Abstract TP24: Impact of Pretreatment With Intravenous Thrombolysis on Reperfusion Status in Emergent Large Vessel Occlusion (ELVO) Patients Treated With Mechanical Thrombectomy (MT)

Abstract

Introduction: It currently remains unclear whether pre-treatment with intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) provides any additional benefits to emergent large vessel occlusion (ELVO) patients undergoing mechanical thrombectomy (MT). We sought to evaluate the impact of pretreatment with IVT on the rate and the speed of complete reperfusion (CR) in LVO patients treated with MT in a high-volume tertiary care stroke center. Methods: Consecutive ELVO patients treated with MT during a five-year period were evaluated. Baseline stroke severity was assessed by NIHSS-score. Standard safety [symptomatic Intracranial Hemorrhage (sICH) by SITS-MOST definition] and efficacy outcomes [CR (modified Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction IIb/III), 3-month functional independence (FI; modified Rankin Scale scores of 0-2)] were compared between patients who underwent combined IVT and MT (IVT+MT) vs. direct MT (dMT). The elapsed time between groin puncture to beginning of reperfusion (GPTBRT) and the numbers of device passes (DP) required to achieve CR were also documented. Results: A total of 287 and 132 patients were treated with IVT+MT and dMT respectively. The IVT+MT group had higher CR (74% vs. 63%; p=0.023) and FI (52% vs.38%; p=0.008) rates and shorter median GPTBRT (48 vs. 70 min; p<0.001). The two groups did not differ in sICH rates (7% vs. 9%; p=0.368). Among patients who achieved CR, the median number of required DP was lower in the IVT+MT subgroup (1 vs. 2; p<0.001) and the rate of patients requiring ≤2 DP was higher (98% vs. 77%; p<0.001). IVT+MT was independently related to higher odds of CR (OR:1.64; 95%:1.03-2.61; p=0.036) and shorter GPTBRT (unstandardized linear regression coefficient: -20; 95%CI: -12, -27; p<0.001) on multivariable analyses adjusting for potential confounders including demographics, vascular risk factors, collateral status, stroke severity, location of occlusion and onset to groin puncture time. Among patients with CR, IVT+MT was independently associated with higher likelihood of ≤2 DP (OR:14.75; 95%:4.72-46.04; p<0.001). Conclusions: IVT pretreatment increases the rates of CR and shortens the duration of endovascular procedure by requiring fewer DP in ELVO patients treated with MT.