Outcome of Cervical Internal Carotid Artery Occlusions After Intravenous Thrombolysis in Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients With Tandem Occlusions

Background and Objective: Acute ischemic stroke (AIS) associated with tandem extracranial internal carotid artery (EICA) - middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion is burdened with a poor clinical outcome. The recanalization rate of extracranial ICA occlusion after i.v. thrombolysis and its prognostic significance in this group of patients remain largely unknown. Methods: Retrospective analysis of a prospectively collected database including consecutive AIS patients treated with i.v. thrombolysis. All patients underwent urgent assessment of extracranial and intracranial large arteries with either computed tomography angiography (CTA) or echo-Doppler ultrasound to document an acute EICA-MCA tandem occlusion prior to thrombolysis. EICA was monitored by control carotid ultrasound and/or CTA in order to detect transition from occlusion to relevant stenosis. Outcome variables: carotid revascularization, in-hospital mortality, Rankin 0-2 at three months, and infarct volume. Results: From January 2008 to December 2013, 606 AIS patients received i.v. thrombolysis, of whom 53 (9%) had a documented EICA-MCA tandem occlusion. Four of them died within first 24 hours and EICA could not be monitored. Occluded EICA evolved towards a severe stenosis in 14/49 (29%) after thrombolysis. Angiographic confirmation was obtained in 11 of them, who underwent carotid endarterectomy. EICA recanalization was more frequent among active smokers and was associated with carotid revascularization (79% vs. 0%, p<0.001), lower mortality (0% vs. 26%, p=0.03) and a smaller infarct volume (27 vs. 89 cc, p=0.04). Conclusion: Around 30% of AIS patients with tandem EICA-MCA occlusion treated with i.v. thrombolysis experience transition from initially occluded to severely stenosed EICA that can be rescued for revascularization. This evolution is associated with a lower mortality and smaller infarct volume.