PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Omid Nikoubashman
AU  - Jan Patrick Alt
AU  - Arash Nikoubashman
AU  - Martin Büsen
AU  - Sarah Heringer
AU  - Carolin Brockmann
AU  - Marc-Alexander Brockmann
AU  - Marguerite Müller
AU  - Arno Reich
AU  - Martin Wiesmann
TI  - Optimizing endovascular stroke treatment: removing the microcatheter before clot retrieval with stent-retrievers increases aspiration flow
AID  - 10.1136/neurintsurg-2016-012319
DP  - 2017 May 01
TA  - Journal of NeuroInterventional Surgery
PG  - 459--462
VI  - 9
IP  - 5
4099  - http://jnis.bmj.com/content/9/5/459.short
4100  - http://jnis.bmj.com/content/9/5/459.full
SO  - J NeuroIntervent Surg2017 May 01; 9
AB  - Background Flow control during endovascular stroke treatment with stent-retrievers is crucial for successful revascularization. The standard technique recommended by stent-retriever manufacturers implies obstruction of the respective access catheter by the microcatheter, through which the stent-retriever is delivered. This, in turn, results in reduced aspiration during thrombectomy. In order to maximize aspiration, we fully retract the microcatheter out of the access catheter before thrombectomy—an approach we term the ‘bare wire thrombectomy’ (BWT) technique. We verified the improved throughput with systematic in vitro studies and assessed the clinical effectiveness and safety of this method.Methods We compared aspiration flow of water through various access catheters (5–8 F) with a Rebar microcatheter (0.18 inch and 0.27 inch) and a Trevo stent-retriever using the standard technique and the BWT technique in vitro. We also retrospectively analyzed 302 retrieval maneuvers in 117 patients who received endovascular treatment with a stent-retriever between February 2010 and April 2015.Results In the in vitro experiment, removal of the microcatheter in all tested settings resulted in significantly increased aspiration flow through the access catheter (p<0.001). This effect was particularly pronounced in access catheters with a diameter of ≤7 F. In the clinical study, the revascularization rate (Thrombolysis In Cerebral Infarction ≥2b) was 91%. There were no complications associated with the BWT technique in 302 retrieval maneuvers.Conclusions The BWT technique results in improved aspiration flow rates compared with the standard deployment technique. Our clinical data show that the BWT technique is effective and safe.