J Korean Soc Geriatr Neurosurg > Volume 17(2); 2021 > Article
Kye, Ahn, Chang, Song, Kim, Lee, and Oh: Intra-arterial thrombectomy in elderly patients: assessment of arterial tortuosity in determining successful procedure

Abstract

Objective

Intra-arterial thrombectomy (IAT) is the mainstay of initial treatment for intracranial large-vessel occlusion. However, arterial tortuosity is associated with procedural failure and unfavorable outcomes in older patients.

Methods

We reviewed patients with ischemic stroke (>75 years) treated with IAT and analyzed procedure-related complications and arterial tortuosity based on pre-procedural computed tomography angiography.

Results

Of the 29 patients, 7 had distal internal carotid artery (ICA) occlusion, 18 had middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion, 3 had anterior cerebral artery and MCA occlusion, and one had distal ICA and MCA occlusion. Significant arterial tortuosity was observed in 9 patients (31.0%). The degree of recanalization, as assessed by the modified thrombolysis in cerebral infarction grade, did not differ according to significant arterial tortuosity (P=0.55). Post-procedural subarachnoid hemorrhage was observed in 17 of 29 patients (58.6%) and there was no significant association with significant arterial tortuosity. The puncture to recanalization time was not significantly different according to the presence of significant arterial tortuosity (51.6±22 minutes vs. 53±43.9 minutes; P=0.93). Additionally, the number of thrombus retrieval trials during the procedure did not show a significant relationship with arterial tortuosity (2.4±1.2 times vs. 2.6±2.5 times; P=0.86).

Conclusion

IAT can be performed in patients aged >75 years. Arterial tortuosity was not significantly associated with successful recanalization or post-procedural complications. Therefore, whether to perform IAT in older patients should not be determined only by arterial tortuosity.

Introduction

Intra-arterial thrombectomy (IAT) has become the mainstay of treatment for ischemic stroke caused by large artery occlusion [1,2]. However, IAT in older patients should be carefully considered due to uncertain clinical outcomes despite the risk of procedure-related complications [3,4]. Vascular tortuosity and longer procedure time have been suggested as factors associated with unfavorable outcomes in older patients who underwent IAT [5,6].
Previous studies have reported a higher rate of post-procedural hemorrhage and subsequent mortality in older patients with acute ischemic stroke and have suggested that IAT does not have a definitive benefit [7,8]. Meanwhile, technical improvements as well as advances in endovascular devices should be considered when deciding on IAT for older patients.
In this study, we reviewed clinical outcomes after IAT in older patients and evaluated the factors associated with unfavorable outcomes of IAT. Therefore, we also evaluated whether it is reasonable to restrict IA thrombectomy in older patients based on factors associated with the vascular structure, such as arterial tortuosity.

Material and Method

Patients and data collection

Patients over 75 years of age who underwent IAT for ischemic stroke due to anterior cerebral circulation occlusion from were retrospectively reviewed. Patients arriving at the hospital within 4.5 hours were treated with intravenous tissue plasminogen activator in the absence of contraindications. Patients with a contraindication of intravenous thrombolysis were directly treated with IAT within 18 hours from the patients’ last normal time.
A balloon guiding catheter was used and intermediate catheter was placed in the petrous segment of the internal carotid artery (ICA). The Solitaire FR (flow restoration; Covidien, Irvine, CA, USA) was embedded at the occlusion site with a minimum embedding time of 3 minutes and retrieval of the stent was performed simultaneously with the suction of the intermediate catheter.
Patients who underwent emergent carotid stenting for proximal ICA occlusion and IAT for posterior circulation occlusion were excluded. The grade of recanalization was estimated using a modified thrombolysis in cerebral infarction (mTICI) score. This study was approved by our institutional review board.

