"Y-stent retriever": a new rescue technique for refractory large-vessel occlusions?

J Neurosurg. 2018 May;128(5):1349-1353. doi: 10.3171/2016.12.JNS161233. Epub 2017 May 19.

Abstract

Long-awaited positive trial data have shown the efficacy of endovascular treatment in patients with ischemic stroke who arrive at the hospital within the first 6 hours with large-vessel occlusion of the anterior circulation. With the introduction of stent retrievers (SRs) for mechanical thrombectomy, efficient and safe large-artery recanalization treatment can be achieved. However, sometimes there are patients who do not attain complete flow restoration following attempts with traditional maneuvers. The authors present the case of a 57-year-old man with acute ischemic stroke due to an M1 embolus that extended into both M2 trunks. This patient was successfully treated with an innovative technique in which a Solitaire SR (Covidien) and a Catch SR (Balt) were used in a "Y" configuration, for which the authors coined the term "Y-stent retriever."

Keywords: AIS = acute ischemic stroke; ICA = internal carotid artery; MCA = middle cerebral artery; NIHSS = National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale; SR = stent retriever; TICI = Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction; Y-stent retriever; new surgical technique; refractory occlusions; vascular disorders.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Brain Ischemia / diagnostic imaging
  • Brain Ischemia / surgery*
  • Cerebral Revascularization / instrumentation
  • Cerebral Revascularization / methods
  • Endovascular Procedures / instrumentation*
  • Endovascular Procedures / methods*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Stents*
  • Stroke / diagnostic imaging
  • Stroke / surgery*