Manual aspiration thrombectomy: adjunctive endovascular recanalization technique in acute stroke interventions

We evaluated recanalization rates, clinical outcomes, and safety when manual aspiration thrombectomy is used in conjunction with other thrombolytic modalities in a consecutive case series of patients with large vessel intracranial occlusion.

We conducted a retrospective review of a prospectively acquired acute endovascular stroke database. Manual aspiration thrombectomy was carried out with Distal Access and Penumbra reperfusion catheters of different sizes placed in the thrombus and aspirated with a syringe.

We identified 191 patients: Occlusion locations were as follows: M1% to 50%, M2% to 10%, internal carotid artery terminus 25%, and vertebrobasilar 15%. Median treatment duration was 90 minutes. Recanalization results were Thrombolysis in Myocardial Ischemia 2/3 93%, Thrombolysis in Myocardial Ischemia 3 27%, Thrombolysis In Cerebral Infarction 2a/2b/3 91%, Thrombolysis In Cerebral Infarction 2b/3 71%, and Thrombolysis In Cerebral Infarction 3 25%. Larger catheters were associated with higher recanalization rates. Parenchymal hematoma rate was 13.6%. The favorable outcome (90-day modified Rankin Scale ≤ 2) rate was 54%. Mortality at 90 days was 25%.

Manual aspiration thrombectomy is a useful addition to the armamentarium of endovascular treatment modalities for acute stroke.