Abstract T P24: Neurointervention for Acute Ischemic Stroke Caused by Carotid Dissection

Abstract

Introduction: Data related to the treatment of patients with acute ischemic stroke caused by carotid artery dissection is scarce. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed our interventional stroke database Sep 2010 - Jan 2014 to investigate the clinical and radiological characteristics of patients presenting with tandem cervical and intracranial occlusions due to cervical carotid dissection. Results: Out of 504 consecutive patients treated with endovascular therapy for acute ischemic stroke during the study period, 12 (2.5%) patients were observed to have cervical carotid artery dissection as the underlying etiology. Mean age was 56±13 years, 75% were male, 50% received IV t-PA, mean NIHSS was 20±5, 75% had CT ASPECTS≥7, and mean time from last known normal to groin puncture was 6±3 hours. There were 4 MCA M1, 1 MCA M2 and 7 ICA-T occlusions. Extracranial carotid stent was used in 58% and angioplasty in 8% of cases. In 33% of the cases, the carotid dissection was not stented due to the fear of hemorrhagic transformation in cases of IV thrombolysis (presumably increased risk if dual antithrombotics used). IA tPA was used in 41% of cases, while Merci in 16%, Penumbra in 58%, and stentretrivers in 50%. Intracranial TICI 2b-3 reperfusion was achieved in 91% of patients, with PH2 hemorrhage in 8% and mRS at 90 days in 45% of cases. Conclusions: Carotid dissections with associated intracranial occlusions are often refractory to IV tPA and present with a high stroke severity. These lesions are amenable to endovascular therapy resulting in high rates of reperfusion with an acceptable safety profile.