Single-center outcomes of Onyx Frontier™ and Resolute Onyx™ drug-eluting balloon-mounted stents for rescue stenting for acute large vessel occlusion

Abstract

Background In cases where mechanical thrombectomy (MT) fails, rescue stenting may be necessary to achieve reperfusion; however, the lack of standardized techniques or devices poses a challenge. This series aims to present our early experience with the Onyx Frontier™ and Resolute Onyx™ balloon-mounted drug-eluting stents for rescue stenting. Methods A retrospective chart review was performed of all patients who underwent rescue stenting, in the setting of failed MT, using Onyx Frontier™ or Resolute Onyx™ stents at a single institution. Technical details, procedural complications, and patient outcomes were recorded for each case. Results Twenty-two Onyx Frontier™ and Resolute Onyx™ stents were deployed in 18 patients undergoing rescue stenting. Stent locations included the middle cerebral artery (36.4%), internal carotid artery (18.2%), vertebral artery (22.7%), and basilar artery (22.7%). The average National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score before MT was 13.8 (range 0–31). The median initial modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score was zero, while the median mRS score at follow-up was three. Successful reperfusion, as assessed by TICI scores, was achieved in 43.8% of patients for TICI 3, 43.8% for TICI 2C, and 12.5% for TICI 2B. Post-revascularization, 16.7% of patients experienced hemorrhage, of which one patient (5.6%) had symptomatic hemorrhage. Conclusions Onyx Frontier™ and Resolute Onyx™ stents are well suited for rescue stenting in cases of failed MT. These balloon-mounted drug-eluting stents exhibit excellent navigability, rendering them appropriate for rescue revascularization procedures. Our findings demonstrate that these stents confer a high degree of technical success.