Definition of arterial tortuosity

We define arterial tortuosity as ICA dolichoectasia and common carotid artery (CCA) takeoff angle, which was previously published by Knox et al. [9] Significant ICA dolichoectasia is defined as >60° in 2 segments kinking of proximal ICA (Fig. 1A), and the CCA takeoff angle means measurement of the left CCA on computed tomography angiography with the angle of the spine as a reference (Fig. 1B).

Definition of recanalization

We estimate recanalization using the mTICI score, as grade 0 means that there was no perfusion after the IAT procedure; grade 1, as angiography showed penetration with minimal perfusion; grade 2, partial perfusion after thrombectomy; and grade 3, complete perfusion after the intervention.

Statistical analysis

IBM SPSS ver. 22.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA) was used for all statistical analyzes. Data normality was assessed using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. The independent t-test was used to evaluate the differences between continuous variables. The chi-square test was performed to determine the differences between categorical variables. Statistical significance was set at P<0.05.

Results

In total, 29 patients were analyzed. The mean age of the patients was 81.1±4.99 years and the median age was 81 years (interquartile range, 76-84). Female patients comprised 62.1% of the enrolled patients (n=18). The underlying diseases of the patients were diabetes mellitus (n=6, 20.7%), hypertension (n=20, 69.0%), and atrial fibrillation (n=16, 55.2%). Ten patients had already been treated with antiplatelet anticoagulants. The median values of the initial National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score and initial Alberta Stroke Programmed Early Computed Tomography Score (ASPECTS) were 16 and 8, respectively (Table 1).
Occlusion occurred on the right side in 18 patients and on the left side in 16 patients. There were 7 cases of distal ICA occlusion, 18 cases of middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion, and 4 cases of tandem lesions (Table 2).
As an aspect of the procedure, there were 3 cases in which the procedures were ended only for aspiration, the rest of the cases, the stent retriever, and aspiration were performed. The mean time from puncture to recanalization was 52.1 minutes. The mean passage try for thrombus retrieval was 2.5 times and there were 11 patients who needed more than 3 times thrombus passage (Table 3).

Angiographic outcome

Twenty-two patients showed recanalization of the artery more than the mTICI score 2b, and 7 patients showed recanalization with mTICI score 0-2a. After the procedure, 17 patients had subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), 13 patients had distal embolism, and 7 patients had parenchymal intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). Twenty patients (69.0%) had a modified Rankin scale (mRS) score of more than 3 points at discharge (Table 4).
For the mRS score ≥3 points at the time of patient discharge, the factors for poor prognosis that showed correlation or showed correlation trend were initial NIHSS score (P=0.08), initial ASPECTS (P<0.001), mTICI score (P=0.06); there was no correlation between poor prognosis and post-procedure SAH, distal embolism, parenchymal ICH (Table 5).
There was no statistical correlation, but patients with ICA dolichoectasia showed a higher tendency for good recanalization outcome as an mTICI score of 2b-3. Fourteen patients had an mTICI score of 2b-3 in 20 patients without ICA dolichoectasia. Furthermore, there was no tendency for prolongation of the mean puncture to recanalization time or the mean passage trial time in the group of patients with ICA dolichoectasia; post-procedure complications did not commonly occur (Table 6).
When comparing the correlation between ICA dolichoectasia and passage trial time, there was no tendency for more passage times needed for higher grade ICA dolichoectasia, and there was no tendency for more passage trials needed as a larger angle of CCA takeoff angle. Almost all passages were performed only in 1 to 2 times. In the distal ICA occlusion, there were more passage trial times needed compared to MCA occlusion, which is considered due to more in-situ infarction in the distal ICA occlusion case. Moreover, there was no tendency for a lower mTICI score for higher grade ICA dolichoectasia, and there was no tendency for a lower mTICI score as the angle of CCA takeoff angle increased.

