Neurológia pre prax 4/2017

Mechanical thrombectomy after the standard time window

Introduction: Mechanical thrombectomy is recommended standard treatment of occluded large cerebral artery within first 6 hours since stroke onset. Beyond this standard therapeutic time window, thrombectomy may be beneficial in strictly selected patients only and upper treatment time limit has been still unknown. The aim was to document a positive clinical effect of thrombectomy performed after 14 hours since stroke onset. Methods: We describe a case of 73 y/o female, who presented with sudden severe left-sided hemiparesis at home. She was admitted to the stroke center after eleven hours after stroke onset with severe and fluctuating hemiparesis. Admission CT scan showed partial occlusion of right internal carotid artery (ICA) and occlusion middle cerebral artery (MCA) and relatively large ischemic penumbra on CT perfusion scans. Based on clinical symptoms, CT and MRI findings the mechanical thrombectomy with successful recanalization of ICA and MCA was performed 14 hours after stroke onset with an excellent clinical outcome. Conclusion: Mechanical thrombectomy is recommended a standard treatment of occluded large cerebral artery within first 6 hours since stroke onset. Strictly selected patients with ischemic penumbral patterns may have benefit from mechanical thrombectomy even beyond standard therapeutic time window.

Keywords: ischemic stroke, occlusion of internal carotid artery, occlusion of middle cerebral artery, mechanical thrombectomy