Thrombectomy in Childhood Stroke

BACKGROUND: Several randomized trials have shown the efficacy of thrombectomy for large intracranial vessel occlusions in adults. However, the safety and efficacy of thrombectomy in children are unknown. We aimed to investigate the feasibility and outcome of thrombectomy in pediatric patients. METHODS AND RESULTS: We performed a retrospective analysis of all children (<18 years of age) who presented with large‐vessel occlusion and were treated with mechanical thrombectomy at 3 German tertiary‐care stroke centers. Interventional results and clinical outcomes were assessed using the Pediatric National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale at 24 hours and on day 7 after thrombectomy as well as after 3 months (modified Rankin Scale). After screening of local registries for all performed thrombectomies, 12 children were included. Median Pediatric National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score on admission was 12.5 (interquartile range 8.0‐21.5). Angiographic outcomes for thrombectomy were good in all patients (6×modified Treatment in Cerebral Infarction Score 3, 6×modified Treatment in Cerebral Infarction Score 2b). Moreover, most patients showed an improvement of neurological outcome after thrombectomy with a median Pediatric National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale of 3.5 (interquartile range 1‐8) at day 7 and a modified Rankin Scale of 1.0 (interquartile range 0‐2.0) at 3 months. No major periprocedural complications were observed. CONCLUSIONS: In our retrospective study thrombectomy was safe in childhood stroke, and treated children had good neurological outcomes.