AUTHOR=Yang Ming , Huo Xiaochuan , Gao Feng , Wang Anxin , Ma Ning , Liebeskind David S. , Wang Yongjun , Miao Zhongrong 

TITLE=Safety and Efficacy of Heparinization During Mechanical Thrombectomy in Acute Ischemic Stroke

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Neurology

VOLUME=10

YEAR=2019

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neurology/articles/10.3389/fneur.2019.00299

DOI=10.3389/fneur.2019.00299

ISSN=1664-2295

ABSTRACT=<p><bold>Background:</bold> The benefits of heparization during mechanical thrombectomy (MT) with newer generation thrombectomy devices, and if it is counterbalanced by the increased risk of intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) remain unknown.</p><p><bold>Methods:</bold> We included eligible patients who underwent MT from the ANGEL registry study (2015-2017) in China. Subjects in the current analysis were dichotomized into two groups according to whether adequate heparinization during MT was performed. In the heparinization group, unfractionated heparin was infused at 50–100 IU/Kg at first and additional 1,000 IU at intervals of an hour during the operation. Safety outcomes (symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage [sICH], ICH and distal embolization) and efficacy outcomes (artery recanalization and functional outcomes at 3-month follow-up) were compared between groups.</p><p><bold>Results:</bold> We included 619 patients from the entire cohort of 917 patients. The average age of them was 63.9 ± 13.7 years, 269 (43.5%) were treated with heparinization during MT. Heparinization during MT didn't significantly influence recanalization rates, total ICH and long-term mortality (adjusted <italic>p</italic> &gt; 0.05 for all). But sICH and distal embolization occurred more frequently (9.3 vs. 5.1%, adjusted <italic>p</italic> = 0.02; 7.1 vs. 3.1%, adjusted <italic>p</italic> = 0.04, respectively), while functional independence appeared less likely (39.8 vs. 47.4%, adjusted <italic>p</italic> = 0.01) in heparinization group than that in non-heparinization group. Multivariable logistic regression analyses showed that heparinization during MT was an independent predictor for sICH (Odds ratio 2.36 [1.19–4.67], <italic>p</italic> = 0.01) in addition to cardio-embolism stroke and posterior circulation stroke (PCS), and an independent predictor for poor outcome (Odds ratio 1.79 [1.23–2.59], <italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.01) besides age, bridging intravenous thrombolysis, admission NIHSS, drinking and PCS.</p><p><bold>Conclusion:</bold> Heparinization during MT may be associated with increased risk of safety outcomes over sICH and distal embolization, as well as efficacy outcomes over long-term poor outcome. Further randomized controlled trials are needed.</p>