Endovascular Mechanical Recanalisation After Intravenous Thrombolysis in Acute Anterior Circulation Stroke: The Impact of a New Temporary Stent

Purpose Treatment of acute stroke by endovascular mechanical recanalisation (EMR) has shown promising results and continues to be further refined. We evaluated the impact of a temporary stent compared with our results using other mechanical devices. Materials and Methods We analysed clinical and radiological data of all patients who were treated by EMR after intravenous thrombolysis for acute carotid T– and middle-cerebral artery (M1) occlusions at our centre between 2007 and 2011. A comparison was performed between those patients in whom solely the stent-retriever was applied (group S) and those treated with other devices (group C). Results We identified 14 patients for group S and 16 patients for group C. Mean age, National Institute of Health Stroke Scale score, and time to treatment were 67.1 years and 16.5 and 4.0 h for group S and 61.1 years and 17.6 and 4.5 h for group C, respectively. Successful recanalisation (thrombolysis in cerebral infarction scores ≥IIb) was achieved in 93% of patients in group S and 56% of patients in group C ( P < 0.05). Mean recanalisation times for M1 occlusions were 23 min (group S) and 29 min (group C) and for carotid-T occlusions were 39 min (group S) and 50 min (group C), and 45% of the patients in group S and 33% in group C had a favourable outcome (Modified Rankin Scale score ≤2). Conclusion The findings suggest an improvement in recanalisation success by the application of a temporary stent compared with previously used devices. These results are to be confirmed by larger studies.