Efficacy and safety of direct aspiration first pass technique versus stent-retriever thrombectomy in acute basilar artery occlusion-a retrospective single center experience.

Abstract

The study aimed to compare efficacy and safety of aspiration thrombectomy (AT) to stentriever thrombectomy (SRT) in patients with basilar artery (BA) occlusion (BAO). We retrospectively included patients with the following characteristics: acute BAO or occlusion of the intracranial vertebral artery (ICVA) and endovascular therapy (EVT) with stentriever (SRT) or aspiration thrombectomy (AT). Additional extra- but not intracranial EVT and intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) were allowed. Between January 2013 and April 2016, 33 patients fulfilled the criteria (13 treated with SRT, 20 with AT). Prior to EVT, 23 (70%) patients received IVT. The proximal intracranial occlusion was ICVA in 2 patients, proximal BA in 5 patients, middle BA in 20 patients, and distal BA in 6 patients. Mean time to treatment was 334min (95% CI 276-391min). Procedure duration differed significantly (p=0.002) as follows: 97min with SRT (95% CI 69-124min) and 55min with AT (95% CI 43-66min). Recanalization (arterial occlusive lesion (AOL) 2/3) was achieved in 26 patients (79%). Complete recanalization (AOL 3) happened more often with AT (75% (95% CI 65-85%)) compared to SRT (46% (95% CI 32-60%)). Conversion rate 6% (two patients). Hemorrhages occurred in 12 (36%) patients, periprocedural complications in eight (three dissections, five embolizations to new territory) (no group difference). Ten patients (30%) had a favorable outcome (mRS ≤3) at discharge; mortality rate was 24% (eight deaths) (no group difference). In primarily embolic BAO, aspiration thrombectomy was faster, effective and not detrimental to outcome as compared to stentriever thrombectomy. Thus, it may be justified to use aspiration thrombectomy as first-line treatment in these patients.