Background Early arterial recanalisation with stent retrievers (SR) has been recently demonstrated to improve clinical outcome of patients with large-vessel occlusion of the anterior circulation. However, the benefit of SR thrombectomy in the setting of acute basilar artery occlusion (BAO) has not been proven yet. This study evaluated a series of consecutive patients with BAO treated with SR, focusing on the efficacy, safety and clinical results. Methods We analysed 24 consecutive patients with acute BAO who were treated with SR mechanical thrombectomy. Good clinical outcome at three months was defined as mRS ≤ 2. Data from patients with good outcome were compared to that from patients with poor outcome. Results Sufficient recanalisation (TICI 2 b or 3) was achieved in 63% (15/24) of patients. At three months, 33% (8/24) of patients had died; good clinical outcome was obtained in 21% (5/24). Age (46 vs. 60 years old, p = 0.05) and time from symptoms onset to recanalisation (370 vs. 521 minutes, p = 0.048) was significantly lower in patients with good outcome as compared to patients with poor outcome. There were three cases (12.5%) of periprocedural complications, all of them related to arterial wall dissection/perforation. Conclusions SR thrombectomy might be an efficient and safe treatment for patients with acute BAO occlusion and might help improve outcome.

We report the case of a 49-year-old woman with a massive subarachnoid haemorrhage in conjunction with trauma. The initial cerebral angiography was normal. Three weeks later she had a second subarachnoid haemorrhage. A repeat angiography demonstrated an eight mm aneurysm of the internal carotid artery bifurcation, a region clearly normal in the previous angiography.

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