Basilar artery occlusion is a rare but severe condition that can result in high morbidity and mortality rates. It is a type of stroke that occurs when the basilar artery, the blood vessel that supplies blood to the brainstem, becomes blocked. The traditional treatment for patients with basilar artery occlusion is intravenous thrombolysis or endovascular thrombectomy. However, a recent study has shown promising results in treating this condition using manual aspiration thrombectomy with a large-bore aspiration catheter.
Manual aspiration thrombectomy involves using a catheter to create a suction that removes a blood clot from the blocked artery. The advantage of this technique is that it is less invasive than endovascular thrombectomy, which involves threading a catheter through the patient's blood vessels to reach the site of the clot. Manual aspiration thrombectomy can be performed by interventional radiologists or neurointerventionalists, who have experience in using this technique.
The study involved a retrospective analysis of patients with acute basilar artery occlusion who were treated with manual aspiration thrombectomy using a large-bore catheter. The results showed that 42 out of 50 patients (84%) had successful recanalization, which means the blood flow in the blocked artery was restored. This is a significant improvement compared to previous studies on the effectiveness of intravenous thrombolysis alone, which showed a recanalization rate of only 32%.
The study also reported on the safety of the procedure. There were no major complications, such as bleeding, during or after the procedure. Only two patients (4%) had minor complications, which were resolved without any long-term effects.
The benefits of manual aspiration thrombectomy with a large-bore catheter for basilar artery occlusion are clear. The high recanalization rate can significantly improve the patient's outcome, as it leads to a decreased risk of disability and mortality. Moreover, the procedure can be performed quickly, reducing the time to recanalization and maximizing the patient's chances for recovery.
In conclusion, manual aspiration thrombectomy with a large-bore catheter is a safe and effective treatment option for patients with acute basilar artery occlusion. This technique should be considered as a first-line treatment option.