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Updated: Aug 15, 2026

Optimized Management of Endovascular Treatment for Acute Ischemic Stroke
Published on: January 18, 2018
Treatment of ischemic stroke complicating cardiac catheterization with systemic thrombolytic therapy
Rod Serry1, Sotirios Tsimikas, Steven G Imbesi
1Division of Cardiology, University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, San Diego, California, USA.
Insights
Systemic thrombolytic therapy successfully treated a rare cerebellar ischemic stroke during cardiac catheterization. This approach should be considered for similar acute stroke complications during cardiac procedures.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Cardiology
- Vascular Medicine
Background:
- Ischemic stroke is a rare but serious complication associated with cardiac catheterization.
- Cerebellar strokes can lead to severe neurological deficits, including obtundation.
Observation:
- A case report details a patient experiencing obtundation due to a cerebellar stroke during elective cardiac catheterization.
- The patient had underlying bilateral vertebrobasilar disease, likely leading to thrombotic embolization.
Findings:
- Systemic thrombolytic therapy was administered and successfully resolved the acute ischemic stroke.
- This treatment highlights the potential efficacy of thrombolysis in this specific clinical scenario.
Implications:
- Systemic thrombolytic therapy is a viable treatment option for acute ischemic stroke occurring during cardiac catheterization or percutaneous coronary intervention.
- Early consideration of thrombolysis may improve outcomes in patients experiencing this rare complication.
Abstract:
Ischemic stroke is a rare but serious complication of cardiac catheterization. We report a case in which systemic thrombolytic therapy was successfully utilized in treating a patient with a cerebellar stroke, leading to obtundation during elective cardiac catheterization. Underlying bilateral vertebrobasilar disease with thrombotic embolization to the basilar artery was postulated to be the pathophysiological basis for the stroke and subsequent success of thrombolytic treatment in this patient. As the consequences of this rare complication are severe, systemic thrombolytic therapy should be considered for patients suffering an acute ischemic stroke during cardiac catheterization or percutaneous coronary intervention.
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