RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Preventing vessel perforations in endovascular thrombectomy: feasibility and safety of passing the clot with a microcatheter without microwire: the wireless microcatheter technique JF Journal of NeuroInterventional Surgery JO J NeuroIntervent Surg FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd. SP 653 OP 658 DO 10.1136/neurintsurg-2018-014267 VO 11 IS 7 A1 Annika Keulers A1 Omid Nikoubashman A1 Anastasios Mpotsaris A1 Scott D Wilson A1 Martin Wiesmann YR 2019 UL http://jnis.bmj.com/content/11/7/653.abstract AB Background To place a stent retriever for thrombectomy in acute ischemic stroke, the clot has to be passed first. A microwire is usually used for this maneuver. As an alternative, a wireless microcatheter can be used to pass the clot.Objective To analyze the feasibility and complication rates of passing the clot using either a microwire or a wireless microcatheter.Methods A retrospective non-randomized analysis of 110 consecutive patients with acute ischemic stroke in the anterior circulation was performed, in whom video recordings of mechanical thrombectomies were available. In total, 203 attempts at mechanical recanalization were performed.Results Successful recanalization (TICI 2b–3) was achieved in 97.3% of patients. In 71.8% of attempts the clot was successfully passed using a wireless microcatheter only. When a microwire was used initially, clot passage was successful in 95.3% of attempts. Complication rates for angiographically detectable subarachnoid hemorrhage were 6.1% when a microwire was used to pass the clot compared with 0% when a wireless microcatheter was used (p<0.001). Complication rates for angiographically occult circumscribed subarachnoid contrast extravasation observed on post-interventional CT scans were 18.2% when a microwire was used to pass the clot and 4.5% when a wireless microcatheter was used (p<0.001).Conclusions In most cases of mechanical recanalization the clot can be passed with a wireless microcatheter instead of a microwire. In our study this method significantly reduced the risk for vessel perforation and subarachnoid hemorrhage. We therefore recommend the use of this technique whenever possible.