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Background:The minimal stroke severity justifying endovascular intervention remains elusive. However, a significant proportion of patients presenting with large vessel occlusion stroke (LVOS) and mild symptoms go untreated and face poor outcomes. We aimed to evaluate the clinical outcomes of patients presenting with LVOS and low symptom scores (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale [NIHSS] score ≤8) undergoing endovascular therapy (ET). Methods:We performed a retrospective analysis of a prospectively collected ET database between September 2010 and March 2016. Endovascularly treated patients with LVOS and a baseline NIHSS score ≤8 were included. Baseline patient characteristics, procedural details, and outcome parameters were collected. Efficacy outcomes were the rate of good outcome (90-day modified Rankin Scale score 0-2) and of successful reperfusion (modified Treatment in Cerebral Infarction [mTICI] score 2b-3). Safety was assessed by the rate of parenchymal hematoma (parenchymal hematoma type 1 [PH-1] and parenchymal hematoma type 2 [PH-2]) and 90-day mortality. Logistic regression was used to identify predictors of good clinical outcomes. Results:A total of 935 patients were considered; 72 patients with an NIHSS score ≤8 were included. Median [IQR] age was 61.5 years [56.2-73.0]; 39 patients (54%) were men. Mean (SD) baseline NIHSS score, computed tomography perfusion core volume, and ASPECTS were 6.3 (1.5), 7.5 mL (16.1), and 8.5 (1.3), respectively. Twenty-eight patients (39%) received intravenous tissue plasminogen activator. Occlusions locations were as follows: 29 (40%) proximal MCA-M1, 20 (28%) MCA-M2, 6 (8%) ICA terminus, and 9 (13%) vertebrobasilar. Tandem occlusion was documented in 7 patients (10%). Sixty-seven patients (93%) achieved successful reperfusion (mTICI score 2b-3); 52 (72%) had good 90-day outcomes. Mean final infarct volume was 32.2 ± 59.9 mL. Parenchymal hematoma occurred in 4 patients (6%). Ninety-day mortality was 10% (n= 7). Logistic regression showed that only successful reperfusion (OR 27.7, 95% CI 1.1-655.5, p= 0.04) was an independent predictor of good outcomes. Conclusion:Our findings demonstrate that ET is safe and feasible for LVOS patients presenting with mild clinical syndromes. Future controlled studies are warranted.

Background:Endovascular therapy has been proven effective for the treatment of large vessel occlusion strokes (LVOS). However, the feasibility and potential benefits of repeat thrombectomy for recurrent stroke is unclear. We aim to report our experience with repeat thrombectomy for recurrent LVOS. Methods:We reviewed our prospectively collected endovascular database for patients who underwent repeated mechanical thrombectomy. Baseline characteristics, procedural data and outcomes were evaluated. Patients with repeat thrombectomy were compared to patients with single thrombectomy. For patients with repeat thrombectomy, imaging and procedural variables were compared between first and last procedures. Results:Out of 697 patients treated within the study period, 15 patients (2%) had repeat thrombectomies (14 treated twice and one thrice). The mean age was 63 ± 15 years and 40% were males. The median time between the first and last procedure was 18 (1-278) days. Cardioembolism (66%) was the most common etiology, followed by intracranial atherosclerosis (13%) and large vessel atherosclerosis (6%). At 90 days after the last thrombectomy, 60% of patients achieved a modified Rankin Scale score of 0-2 and 20% were deceased. There were no statistically significant differences in demographics, stroke severity, time from last known normal to puncture, reperfusion rates, hemorrhagic complications, good clinical outcomes and mortality between patients who underwent repeat thrombectomy and those who had a single thrombectomy. Conclusion:In properly selected patients suffering recurrent LVOS, repeated mechanical thrombectomy appears to be feasible and safe. A previous thrombectomy should not discourage aggressive treatment as these patients may achieve similar rates of good clinical outcomes as those who undergo single thrombectomy.