Contrast Extravasation After Endovascular Treatment in Posterior Circulation Stroke.

OBJECTIVE

Endovascular treatment (EVT) is a promising clinical technology. However, some patients with posterior circulation stroke might not experience neurological function recovery after EVT. We reviewed the recent experience with EVT to clarify the clinical and radiographic factors that contribute to optimal neurological outcomes.

METHODS

We analyzed the data from 108 consecutive patients with acute posterior circulation stroke who had undergone EVT from January 2016 to December 2018. A favorable outcome was defined as a modified Rankin scale score of 0-3 at 3 months. We evaluated the association and predictive value of the clinical and radiographic factors that contribute to good neurological outcomes.

RESULTS

Of the 108 included patients, 43 had a favorable clinical outcome at day 90. Univariate analysis revealed a significant association between the 90-day favorable outcome and the baseline values of systolic blood pressure, time of stroke onset, contrast extravasation, symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage, general anesthesia, Alberta stroke program early computed tomography score for the posterior circulation, and the National Institutes of Health stroke scale (NIHSS) score. Contrast extravasation (odds ratio [OR], 5.094; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.22-21.261), symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (OR, 11.24; 95% CI, 1.309-96.517), general anesthesia (OR, 5.094; 95% CI, 1.22-21.26), and baseline NIHSS score (OR, 1.087; 95% CI, 1.023-1.309) were found to be independent predictors of a favorable outcome at day 90. Contrast extravasation alone predicted for unfavorable clinical outcomes and mortality with high specificity.

CONCLUSION

In the present retrospective case series, contrast extravasation, symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage, the use of general anesthesia, and baseline NIHSS score were related to a favorable prognosis for patients with posterior circulation stroke after EVT. Contrast extravasation was an independent and strong predictor of unfavorable clinical outcomes.