Early Single Center Experience with the Solitaire Thrombectomy Device for the Treatment of Acute Ischemic Stroke

Abstract

We report the immediate technical and clinical outcome of a new self-expanding fully retrievable stent in the treatment of acute ischemic stroke. Eleven consecutive patients with acute intracerebral artery occlusions were treated with a self-expandable fully retrievable intracranial stent (Solitaire AB). Four patients had an occlusion of the basilar artery, five had a middle cerebral artery occlusion and two had terminal carotid artery occlusions. Recanalization results were assessed by follow-up angiography immediately after the procedure. Neurologic status was evaluated before and after treatment (90-day follow-up) according to the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) and modified Rankin scales (mRS). Successful revascularization (TICI 2a/b and 3) was achieved in 11 of 11 (100%) patients, a TICI 3 state was accomplished in two (18%) patients, and partial recanalization or slow distal branch filling with filling of more than two-thirds of the vessel territory (TICI 2a/2b) was achieved in nine (82%) patients. The stent was removed in all patients. The mean time from stroke symptom onset to recanalization was 339 minutes (+/– 114.3 minutes). NIHSS on admission was 16.09 (+/– 4.7). Almost two-thirds of the patients (61.2%) improved by >6 points on the NIHSS at discharge, and 30% showed a mRS of The use of the Solitaire in ischemic stroke patients shows encouraging results. However, further prospective large randomized trials are mandatory to confirm these early results.