Intra-arterial thrombolytic therapy improves outcome in patients with acute vertebrobasilar occlusive disease.

• DOI: 10.1161/01.str.19.10.1216
• Publication Date: 2011-06-17T20:10:52Z
• Authors: W Hacke; H Zeumer; A Ferbert; H Brückmann; G J del Zoppo
• Keywords: Stroke

In this retrospective analysis we report our treatment experience in 65 consecutive patients with clinical signs of severe brainstem ischemia angiographically demonstrated thrombotic vertebrobasilar artery occlusions who received either local intra-arterial thrombolytic therapy (urokinase or streptokinase) (43 patients) conventional (antiplatelet agents anticoagulants) (22 patients). We analyzed the data respect to cerebral occlusion patterns, posttreatment arterial recanalization, and categories favorable/unfavorable outcome survival/death. subgroup analyses, recanalization correlated significantly outcome; 19 43 patients, was angiographically, while 24 persisted. All without died, but 14 displaying survived (p = 0.000007), 10 a favorable outcome. Only three 22 survived, all moderate deficit. When compared groups, highly significant differences both quality 0.017) survival 0.0005) were found depend on establishing recanalization. Our support concept that technically successful thrombolysis is associated beneficial