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Objective Tandem occlusions involving both the extracranial internal carotid artery (ICA) and an intracranial artery typically respond poorly to intravenous (IV) tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA). We retrospectively review our experience with proximal ICA stenting and stent-assisted thrombectomy of the distal artery. Methods The data included patients that underwent carotid stenting and mechanical thrombectomy between 2012–2013. Radiographic, clinical, and procedural data were drawn from case notes, imaging records and discharge reports. Clinical outcomes were evaluated using the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) and the modified Rankin scale (mRs). Results Seven patients, with a mean age of 66.4 years and a mean admission NIHSS of 18.3, underwent this procedure and were included. Each presented with an occlusion of the proximal ICA, with additional occlusions of the ICA terminus ( n = 3), middle cerebral artery ( n = 5), or anterior cerebral artery ( n = 1). Recanalisation of all identified occlusions was achieved in all patients, with a Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) score of 3 and a Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction (TICI) score >2b achieved in each case. Mean time from onset of stroke symptoms to recanalisation was 287 min; mean time from first angiography to recanalisation was 52 min. Intracranial haemorrhages occurred in two patients, with no increase in NIHSS. There were no mortalities. Mean NIHSS at discharge was 4.9, and mRs at 90 days was one in all patients. Conclusions Treatment of tandem extracranial ICA and intracranial occlusions in the setting of acute ischaemic stroke with extracranial carotid artery stenting followed by adjunctive intracranial mechanical thrombectomy is both safe and effective, but further evaluation of this treatment modality is necessary.

A 62-year-old lady presented to hospital with thunderclap headache and was found to have a grade 1 subarachnoid haemorrhage due to ruptured anterior communicating artery (ACoA) aneurysm, treated by endovascular coiling. Two small coincidental left middle cerebral artery (MCA) aneurysms were managed conservatively. Follow-up imaging at 6 months showed only minor ischaemic changes. Routine 2 year follow up magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) showed the coiled aneurysm to be secure with unchanged coincidental MCA aneurysms but multiple new right cerebral hemisphere lesions with extensive perilesional oedema. These lesions showed punctate enhancement on contrast MRI. 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-positron emission tomography (PET) imaging showed normal brain FDG update. The patient developed focal left-sided motor seizures, prompting readmission, and empirical treatment with corticosteroids, antibiotics and aspirin in addition to levetiracetam. Cerebral spinal fluid constituents were normal. Routine bloods, inflammatory markers and blood cultures were normal or negative, as was an echocardiogram. There were no further seizures, and subsequent improvement was noted in the right cerebral hemisphere imaging appearances. Foreign material emboli following endovascular coiling is described in the literature but, to our knowledge, its presentation in this manner with this latency has not been reported.

White matter lesions (WML) on T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), particularly when extensive, are a marker of cerebral small-vessel disease (SVD). Anecdotally, WMLs were noted in follow-up imaging of patients with symptomatic cerebral aneurysms, but the underlying reason for this is unknown. In this study we investigated WMLs in patients with cerebral aneurysms. Consecutive patients were identified who underwent endovascular coiling of cerebral aneurysms at the Royal Preston Hospital between 2008 and 2010, for whom follow-up MRI scans were available. Scans from patients showing WMLs were anonymised and the lesion burden was estimated using the Fazekas visual rating score and by software-aided volumetric analysis. Comparison was made with an age-stratified outpatient control group who underwent brain MRI for headache. 157 patients had follow-up MRI scans. WMLs were reported in 38.2%, and 48% were scored Fazekas grade 2 or higher. The prevalence of WMLs in cases was significantly greater than that in age-stratified controls in patients aged 60–69y (p

The role of neurointerventional treatment, including local thrombolysis, for intracranial venous thrombosis (ICVT) currently remains uncertain. We describe a case of postpartum ICVT involving the straight sinus, with rapid neurological deterioration and progressive thrombosis, despite anticoagulation. She underwent multimodality neurointerventional treatment involving attempted mechanical clot disruption, microcatheter suction, intrathrombus thrombolysis and microballoon disruption and clot retrieval. The patient achieved a full clinical recovery, with radiological evidence of recanalisation at follow-up.