The Catch Mini stent retriever for mechanical thrombectomy in distal intracranial occlusions

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Interventional Neuroradiology
• Vascular Surgery

Background:

• Mechanical thrombectomy (MTB) is a leading treatment for acute ischemic stroke caused by large vessel occlusions.
• Concerns exist regarding the efficacy and safety of MTB in treating occlusions in small, distal brain arteries.
• The Catch Mini (CM) stent retriever is a device designed for navigating and treating these challenging distal occlusions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the Catch Mini stent retriever for distal mechanical thrombectomy.
• To assess reperfusion rates, clinical outcomes, and complication incidence in patients treated with the CM device for distal intracranial occlusions.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of a prospectively maintained database.
• Inclusion of consecutive patients who underwent MTB for distal intracranial occlusions using the Catch Mini device.
• Analysis of procedural success (reperfusion), neurological outcomes (mRS), and safety events (hemorrhage, vasospasm).

Main Results:

• Thirty-two out of 41 patients (78%) achieved good capillary reperfusion (TICT≥2b).
• Focal ischemia occurred in 19.5% of patients; 4.9% experienced asymptomatic hemorrhages.
• Good neurological outcome (mRS≤2) at three months was achieved in 82.4% of followed patients.

Conclusions:

• The Catch Mini stent retriever demonstrates safety and efficacy in recanalizing small-diameter distal cerebral arteries.
• This device facilitates successful mechanical thrombectomy in eloquent brain areas, offering a viable treatment option.
• The findings support the use of the CM stent retriever for selected cases of distal intracranial occlusions.