Article Text

Download PDFPDF
Original research
Combined proximal balloon occlusion and distal aspiration: a new approach to prevent distal embolization during neurothrombectomy
  1. Sibylle Stampfl1,
  2. Johannes Pfaff1,
  3. Christian Herweh1,
  4. Mirko Pham1,
  5. Simon Schieber2,
  6. Peter A Ringleb2,
  7. Martin Bendszus1,
  8. Markus A Möhlenbruch1
  1. 1Department of Neuroradiology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
  2. 2Department of Neurology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
  1. Correspondence to Dr S Stampfl, Department of Neuroradiology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 400, Heidelberg 69120, Germany; sibylle.stampfl{at}med.uni-heidelberg.de

Abstract

Background and purpose Embolization of thrombus fragments in a new vascular territory is a potential adverse event in neurothrombectomy. This study was performed to evaluate the safety and feasibility of a novel approach combining proximal balloon occlusion and distal aspiration to prevent distal thrombembolic complications.

Methods Patients with ischemic stroke meeting the following inclusion criteria were eligible: occlusion in the anterior circulation, neurothrombectomy using a balloon catheter for proximal flow arrest, and an intermediate catheter for distal aspiration. Pre- and post-interventional Thrombolysis In Cerebral Infarction (TICI) scores were assessed. Clinical presentation at admission and discharge and after 3 months was also evaluated and complications (particularly new thrombembolic events) were recorded.

Results We retrospectively identified 31 patients from our prospectively collected stroke database who met the inclusion criteria. In all patients the initial TICI was 0. A TICI score of ≥2b was achieved in 96.8%. No new thrombembolic complications occurred. The median NIH Stroke Scale score was 19 at admission and 4.5 at discharge. After 3 months, 51.6% of the patients had a favorable clinical outcome (modified Rankin Scale score 0–2) and 19.3% had died.

Conclusions A combination of proximal internal carotid artery occlusion using a balloon catheter and distal aspiration through an intermediate catheter represents a safe and efficient adjunct to mechanical thrombectomy with stent retrievers. In our patient cohort, no new thrombembolic complications were detected.

  • Stroke
  • Thrombectomy

Statistics from Altmetric.com

Request Permissions

If you wish to reuse any or all of this article please use the link below which will take you to the Copyright Clearance Center’s RightsLink service. You will be able to get a quick price and instant permission to reuse the content in many different ways.