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. 2025 Oct 16;17(11):1207-1215.
doi: 10.1136/jnis-2024-022157.

Early stopping versus continued retrievals after failed recanalization: associated factors and implications for outcome

Helge C Kniep  1 , Lukas Meyer  2 , Gabriel Broocks  2   3 , Matthias Bechstein  2 , Christian Heitkamp  2 , Laurens Winkelmeier  2 , Vincent Geest  2 , Tobias D Faizy  4 , Ludger Feyen  5   6   7 , Caspar Brekenfeld  2 , Fabian Flottmann  2 , Rosalie V McDonough  2   8 , Mate Maros  9   10 , Maximilian Schell  11 , Uta Hanning  2 , Goetz Thomalla  11 , Jens Fiehler  2 , Susanne Gellissen  2 ; German Stroke Registry - Endovascular Treatment (GSR-ET)
Collaborators, Affiliations

Early stopping versus continued retrievals after failed recanalization: associated factors and implications for outcome

Helge C Kniep et al. J Neurointerv Surg. .

Abstract

Background: Successful recanalization defined as modified Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction Score (mTICI) ≥2b is not achieved in 15%-20% of patients with acute ischemic stroke. This study aims to identify patient-specific factors associated with early stopping without successful recanalization. We hypothesized that the probability of the decision for early stopping during mechanical thrombectomy (MT) is higher in patients with an unfavorable prognosis.

Methods: All patients enrolled in the German Stroke Registry (GSR) between June 2015 and December 2021 were screened. Inclusion criteria were stroke in the anterior circulation and availability of relevant clinical data. For each retrieval attempt 1-3, patients with stopping and failed reperfusion (mTICI <2b) were compared with all patients with continued retrieval attempts using descriptive statistics and multivariable logistic regression.

Results: Our study included 2977 patients, 350 (12%) of which had early stopping. Higher pre-stroke Modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) =1.20 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.09; 1.32), P<0.001), higher age (aOR=1.01 (1.00; 1.02), P=0.017) and distal occlusions (aOR=1.93 (1.50; 2.47), P<0.001) as well as intraprocedural dissections/perforations (aOR=4.61 (2.95; 7.20), P<0.001) and extravasation (aOR=2.43 (1.55;3.82), P<0.001) were associated with early stopping. In patients with unsuccessful recanalization (n=622), the number of retrieval attempts (aOR=1.05 (0.94; 1.18), p=0.405) was not associated with unfavorable outcomes (90d-mRS>3).

Conclusion: The probability of early stopping was higher in patients with clinical conditions associated with: a) Favorable prognosis and assumed lower impact of recanalization success on functional status, such as distal occlusions; and b) Unfavorable prognosis, such as higher age and reduced pre-stroke functional status. Adverse events during the procedure increased the probability of early stopping. The number of recanalization attempts did not increase the risk of unfavorable outcome for patients with persistent occlusion, supporting the decision for continuation of retrieval attempts.

Keywords: Intervention; Stroke; Technique.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests: HK and FF are consultants for Eppdata GmbH. HK is shareholder of Eppdata GmbH. GT received consultancy fees from Acandis, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bayer, and Portola, and fees as lecturer from Acandis, Alexion, Amarin, Bayer, Boehringer-Ingelheim, BMS/Pfizer, Daiichii Sankyo and Portola. He serves in the board of the TEA Stroke Study and of ESO. JF is consultant for Cerenovus, Medtronic, Microvention, Penumbra, Phenox, Roche and Tonbridge. He serves on the advisory board of Stryker and Phenox. He is a stock holder of Tegus Medical, Eppdata and Vastrax. He serves as Associate Editor at JNIS.

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