Combined surgical and interventional treatment of tandem carotid artery and middle cerebral artery embolus: A case report

Abstract

BACKGROUND The 2018 American Heart Association/American Stroke Association guidelines for early management of acute ischemic stroke recommend the use of retrievable stents for mechanical thrombectomy in patients with acute internal carotid artery or middle cerebral artery M1 occlusion that can be treated within 6 h from onset. For cases of carotid artery with ipsilateral middle cerebral artery tandem embolization, the operation is more complicated and challenging. We here report a case of a tandem embolism, and the anatomy of the aortic arch was complex. Direct carotid artery incision and thrombectomy can not only prevent the escape of the carotid embolus but also save time during establishment of the thrombectomy access. CASE SUMMARY The patient was a 70-year-old man. He was admitted to hospital due to sudden inability to speak and inability to move his right limb for 3 h. Imaging confirmed a diagnosis of a tandem embolism in the left carotid artery with left M1 occlusion. Carotid artery incision thrombectomy combined with stent thrombectomy was performed. The operation was successful, and 24 h later the patient was conscious and mentally competent but had motor aphasia. His bilateral limb muscle strength level was 5, and his neurologic severity scores score was 2. CONCLUSION Carotid artery incision thrombectomy combined with stenting for carotid artery plus cerebral artery tandem embolization is clinically feasible. For patients with a complicated aortic arch and an extremely tortuous carotid artery, carotid artery incision can be chosen to establish the interventional path.