Discussion

In this study, we showed recanalization of mTICI 2b-3 for large-vessel intracranial occlusion of the anterior circulation in 22 out of 29 patients (75.9%), consistent with the previous studies [6,10]. As suggested in previous studies, the initial NIHSS, ASPECTS, and mTICI grade were significantly associated with a favorable outcome [10]. However, in contrast to previous studies, proximal tortuosity, such as ICA dolichoectasia and CCA takeoff angle, was not associated with the procedure time, the number of passages, and unfavorable outcome [5]. Furthermore, procedure-related intracranial hemorrhage was not a significant factor that affected the patients’ outcomes in this study.
Although there was a limitation in obtaining statistical significance due to the small number of patients, we could confirm that there was no significant association between proximal tortuosity and the number of passes or mTICI showing the scatter plots (Fig. 2).
Advancements in endovascular devices may have contributed to the decrease in procedure-related complications. For example, improved proximal support of the balloon guiding catheter and softness of the aspiration catheter enabled the approach to the intracranial arteries to overcome proximal tortuosity in older patients [11-13]. In addition, the combination of stent retriever method and clot-contact aspiration has contributed to the improved recanalization rate in large intracranial artery occlusion [1,13,14].
The results of this study suggest that proximal tortuosity is not the main factor that affects procedural risk and patient outcome in older patients when performing mechanical IAT. Moreover, post-procedural SAH and distal embolism, which may be related to the procedures, were not the main factors associated with unfavorable outcomes for patients.
Therefore, we consider that IAT may be more widely indicated in older patients with large intracranial artery occlusion owing to the advancement of endovascular devices and techniques compared to the past.

Limitations of the study

Due to the limited number of patients and the retrospective nature of the study, this study has the limitation of reaching a concrete conclusion in deciding IAT in older patients. However, this study was unique because we showed equivalent clinical outcomes after IAT in older patients compared to previous studies with all age groups.
A prospective study with a larger number of patients by comparing different techniques would be necessary for future studies. Moreover, this study was limited to patients with ischemic stroke in the anterior circulation. Further evaluation of clinical outcomes is warranted in patients with posterior circulation occlusion.

Conclusion

There was no correlation between the severity of ICA dolichoectasia and the increase in the number of passages and the tendency for poor recanalization after IAT. In addition, there was no correlation between the severity of the CCA takeoff angle and the increase in the number of passages and the tendency for poor recanalization. We can clarify that the limitation of the procedure based on tortuosity of vessels in older patients is not justifiable.

NOTES

Conflicts of interest

No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acknowledgments

This research was supported by the Department of Neurosurgery, Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital.

Fig. 1.
(A) Significant internal carotid artery (ICA) dolichoectasia was defined as kinking of the proximal ICA of >60° in 2 segments. (B) The common carotid artery (CCA) takeoff angle denoted a measurement of the left CCA on computed tomography angiography with the angle of the spine as a reference.
jksgn-2021-00108f1.jpg
Fig. 2.
Scatter plots presenting the relationship between vascular tortuosity and results after intra-arterial thrombectomy. (A) Internal carotid artery (ICA) dolichoectasia and number of passes. (B) Common carotid artery (CCA) takeoff angle and number of passes. (C) ICA dolichoectasia and modified thrombolysis in cerebral infarction (mTICI) grade. (D) CCA takeoff angle and mTICI grade. MCA, middle cerebral artery.
jksgn-2021-00108f2.jpg
Table 1.
Clinical and demographic information of 29 patients who underwent intra-arterial thrombectomy due to anterior circulation occlusion
Variable Value (n=29)
Age (yr)
 Mean±SD (range) 81.1±4.99 (75-91)
 Median (IQR) 81 (76-84)
Female/male (%) 18 (62.1)/11 (37.9)
Diabetes mellitus (%) 6 (20.7)
Hypertension (%) 20 (69.0)
Atrial fibrillation (%) 16 (55.2)
Anticoagulant or antiplatelet medication (%) 10 (34.5)
Initial NIHSS (median, IQR) 16 (14-18)
Initial ASPECTS (median, IQR) 8 (7-9)

SD, standard deviation; IQR, interquartile range; NIHSS, National Institute of Health Stroke Scale; ASPECTS, Alberta Stroke Programmed Early Computed Tomography Score.

