Intra-Arterial Thrombolysis of a Distal Internal Carotid Artery Occlusion in an Adolescent

Author: Bourekas Eric C.   Slivka Andrew P.   Casavant Marcel J.  

Publisher: Humana Press, Inc

ISSN: 1541-6933

Source: Neurocritical Care, Vol.2, Iss.2, 2005-04, pp. : 179-182

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Abstract

Introduction: This article describes the first reported case of an adolescent being treated with intra-arterial urokinase for a distal internal carotid artery occlusion. Methods: A 15-year-old male presenting with an acute ischemic stroke caused by a distal internal carotid artery occlusion was treated with intra-arterial urokinase at 5 hours and 45 minutes after symptom onset. Results: The artery completely recanalized, and the patient improved significantly from an admission National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score of 28 to a NIHSS score of 8 at a 2.5-month follow-up, despite an asymptomatic intraparenchymal hemorrhage. Conclusion: This article reviews the only two reported cases of intravenous thrombolysis and three cases of intra-arterial thrombolysis in children with ischemic stroke and suggests that thrombolytic therapy should be considered a treatment option in selected pediatric patients with stroke, especially in adolescents who are generally treated as young adults.