What Is the Evidence for Endovascular Thrombectomy in Posterior Circulation Stroke?

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Silja Räty - , Helsinki University Hospital (HUS) (Author)
  • Thanh N Nguyen - , Boston Medical Center (BMC) (Author)
  • Simon Nagel - , Klinikum Ludwigshafen, University Hospital Heidelberg (Author)
  • Volker Puetz - , Department of Neurology, Dresden Neurovascular Center, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden (Author)
  • Fana Alemseged - , University of Melbourne (Author)
  • Mohamad Abdalkader - , Boston Medical Center (BMC) (Author)
  • Wouter J Schonewille - , St. Antonius Hospital (Author)
  • Daniel Strbian - , Helsinki University Hospital (HUS) (Author)

Abstract

Posterior circulation infarcts comprise approximately 25% of ischemic strokes but are less often treated with recanalization therapy and have longer treatment delays compared with anterior circulation strokes. Among posterior circulation strokes, basilar artery occlusion is associated with the most severe deficits and the worst prognosis. Endovascular thrombectomy is a standard of care for patients with anterior circulation large vessel occlusion, but not until recently were the first randomized controlled trials on endovascular thrombectomy in basilar artery occlusion published. Two of the trials were neutral, whereas two others showed better functional outcome after thrombectomy up to 24 hours of symptom onset compared with best medical treatment, which in most cases had low rates of intravenous thrombolysis. According to observational data, thrombectomy seems to be safe also in isolated posterior cerebral artery occlusions and might be an option for selected patients, even if its outcome benefit is yet to be demonstrated.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)345-355
Number of pages11
JournalSeminars in neurology
Volume43
Issue number3
Publication statusPublished - Jun 2023
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

Scopus 85168296279

Keywords

Keywords

  • Humans, Ischemic Stroke/surgery, Stroke/surgery, Thrombectomy