Mechanical Thrombectomy in Acute Stroke: A Single-Center Cohort Study

Objectives: The study purpose is to evaluate the clinical outcomes of mechanical thrombectomy in acute stroke management regardless the administration of intravenous or intra-arterial tissue plasminogen activator. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed medical records of the patients from 2014 to 2019 at our single center in Dubai, UAE. A total of 150 patients who underwent mechanical thrombectomy for acute ischemic stroke were identified. The mechanical thrombectomy was performed within 6 h after the onset of stroke symptoms. Both stent retriever and/or thrombus aspiration techniques were used. Patients who have been treated with or without intravenous or intra-arterial alteplase were included also. All patients were confirmed to have proximal anterior circulation occlusion. Patients with large infarct on neuroimaging (ASPECT score 6 or more) were excluded from the study. The primary endpoint was to assess the severity of clinical disability at 72 h and at the time of discharge using the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score and modified Rankin scale. Results: This is an ongoing study with preliminary results showing that mechanical thrombectomy reduced the severity of disability over the range of the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score and modified Rankin scale. Conclusion: Mechanical thrombectomy has reduced the severity of poststroke disability and increased the rate of functional independence.

Publication History

Article published online:
26 April 2021