Intracranial Stenting During Acute Endovascular Therapy of Stroke: Clinical and Radiological Outcomes of the RESISTANT International Registry

Abstract

BACKGROUND: In the case of failed reperfusion or severe stenosis during endovascular treatment of acute stroke, intracranial stenting is a growing practice. We aimed to study clinical and radiological outcomes in a large multicenter cohort. METHODS: The RESISTANT registry (Registry of Endovascular Salvage for Intracranial Stenting in Thrombectomy-Refractory Stroke; 2016-2023) is a multicenter single-arm retrospective registry of patients with acute stroke who underwent intracranial stenting during endovascular treatment across 36 international centers. The primary end point was functional outcome at 90 days. Secondary end points were final successful reperfusion (modified Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction, 2b-3) and stent patency at 24 hours. Safety outcomes included procedural complications, symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage, and in-hospital mortality. Logistic regression models including those variables that achieved statistical significance, along with age, baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale, and baseline modified Rankin Scale, were used to define independent predictors. RESULTS: Among 904 patients enrolled, 876 fulfilled inclusion criteria. Median age was 67.0 (interquartile range, 59.0-77.0) years, 567 (64.8%) were men, and the median National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score was 12.0 (interquartile range, 7.0-19.0). Anterior circulation was involved in 624 (71.6%), and the rate of tandem extracranial/intracranial occlusion was 4.9%. Stenting was performed in 469 patients (53.5%), owing to failed reperfusion (expanded Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction, 0-2a), and in 320 patients (36.5%) because of residual severe stenosis. After stenting, immediate successful recanalization was achieved in 777 (89.5%). At 90 days, the rate of modified Rankin Scale score of 0 to 2 was 41.2%. The number of thrombectomy attempts (adjusted odds ratio, 0.810 [95% CI, 0.707-0.929]; P=0.003) and the final successful recanalization (adjusted odds ratio, 19.394 [95% CI, 5.486-68.560]; P<0.001) were associated with good functional outcome. During admission, the reocclusion rate was 12.2%, most of them within 48 hours. Symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage was diagnosed in 8.4% of patients; no variables were independently associated with a higher probability. CONCLUSIONS: Acute intracranial stenting was a feasible therapy for patients with failed reperfusion or severe stenosis. Successful reperfusion and a lower number of thrombectomy attempts predicted functional outcome. Prospective studies are warranted to confirm efficacy and safety.