Technical aspect of mechanical thrombectomy of acute ischemic stroke

Abstract

Background and purpose Mechanical thrombectomy was recently reported of having the potential to treat acute ischemic stroke. However, few comparative studies on neurothrombectomy devices are reported. This study aims to compare two retrievable stent systems according to their safety and effectiveness in patients with acute ischemic stroke. Patients and methods In this study, the clinical, radiological, and functional outcomes of 20 patients with acute ischemic stroke are compared prospectively. Patients were treated with either Trevo retriever (TR) or Solitaire stent (ST) according to the neurointerventionalist preference. Successful recanalization was defined as thrombolysis in cerebral ischemia grade 2a to 3. Results Revascularization was achieved in seven (70%) patients in the ST group and six (60%) in the TR group. The rate of symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage was 20% in the ST group and 30% in the TR group. One (10%) patient died during the first week in the TR group and one (10%) patient in the ST group. The rate of good outcome was 60 and 70% for TR and ST groups, respectively. Conclusion Our study showed no significant differences between both stent retrievers. Moderately high recanalization rates are possible with both; however, larger series may depict safety-related variations. A picture of thrombus removed by stent from the first pass. Digital angiography anteroposterior view showed complete occlusion of left middle cerebral artery. Digital angiography anteroposterior view after mechanical thrombectomy showed recanalization of left middle cerebral artery.