Abstract Number ‐ 123: Retained microvascular wire during acute stroke thrombectomy and stenting.

Abstract

Introduction There is limited information on retained wires during neuro interventional ischemic cases, although there is a wealth of information on cardiac cases. Retained wires can present with thrombosis, perforation, or may be followed for longer period of time, with no complications. Changes in outcome vary on the ability of the wire to migrate, the size of the vessel adjacent to the wire, and the difficulty in retrieving the retained item. Methods We present a case report on a 56‐year‐old man who presented in 2018 with a left internal carotid occlusion horizontal petrous level, with no early signs of stroke on CT, and 106 mL penumbra on CT perfusion (CTP), with dense expressive and receptive aphasia. Results Patient developed hemiparesis while sitting sitting up, and drops in blood pressure, below the presenting blood pressure of 200 over 100 mmHg. The patient was taken for emergent thrombectomy. Patient underwent petrous thrombectomy with a residual high grade stenosis. This was followed by cavernous angioplasty, and Wingspan stenting. We attempted to cross the stenosis with a Gateway balloon and Synchro2 microwire. The wire tip was trapped and separated after extensive rotation, with a retained 5 mm tip. After inspecting the wire, there is no clear evidence of any a retained product. The tip was secured with a Wingspan stent. After thrombectomy and stenting aphasia improved. Four days later the patient developed worsening aphasia, and was found to have stent reocclusion. During CT angiography (CTA) it became apparent that a small wire extended from the left internal carotid petrous segment at the level of the wingspan stent down to the descending aorta. CT angiography of the chest and abdomen after reperfusion found that the wire was anchored in the left internal carotid, and extended down to the renal artery. Thrombus was aspirated, and ICA reconstructed with coronary stents in the petrous, and self‐expanding stents in the cervical segments, with TICI 3 reperfusion. Follow‐up imaging with CT chest and abdomen at six months, one year, and four years found the wire to be still anchored to the left internal carotid stent, and stable in the superior mesenteric artery. There is no evidence of thrombus formation, or distal embolization. We examined a Synchro2 microwire ex vivo were able to detach the tip, and have the inner core unravel up to a meter in length. Given that the wire shaft did not appear to be altered, the retained product was likely an unraveled inner core. Conclusions Retained neurovascular products can predispose to reocclusion, and should be secured. Once secured the course can be benign. When a wire with a wound core is fractured, unwound core can remain behind with the wire appearing as if it has been fully retrieved.