Management of Iatrogenic Internal Carotid Artery Dissection and Middle Cerebral Artery Restenosis during Endovascular Treatment of Acute Stroke: Video Case

Iatrogenic dissection of the internal carotid artery (ICA) during endovascular approaches is challenging. This video illustrates a case of iatrogenic ICA dissection at the skull base during mechanical thrombectomy for M1 occlusion. This case was further complicated by post-thrombectomy M1 restenosis that did not improve with submaximal angioplasty. ICA dissection occurred while navigating the guide catheter into the distal cervical ICA over a 0.38 inch Glidewire (MicroVention-Terumo, Aliso Viejo, California). The dissection flap was crossed with a SofiaPlus intermediate catheter (MicroVention-Terumo), Velocity microcatheter (Penumbra, Alameda, California), and double-ended 0.18 inch wire. The M1 occlusion was crossed and treated with Solumbra technique by pulling a Solitaire stent-retriever (Medtronic, Dublin, Ireland) through a SofiaPlus aspiration catheter (MicroVention). Post-recanalization M1 stenosis was noted, which was believed to be due to underlying intracranial atherosclerotic disease because of the appearance of platelet aggregation instead of a typical vasospasm response to a stent-retriever. A noncompliant Gateway 2 × 12 mm balloon catheter (Stryker Neurovascular, Kalamazoo, Michigan) was used to cross the lesion and perform submaximal angioplasty. Next, the dissection was treated by advancing a NeuronMAX guide catheter (Penumbra) over the SofiaPlus into the vertical petrous carotid artery beyond the dissection flap and unsheathing a Wallstent (Stryker Neurovascular) across the flap. Because of progressive M1 restenosis, a Wingspan stent (Stryker Neurovascular) was deployed. Final runs demonstrated Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction 2C recanalization. Pre-stenting thrombectomy was chosen because the duration of symptoms was >48 h; thus, determining the risk of reperfusion hemorrhage by evaluating intracranial shunting before stenting was prudent. Reperfusion hemorrhage would complicate the antiplatelet agent therapy necessary for stent placement.  Consent was obtained from the patient prior to performing the procedure. Institutional review board approval is not required for the report of a single case.