Bridging thrombolysis improves survival rates at 90 days compared with direct mechanical thrombectomy alone in acute ischemic stroke due to basilar artery occlusion: A systematic review and meta-analysis of 1096 patients

Keng Siang Lee*, Isabel Siow, John J.Y. Zhang, Nicholas L. Syn, Conor S. Gillespie, Linus Z.H. Yuen, Gopinathan Anil, Cunli Yang, Bernard P.L. Chan, Vijay Kumar Sharma, Hock Luen Teoh, Jing Mingxue, Kevin Soon Hwee Teo, May Zin Myint, Pervinder Bhogal, Lukas Meyer, Stefan Schob, Ching Hui Sia, Anastasios Mpotsaris, Volker MausTommy Andersson, Fabian Arnberg, Vamsi Krishna Gontu, Tsong Hai Lee, Benjamin Y.Q. Tan, Leonard L.L. Yeo

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal Article peer-review

9 Scopus citations

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Mechanical thrombectomy (MT) is an effective treatment for patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) from basilar artery occlusion (BAO).

OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical outcomes of MT, with and without bridging intravenous thrombolysis (IVT), in acute BAO through a systematic review and meta-analysis of the current literature.

METHODS: Systematic searches of Medline, EMBASE, and Cochrane Central were undertaken on August 1, 2022. Good functional outcome defined as 90-day modified Rankin Scale score 0-2 was the primary outcome measure. Secondary outcome measures were 90-day mortality, successful post-thrombectomy recanalization (modified Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction score ≥2b), symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH), and subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH).

RESULTS: Three studies reporting 1096 patients with BAO AIS were included in the meta-analysis. No significant differences in good functional outcome were detected between the two groups (RR=1.28 (95% CI 0.86 to 1.92); p=0.117). However, specifically patients with large artery atherosclerosis (LAA) benefited from bridging IVT (OR=2.52 (95% CI 1.51 to 4.22); p<0.001) with better functional outcomes. There was a significantly lower 90-day mortality rate for patients who underwent bridging IVT compared with MT alone (RR=0.70 (95% CI 0.62 to 0.80); p=0.008). No significant differences were detected in rates of post-treatment recanalization (RR=1.01 (95% CI 0.35 to 2.91); p=0.954), sICH (RR=0.96 (95% CI 0.66 to 1.42); p=0.724), and SAH (RR=0.93 (95% CI 0.31 to 2.83); p=0.563).

CONCLUSIONS: In patients with AIS due to BAO, bridging IVT was associated with lower mortality rates at 90 days, compared with direct MT. There were no improved functional outcomes or increased sICH or SAH between both arms, However, patients with LAA benefited from bridging IVT, with better functional outcomes.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1039-1045
Number of pages7
JournalJournal of NeuroInterventional Surgery
Volume15
Issue number10
DOIs
StatePublished - 01 10 2023
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2023. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.

Keywords

  • Artery
  • Complication
  • Stroke
  • Thrombectomy
  • Thrombolysis
  • Brain Ischemia/drug therapy
  • Intracranial Hemorrhages/complications
  • Humans
  • Fibrinolytic Agents/therapeutic use
  • Survival Rate
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Stroke/drug therapy
  • Basilar Artery/diagnostic imaging
  • Subarachnoid Hemorrhage/complications
  • Thrombolytic Therapy
  • Ischemic Stroke/complications
  • Mechanical Thrombolysis

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