Clot length does not impact outcome following thrombectomy

Background and aims: Clot length was associated with outcome after treatment with intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) in patients with stroke secondary to emergent large vessel occlusions (ELVO) but data regarding the influence of clot length on outcome after thrombectomy is lacking. Patients and methods: Prospectively accrued data on consecutive patients with ELVO treated with thrombectomy was analyzed. Data on demographics, risk factors, stroke severity, survival and occurrence of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH) was collected. Procedural details including clot length measured on the pre-thrombectomy digital subtraction angiograms in multiple projections were collected. Functional outcome was determined with the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) 90 days post stroke and mRS <= 2 was considered as favorable outcome. Results: Data was collected for 94 patients that fulfilled entry criteria. On univariate analysis clot length did not differ between patients with favorable or unfavorable outcomes. Clot length also did not influence the rates of sICH or mortality. On multivariate logistic regression age and stroke severity remained significant modifiers for favorable outcome. In a second regression model age, poor collaterals, the number of passes needed for re canalization and the magnitude of change in neurological deficits between presentation and discharge remained significant modifiers of outcomes. However, clot length had no effect on outcome in both models. Conclusions: In patients undergoing thrombectomy for ELVO, clot length has no effect on functional outcomes, mortality or sICH. Therefore, patients with ELVO should not be excluded from thrombectomy based on lot length.