Outcome and safety of mechanical thrombectomy in patients with acute ischemic stroke due to internal carotid artery dissection.

BACKGROUND

Mechanical thrombectomy (MT) in patients with symptoms of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) due to internal carotid artery dissection (ICAD) remains controversial. In this study, we present clinical outcome and safety of MT in acute ICAD compared to other acute carotid artery pathology.

METHODS

Patients with symptoms of AIS due to internal carotid artery pathology, treated with MT from 2017-2021, were categorized as ICAD or non-ICAD. Baseline and procedural characteristics, complications, and functional outcome at 90 days were compared between the two groups. Factors associated with a favorable outcome (modified Rankin Scale 0-2) were analyzed using multivariate logistic regression. Safety analyses included in-stent thrombosis, perforation, intracranial hemorrhage, and mortality.

RESULTS

Sixty-seven ICAD patients (14.8%) and 387 non-ICAD patients (85.2%) were enrolled. ICAD patients were younger, median age 53 years (interquartile range (IQR) 47-61) vs. non-ICAD 72 years (IQR 64-79),  < 0.001. Favorable outcome was more common in ICAD patients, 49 ICAD patients (76.6%) vs. 158 non-ICAD patients (42.4%),  < 0.001. Post-procedural symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage occurred in 41 patients, 5 (7.5%) ICAD patients vs. 36 (9.3%) non-ICAD patients,  = 0.6. Mortality differed significantly, 6 (9%) ICAD patients vs. 94 (24.3%) non-ICAD patients,  = 0.01. ICAD was not associated with functional outcome in multivariate analysis, OR = 1.25 [95%confidence interval:0.55-2.86].

CONCLUSION

ICAD patients achieved a better 90-day functional outcome compared with non-ICAD patients. ICAD patients did not perform worse in safety measures than non-ICAD patients. Our data provide indirect evidence that MT is of clinical benefit in ICAD patients with symptoms of AIS.