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.