Clinical Outcomes of Endovascular Thrombectomy in Tissue Plasminogen Activator versus Non-Tissue Plasminogen Activator Patients at Primary Stroke Care Centers.

backgroundThe effect of intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (IV tPA) administration before endovascular intervention as compared to without at thrombectomy-capable low-volume centers on procedural aspects and patient outcomes has not been investigated.

methodsRetrospective chart review was performed in all consecutive large vessel cerebrovascular accident patients treated with endovascular therapy at two select rural primary stroke centers between 2011 and 2015. Patients' data regarding age, sex, and medical history, as well as thrombus location by catheter-based cerebral angiography, postprocedural reperfusion status, and clinical outcomes were reviewed. The primary outcome measure of the study was a comparison of modified Rankin scale (MRS) at 90 days in patients' postendovascular thrombectomy with prior IV tPA administration versus those who underwent thrombectomy and did not qualify for preprocedural IV tPA.

resultsAfter application of the set inclusion and exclusion criteria, data of 46 out of 65 patients were analyzed. Twenty-three patients (50%) received IV tPA before thrombectomy and 23 patients did not qualify for IV tPA (50%). Successful recanalization (thrombolysis in cerebral infarction 2b/3) was achieved in 86% (20/23 patients) of thrombectomy patients without preprocedural IV tPA and 82% (19/23) of patients who received it (odds ratio [OR]: 0.03, confidence interval [CI]: 95% 0.062-0.16,

conclusionPatients undergoing endovascular thrombectomy for large vessel occlusion at select low-volume rural centers showed benefit from this treatment regardless of IV tPA administration. Clinical outcomes and complications at select low-volume thrombectomy-proficient centers are comparable to large volume comprehensive stroke centers as well as the landmark studies proving the efficacy of endovascular treatment.