaus MD, H. Körner MD, A. Simgen, W. Reith MD & U. Yilmaz MD

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  1. R. Mühl-Benninghaus MD
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  2. H. Körner MD
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  3. A. Simgen
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  4. W. Reith MD
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  5. U. Yilmaz MD
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Correspondence to U. Yilmaz MD.

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The abstract has been presented as an oral presentation at the 20th Symposium Neuroradiologicum (September 7–12, 2014, Istanbul).

Presentations

The abstract has been presented as an oral presentation at the 20th Symposium Neuroradiologicum (September 7–12, 2014, Istanbul).

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Mühl-Benninghaus, R., Körner, H., Simgen, A. et al. Intermediate Catheters Reduce the Length of Mechanical Thrombectomy Procedures in Acute Basilar Artery Occlusions. Clin Neuroradiol 26, 325–328 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00062-014-0368-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00062-014-0368-5

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