Mechanical thrombectomy outcomes in large vessel stroke with high international normalized ratio

Evaluating the safety and efficacy of mechanical thrombectomy (MT) in acute stroke patients due to emergent large vessel occlusion (ELVO) with high international-normalized-ratio (INR).

Consecutive ELVO patients treated with MT were evaluated from two centers. Outcome measures included symptomatic-intracranial-hemorrhage(sICH), three-month mortality, successful reperfusion(SR), and 3-month functional-independence(FI; mRS-scores of 0-2). Additionally, a meta-analysis of available cohort studies was performed to evaluate safety and efficacy of MT in ELVO patients with high INR.

A total of 315 ELVO patients were evaluated. Of those 10 patients had INR >1.7 [mean age 63.5 ± 15, median NIHSS-score: 17 points (IQR 14-22)],and remaining 305 ELVO patients had INR ≤ 1.7 ([mean age 62 ± 14.4, median NIHSS-score: 17 points (IQR 12-21)]. Patients with high INR did not differ in terms of sICH (10.0% vs. 6.9%; p = .706), 3-month mortality (20.0% vs. 24.2%; p = .762), SR (88.9% vs. 69.4%; p = .209) and 3-month FI (50% vs. 49.3%; p = .762) compared to the rest. Meta-analysis of available studies (n = 5) showed that high INR was not related to sICH (OR: 0.94, 95%CI: 0.42-2.07; p = .88), 3-month mortality (OR: 1.07, 95%CI: CI 0.72-1.60; p = .73) and 3-month FI (OR: 0.69, 95%CI: 0.34-1.40; p = .30).

MT can be performed safely and effectively in ELVO patients with high INR.