Table 2.
Location of occlusion sites
Variable Value
Right side/left side 18/16
Solitary lesion
Distal ICA 7
 I occlusion 1
 L occlusion 2
 T occlusion 4
MCA 18
 M1 15
 M2 superior 3
 M2 inferior 0
Tandem lesion 4
Proximal ICA, MCA 1
MCA, ACA 3

ICA, internal carotid artery; MCA, middle cerebral artery; ACA, anterior cerebral artery.

Table 3.
Information about the procedures
Variable Value (n=29)
Aspiration only 3 (10.3)
Stent retriever+aspiration 26 (89.7)
Puncture to recanalization (min) 52.1±29.7
No. of passes 2.5/2 (1-8)
 No. of passes <3 (%) 18 (62.1)
 No. of passes ≥3 (%) 11 (37.9)

Values are presented as number (%), mean±standard deviation, or mean/median (range).

Table 4.
Angiographic and patients’ outcomes
Variable Value
Final mTICI score (%)
 0-2a 7 (24.1)
 2b-3 22 (75.9)
Complications
 Postprocedural SAH 17 (58.6)
 Distal embolization 13 (44.8)
 Parenchymal ICH 7 (24.1)
  ICH ≤30% of infarcted area with mild mass effect 4 (13.8)
  ICH >30% of infarcted area with notable mass effect 3 (10.3)
mRS at discharge 4 (2-5)
 mRS 0-2 9 (31.0)
 mRS ≥3 20 (69.0)

Values are presented as number (%) or median (interquartile range).

mTICI, modified thrombolysis in cerebral infarction; SAH, subarachnoid hemorrhage; ICH, intracerebral hemorrhage; mRS, modified Rankin scale.

Table 5.
Comparison of clinical factors (initial NIHSS, ASPECTS, grade of recanalization, and postprocedural complications) affecting the prognosis
(% in each group) mRS 0-2 (n=9) mRS ≥3 (n=20) P-value
Initial NIHSS 14.3±3.4 16.9±3.5 0.08
Initial ASPECTS 9.1±0.6 7.6±1.2 <0.001
mTICI 0-2a 0 7 (100.0) 0.06
mTICI 2b-3 9 (40.9)  13 (59.1)
Postprocedural SAH 5 (29.4) 12 (70.6) 0.8
Distal embolization 6 (46.2) 7 (53.8) 0.2
Parenchymal ICH 1 (14.3) 6 (85.7) 0.4

Values are presented as mean±standard deviation or number (%).

NIHSS, National Institute of Health Stroke Scale; ASPECTS, Alberta Stroke Programmed Early Computed Tomography Score; mRS, modified Rankin scale; mTICI, modified thrombolysis in cerebral infarction; SAH, subarachnoid hemorrhage; ICH, intracerebral hemorrhage.

Table 6.
Comparison of periprocedural clinical factors between patients with and without ICA dolichoectasia
(% in each group) ICA dolichoectasia(+) (n=9) ICA dolichoectasia(-) (n=20) P-value
Puncture to recanalization (min) 53±43.9 51.6±22 >0.9
No. of passes 2.6/1 2.4/2 0.9
 No. of passes ≥3 3 (33.3) 8 (40.0) >0.9
mTICI 0-2a 1 (11.1) 6 (30.0) 0.4
mTICI 2b-3 8 (88.9) 14 (70.0)
SAH 5 (55.6) 12 (60.0) 0.8
Distal embolization 3 (33.3) 10 (50.0) 0.5
Parenchymal ICH 2 (22.2) 5 (25.0) >0.9

Values are presented as mean±standard deviation, mean/median, or number (%).

ICA, internal carotid artery; mTICI, modified thrombolysis in cerebral infarction; SAH, subarachnoid hemorrhage; ICH, intracerebral hemorrhage.

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