Surgical embolectomy for internal carotid artery terminus occlusion

The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of surgical embolectomy for internal carotid artery terminus (ICA-T) occlusion. Twenty-five consecutive patients with acute ischemic stroke attributed to embolic ICA-T occlusion who underwent surgical embolectomy were retrospectively reviewed. Twenty-four patients were examined based on magnetic resonance imaging, with one patient included based on a computed tomography scan. Recanalization rate, recanalization time, complications, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score improvement at 1 month, and modified Rankin Scale (mRS) at 3 months were evaluated. Final recanalization status was Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) 3 in 24 patients (96 %). Median recanalization time from symptom onset and from start of surgery was 281 and 79 min, respectively. Two patients (8 %) had major hemorrhagic complications related to surgery. Seventeen patients (68 %) demonstrated NIHSS score improvement of more than 10 points at 1 month. At 3 months, eight patients (32 %) were mRS 0-2, five patients (20 %) were mRS 3, and three patients (12 %) had died. Surgical embolectomy for ICA-T occlusion demonstrated a high complete recanalization rate and should be reconsidered as an additional therapeutic strategy to overcome this devastating situation.