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Updated: Apr 7, 2026
Transient Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion Model of Neonatal Stroke in P10 Rats
Published on: April 21, 2017
Acute ischemic stroke in a child due to basilar artery occlusion treated successfully with a stent retriever
Luis Savastano1, Joseph J Gemmete2, Aditya S Pandey2
1Department of Neurosurgery, University of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.
Insights
Pediatric ischemic stroke is rare. Mechanical thrombectomy using a stent retriever offers a safe and effective treatment for acute ischemic stroke in children, as demonstrated in a case of basilar artery occlusion.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurology
- Interventional Neuroradiology
- Vascular Neurology
Background:
- Childhood ischemic stroke is uncommon, with intravenous thrombolysis using tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) being the primary treatment.
- Safety and efficacy concerns exist regarding tPA in pediatric stroke management.
- Mechanical thrombectomy is emerging as a viable alternative for acute ischemic stroke in children.
Observation:
- A 22-month-old child presented with an acute ischemic stroke.
- The stroke was caused by a basilar artery occlusion.
- The patient underwent successful treatment with a stent retriever.
Findings:
- Mechanical thrombectomy with a stent retriever successfully recanalized the occluded basilar artery.
- The treatment was effective in managing the acute ischemic stroke in this pediatric patient.
- This case supports the growing evidence for endovascular therapy in pediatric stroke.
Implications:
- Mechanical thrombectomy represents a promising and effective treatment modality for acute ischemic stroke in children.
- Further research and data collection are warranted to establish definitive safety and efficacy profiles for endovascular treatments in pediatric populations.
- Stent retrievers may be a valuable tool in the neurointerventional armamentarium for treating pediatric stroke due to large vessel occlusion.
Abstract:
Ischemic strokes in childhood are rare. Thrombolytic therapy with intravenous (IV) tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) has been the main intervention for the management of pediatric stroke patients, but safety data are lacking and efficacy has been questioned. Recently, successful endovascular treatments for acute ischemic stroke in children have been reported with increasing frequency, suggesting that mechanical thrombectomy can be a safe and effective treatment. We present the case of a 22-month-old child with acute ischemic stroke due to basilar artery occlusion that was successfully treated with a stent retriever.
