- Endovascular Stroke Treatment of Nonagenarians
The purpose of this study was the evaluation of procedural and outcome data of patients 90 years of age or older undergoing endovascular stroke treatment. The authors retrospectively analyzed prospectively collected data of 29 patients (mean age 91.9 years) in whom endovascular stroke treatment was performed between January 2011 and January 2016 (from a cohort of 615 patients). Successful recanalization (TICI % 2b) was achieved in 22 patients (75.9%). In 9 patients, an NIHSS improvement ≥ 10 points was noted between admission and discharge. After 3 months, 17.2% of the patients had an mRS of 0-2. Despite high mortality rates (∼45%) and moderate overall outcome, 17.2% of the patients achieved mRS 0-2 or prestroke mRS, and no serious procedure-related complications occurred.
- Emergent Endovascular Management of Long-Segment and Flow-Limiting Carotid Artery Dissections in Acute Ischemic Stroke Intervention with Multiple Tandem Stents
The authors investigated the role of emergent endovascular stenting of long-segment carotid dissections in the acute ischemic stroke setting in 15 patients. They specifically evaluated long-segment carotid dissections requiring stent reconstruction with multiple tandem stents (≥ 3 stents) and presenting with acute (<12 hours) ischemic stroke symptoms (NIHSS score, ≥ 4). Carotid stent reconstruction was successful in all patients with no residual stenosis or flow limitation. Nine patients (60%) harbored intracranial occlusions, and 6 patients (40%) required intra-arterial thrombolysis/thrombectomy, achieving 100% TICI 2b–3 reperfusion. They conclude that emergent stent reconstruction of long-segment and flow-limiting carotid dissections in acute ischemic stroke intervention is safe and effective, with favorable clinical outcomes.