Abstract Number ‐ 87: Successfull thrombectomy followed by balloon mount stent placement on acute basilar artery occlusion

Abstract

Introduction Basilar artery occlusion accounts for 10% of all ischemic stroke caused by intracranial large vessel occlusion (LVO) with high morbidity and mortality. Endovascular intervention has been shown effective in the anterior circulation LVO but multiple trials, however a few trials failed to demonstrate the benefit of endovascular intervention over medical therapy, furthermore, there is no trial regarding the benefit of permanent stent deployment in the basilar artery over maximized medical therapy. Here we present a patient who presented with right side hemiplegia, facial droop, and dysmetria with National Institute of Health Stroke Scale of 19. CT head and neck angiography revealed acute basilar occlusion. Endovascular procedure was performed with successful thrombectomy utilizing stent retriever followed by placement of balloon mounted stent due to persistent critical basilar stenosis. Methods A case report Results MRI of the brain revealed acute ischemic stroke of bilateral cerebellar hemisphere, mid and left pons, left cerebral peduncles, and left thalamus. Repeat non‐contrast CT head revealed small bilateral thalamic hemorrhage but due to small size, dual antiplatelet therapy with aspirin and ticagrelor was initiated. After discharge, the patient developed upper extremity deep vein thrombosis for which apixaban was started. Despite dual antiplatelet therapy and anticoagulation, the patient continued to improve. Clinical follow‐up at 6 weeks the patient remained stable with mild residual weakness of the right extremities. Conclusions Thrombectomy with subsequent deployment of permanent stent can be considered as a safe and effective measure of basilar artery occlusion.