OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy and safety of mechanical thrombectomy with the Solitaire AB device in recanalization of patients with acute ischemic stroke of posterior circulation.

METHODSThe clinical data of 17 consecutive patients with acute ischemic stroke of posterior circulation, treated with the Solitaire AB device from August 2011 to August 2015 in Department of Neurosurgery, the Military General Hospital of Beijing People's Liberation Army, were extracted and then retrospectively analyzed. There were 12 male and 5 female patients with a median age of 60 years (ranging from 44 to 75 years). Among them, 8 cases occluded in basilar artery, 4 cases occluded in vertebral artery and 5 cases occluded in vertebral plus basilar artery. Recanalization rate as well as complications after treatment were analysized. Also, neurological functions of the patients before and after treatment, measured by National Institute of Health stroke scale (NIHSS) score, were compared via t test and the clinical outcomes were assessed by modified Rankin score (mRS) at 90 days after treatment.

RESULTSFifteen patients resulted in successfully recanalization, and 2 cases failed both of whose onset to sheath time were above 7.5 hours. The NIHSS score at 7 days was 11±10, which was significantly decreased compared to the admission NIHSS score 17±5 (t=2.949, P=0.009). No symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage case was found after thrombectomy. At 90 days, one patient died(mRS 6), one patient seriously disabled (mRS 5), two patients moderately seriously disabled (mRS 4), four patients resulted in moderate outcome (mRS 3) and the other 9 patients achieved good outcome (mRS 0 to 2). The dead and seriously disabled cases were both due to failure in recanalization. Two moderately seriously disabled cases were probably attributed to their severe admission condition (NIHSS >20) and prolonged time (onset to sheath time >6 hours).

CONCLUSIONMechanical thrombectomy with the Solitaire AB device contributes to a high rate of recanalization with a low probability of complication and improves functional outcome in patients with acute ischemic stroke of posterior circulation.