RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Initial clinical experience with the ADAPT technique: A direct aspiration first pass technique for stroke thrombectomy JF Journal of NeuroInterventional Surgery JO J NeuroIntervent Surg FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd. SP 231 OP 237 DO 10.1136/neurintsurg-2013-010713 VO 6 IS 3 A1 Aquilla S Turk A1 Alex Spiotta A1 Don Frei A1 J Mocco A1 Blaise Baxter A1 David Fiorella A1 Adnan Siddiqui A1 Maxim Mokin A1 Michael Dewan A1 Henry Woo A1 Raymond Turner A1 Harris Hawk A1 Amrendra Miranpuri A1 Imran Chaudry YR 2014 UL http://jnis.bmj.com/content/6/3/231.abstract AB Background The development of new revascularization devices has improved recanalization rates and time but not clinical outcomes. We report our initial results with a new technique utilizing a direct aspiration first pass technique with a large bore aspiration catheter as the primary method for vessel recanalization. Methods A retrospective evaluation of a prospectively captured database of 37 patients at six institutions was performed on patients where the ADAPT technique was utilized. The data represent the initial experience with this technique. Results The ADAPT technique alone was successful in 28 of 37 (75%) cases although six cases had large downstream emboli that required additional aspiration. Nine cases required the additional use of a stent retriever and one case required the addition of a Penumbra aspiration separator to achieve recanalization. The average time from groin puncture to at least Thrombolysis in Cerebral Ischemia (TICI) 2b recanalization was 28.1 min, and all cases were successfully revascularized. TICI 3 recanalization was achieved 65% of the time. On average, patients presented with an admitting National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score of 16.3 and improved to an NIHSS score of 4.2 by the time of hospital discharge. There was one procedural complication. Discussion This initial experience highlights the fact that the importance of the technique with which new stroke thrombectomy devices are used may be as crucial as the device itself. The ADAPT technique is a simple and effective approach to acute ischemic stroke thrombectomy. Utilizing the latest generation of large bore aspiration catheters in this fashion has allowed us to achieve excellent clinical and angiographic outcomes.