title: Stent retrieval thrombectomy in acute stoke is facilitated by the concurrent use of intracranial aspiration catheters.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  New device technology has changed the techniques used for revascularization of emergent large vessel occlusion in acute stroke. We report technical results using stent retrievers (SRs) for thrombectomy alone versus SRs used in conjunction with a new group of devices, intracranial aspiration catheters (IACs). Our aim is to demonstrate differences in procedural time and thrombectomy attempts between these two groups.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective evaluation was performed of a prospectively maintained database of 97 patients treated at a single institution for anterior circulation stroke with SRs. Patients were divided into two groups, a combination group defined as the SR/IAC group and the SR alone group defined as the SR group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients in the SR/IAC group had a mean age of 66 years vs 59 years in the SR group (p=0.008). Mean presenting National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores in the SR/IAC and control groups were 18.7 and 18.2, respectively (p=0.50). Recanalization rates (Thrombolysis In Cerebral Infarction (TICI) 2b or 3) in the SR/IAC and SR groups were 85% (58/68) and 90% (26/29), respectively (p=0.41). Mean time from groin arteriotomy to recanalization was 50±3.6 min (range 19-136) in the SR/IAC group (n=59) and 61±6.6 min (range 28-140) in the SR group (n=27) (p=0.049). The total number of thrombectomy attempts in the SR/IAC and SR groups were 1.9±0.1 (range 1-4) and 2.5±0.6 (range 1-6), respectively (p=0.009). Post-procedural subarachnoid hemorrhage was seen in 15% (10/68) and 10% (3/29) of cases in the SR/IAC and SR groups, respectively (p=0.41).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  When using SRs for intracranial stroke thrombectomy, the concurrent use of IACs is associated with a decrease in procedural time and thrombectomy attempts compared with use of SRs alone.
authors: Division of Interventional Neuroradiology, University of Maryland Medical System, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
authors: Gaurav
authors: G
authors: Jindal
authors: Division of Interventional Neuroradiology, University of Maryland Medical System, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
authors: Yafell
authors: Y
authors: Serulle
authors: Division of Interventional Neuroradiology, University of Maryland Medical System, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
authors: Timothy
authors: T
authors: Miller
authors: Department of Neurosurgery, University of Maryland Medical System, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
authors: Elizabeth
authors: E
authors: Le
authors: Department of Neurology, University of Maryland Medical System, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
authors: Marcella
authors: M
authors: Wozniak
authors: Department of Neurology, University of Maryland Medical System, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Phipps
authors: Division of Interventional Neuroradiology, University of Maryland Medical System, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
authors: Moronke
authors: M
authors: Iyoha
authors: Division of Interventional Neuroradiology, University of Maryland Medical System, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
authors: Vikash
authors: V
authors: Gupta
authors: Division of Interventional Neuroradiology, University of Maryland Medical System, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
authors: Ravi
authors: R
authors: Shivashankar
authors: Division of Interventional Neuroradiology, University of Maryland Medical System, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
authors: Dheeraj
authors: D
authors: Gandhi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015607:Stents; D020521:Stroke / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D013396:Suction / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D017131:Thrombectomy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D062666:Vascular Access Devices
keywords: Device; Stroke; Technique; Thrombectomy