I. M. Pignat 1, V. Mendes Pereira 2, F. Perren 1
1 HUG, University Hospital and Medical Faculty of Geneva, Department of Neurology, Neurosonology Unit – Geneva,
2 HUG, University Hospital and Medical Faculty of Geneva, Department of Radiology, Interventional Neuroradiology Unit – Geneva, Switzerland

Objective: Stent retrievers are new devices that can be also used to perform mechanical intracranial thrombectomy. They have revolutionized endovascular treatment of acute ischemic stroke with good recanalization and acceptable safety. However, previous animal studies have shown that mechanical thrombectomy may cause endothelial injury of the arterial wall leading to myointimal hyperplasia.

Material and Methods: Acute ischemic stroke patients suffering from acute intracranial single large artery occlusion in which mechanical thrombectomy using stent retrievers was performed were studied. Only those with complete vessel recanalization as assessed by post-procedural DSA and in whom MRA and transcranial duplex sonography (TDS) were performed were retained. Complete revascularization was defined as modified TICI 2b or 3. Patients treated with intra-arterial thrombolysis or stenting of these arteries were excluded.