Gadolinium-Enhanced Extracranial MRA Prior to Mechanical Thrombectomy Is Not Associated With an Improved Procedure Speed

The objective was to assess if performing a pre-intervention gadolinium-enhanced extracranial magnetic resonance angiogram (MRA) in addition to intracranial vascular imaging was associated with improved thrombectomy time metrics. Consecutive patients (912) treated by mechanical thrombectomy (MT) at a large comprehensive stroke center between January 2012 and December 2017 who were screened using pre-intervention MRI were included. Patient's characteristics and procedural data were collected. Analyses were performed to compare mechanical thrombectomy speed, efficacy, complications, and clinical outcomes between patients with and without pre-intervention gadolinium-enhanced extracranial MRA.