Thrombectomy for acute basilar artery occlusion by using double Merci retriever devices and bilateral temporary vertebral artery flow reversal. Technical note

J Neurosurg. 2009 Jul;111(1):53-6. doi: 10.3171/2008.11.JNS081035.

Abstract

Basilar artery occlusion is a dramatic clinical event with a high mortality rate if patients are treated by standard medical therapy, including anticoagulation agents. The use of intravenous tissue plasminogen activator or intraarterial thrombolysis recanalizes 30-53 and 64%, respectively, of patients with basilar stroke. Mechanical endovascular treatments allow tailored procedures with quicker results and higher recanalization rates. The authors describe a successful mechanical removal of an obstruction in an acute occlusion of the basilar artery tip involving both proximal segments of posterior cerebral arteries in a 20-year-old man. They used 2 Merci retriever devices at the same time, and performed bilateral proximal vertebral artery occlusion for temporary flow reversal and aspiration.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Basilar Artery / diagnostic imaging
  • Basilar Artery / surgery*
  • Cerebral Angiography
  • Cerebrovascular Circulation
  • Humans
  • Intracranial Embolism / prevention & control*
  • Male
  • Thrombectomy / instrumentation*
  • Thrombectomy / methods*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Vertebrobasilar Insufficiency / diagnostic imaging
  • Vertebrobasilar Insufficiency / physiopathology
  • Vertebrobasilar Insufficiency / surgery*
  • Young Adult