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INTRODUCTION: Thrombectomy complications remain poorly explored. This study aims to characterize periprocedural intracranial vessel perforation including the effect of thrombolysis on patient outcomes. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this multicenter retrospective cohort study, consecutive patients with vessel perforation during thrombectomy between January 2015 and April 2023 were included. Vessel perforation was defined as active extravasation on digital subtraction angiography. The primary outcome was modified Rankin Scale (mRS) at 90 days. Factors associated with the primary outcome were assessed using proportional odds models. RESULTS: 459 patients with vessel perforation were included (mean age 72.5 ± 13.6 years, 59% female, 41% received thrombolysis). Mortality at 90 days was 51.9% and 16.3% of patients reached mRS 0-2 at 90 days. Thrombolysis was not associated with worse outcome at 90 days. Perforation of a large vessel (LV) as opposed to medium/distal vessel perforation was independently associated with worse outcome at 90 days (aOR 1.709, p = 0.04) and LV perforation was associated with poorer survival probability (HR 1.389, p = 0.021). Patients with active bleeding >20 min had worse survival probability, too (HR 1.797, p = 0.009). Thrombolysis was not associated with longer bleeding duration. Bleeding cessation was achieved faster by permanent vessel occlusion compared to temporary measures (median difference: 4 min, p < 0.001). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Vessel perforation during thrombectomy is a severe and frequently fatal complication. This study does not suggest that thrombolysis significantly attributes to worse prognosis. Prompt cessation of active bleeding within 20 min is critical, emphasizing the need for interventionalists to be trained in complication management.
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INTRODUCTION: The benefit of endovascular therapy (EVT) among stroke patients with large ischemic core (ASPECTS 0-5) in the extended time window outside of trial settings remains unclear. We analyzed the effect of EVT among these stroke patients in real-world settings. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The CT for Late Endovascular Reperfusion (CLEAR) study recruited patients from 66 centers in 10 countries between 01/2014 and 05/2022. The extended time-window was defined as 6-24 h from last-seen-well to treatment. The primary outcome was shift of the 3-month modified Rankin scale (mRS) score. Safety outcomes included symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH) and mortality. Outcomes were analyzed with ordinal and logistic regressions. RESULTS: Among 5098 screened patients, 2451 were included in the analysis (median age 73, 55% women). Of patients with ASPECTS 0-5 (n = 310), receiving EVT (n = 209/310) was associated with lower 3-month mRS when compared to medical management (median 4 IQR 3-6 vs 6 IQR 4-6; aOR 0.4, 95% CI 0.2-0.7). Patients undergoing EVT had higher sICH (11.2% vs 4.0%; aOR 4.1, 95% CI 1.2-18.8) and lower mortality (31.6% vs 58.4%, aOR 0.4; 95% CI 0.2-0.9) compared to medically managed patients. The relative benefit of EVT was comparable between patients with ASPECTS 0 and 5 and 6-10 in the extended time window (interaction aOR 0.9; 95% CI 0.5-1.7). CONCLUSION: In the extended time window, patients with ASPECTS 0-5 may have preserved relative treatment benefit of EVT compared to patients with ASPECTS 6-10. These findings are in line with recent trials showing benefit of EVT among real-world patients with large ischemic core in the extended time window. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT04096248.