The Clock is Ticking: Overcoming Time with Mechanical Thrombectomy for Middle Cerebral Artery Infarct

Coronary angiography is associated with several documented complications, and cardioembolic stroke following angiography is a rare occurrence. This letter to editor presents a case involving thrombotic occlusion of the left middle cerebral artery (MCA) during coronary angiography. A 36-year-old female patient, presenting to the emergency department with chest pain, underwent coronary angiography due to non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. While the responsible lesion underwent revascularization, the patient experienced new-onset motor deficits and aphasia. DSA imaging was conducted on the patient, whose diffusion magnetic resonance imaging and clinical findings were indicative of MCA infarction. Thrombectomy was performed on the patient with a left MCA infarction. Proficient management of neurological complications underscores the potential positive impact of interventional treatment strategies on mortality and morbidity. In this letter to the editor, the significance of early diagnosis, appropriate treatment, and multidisciplinary approach is emphasized. Keywords: Interventional cardiology, middle cerebral artery infarction, mca infarction, cardioembolic stroke, thrombectomy