Stenting of Mobile Calcified Emboli After Failed Thrombectomy in Acute Ischemic Stroke: Case Report and Literature Review

Matthew B. Potts*, Lucas da Matta, Ramez N. Abdalla, Ali Shaibani, Sameer A. Ansari, Babak S. Jahromi, Michael C Hurley

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Mobile calcified emboli are a rare cause of large vessel occlusion and acute ischemic stroke and pose unique challenges to standard mechanical thrombectomy techniques. Intracranial stenting has been reported as a rescue maneuver in cases of failed mechanical thrombectomy owing to dissection or calcified atherosclerotic plaques, but its use for calcified emboli is not well described. Case Description: We present 2 cases of acute ischemic stroke caused by mobile calcified emboli. Standard mechanical thrombectomy techniques using aspiration catheters and stent-retrievers failed to remove these emboli, so intracranial stenting was successfully performed in each case, albeit after overcoming unique challenges associated with the stenting of calcified emboli. We also review the literature on intracranial stenting as a salvage therapy for failed mechanical thrombectomy. Conclusions: Mobile calcified emboli are rare causes of acute ischemic stroke. Intracranial stenting can be used to successfully treat calcified emboli when mechanical thrombectomy has failed.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)245-251
Number of pages7
JournalWorld neurosurgery
Volume135
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 2020

Keywords

  • Calcified emboli
  • Intracranial stenting
  • Stroke
  • Thrombectomy

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Surgery
  • Clinical Neurology

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