A survey of neurointerventionalists on thrombectomy practices for emergent large vessel occlusions

The effect of the five positive randomized controlled trials on thrombectomy practices and procedural volume has yet to be defined. Further, few studies have attempted to define modern thrombectomy practices in terms of selection criteria and devices used.

A 21 question survey of Society of Neurointerventional Surgery (SNIS) physicians was administered using the SurveyMonkey website, addressing current practices as well as changes from before January 1, 2015 to the months after this date.

A total of 78 responses were obtained (approximately 10% of SNIS membership). Prior to January 2015, two-thirds of respondents reported performing 1-5 thrombectomies per month (67%), with 31% performing more than 5 per month. Following January 2015, 62% of respondents reported performing more than 5 thrombectomies per month; 45% of respondents reported a higher number of thrombectomies after trial publication. 73% and 80% of respondents indicated that inpatient consultations and hospital to hospital transfers for thrombectomy have increased, respectively. A plurality of respondents reported using A Direct Aspiration First Pass Technique (40%) as the first strategy for revascularization. Most commonly, neurointerventionalists reported using conscious sedation (56%) for anesthesia. 74% of respondents indicated being successful with their primary technique in at least 70% of cases.

This survey of predominantly academic SNIS physicians indicates that inpatient consultations, hospital to hospital transfers, and thrombectomy procedural volumes have increased modestly since the publication of the five major stroke trials this year. In addition, many respondents indicated an increase in aggressiveness in pursuing thrombectomy based on selection criteria.