Balloon-Guide Catheters Are Needed for Effective Flow Reversal during Mechanical Thrombectomy

Blood flow management in the carotid artery during mechanical thrombectomy is crucial for safety and effectiveness. There is an ongoing discussion about whether balloon-guide catheters or large-bore sheaths are needed for effective flow management. We compared general flow characteristics of proximal aspiration through a large-bore sheath and a balloon-guide catheter in a porcine in vivo model.

We investigated blood flow in a porcine common carotid artery with and without aspiration (VacLok syringe and Penumbra pump, Pump MAX) through an 8F-long sheath and an 8F balloon-guide catheter. Blood hemodynamics were assessed via continuous duplex sonography.

Average vessel diameter and baseline blood flow were 4.4 ± 0.2 mm and 244 ± 20 mL/min, respectively. For the 8F sheath, pump aspiration resulted in a significant flow reduction (225 ± 25 mL/min, P < .001), but with a persisting antegrade stream. Manual aspiration resulted in collapse of the vessel in 2 of 7 measurements and oscillatory flow with antegrade systolic and retrograde diastolic components in the remaining 5 measurements. Net flow was antegrade (52 ± 44 mL/min) in 3 and retrograde (-95 ± 52 mL/min) in the remaining 2 measurements. For balloon-guide catheters, balloon inflation always resulted in flow arrest. Additional pump or manual aspiration resulted in significant flow reversal of -1100 ± 230 and -468 ± 46 mL/min, respectively (both, P < .001).

Only balloon-guide catheters allow reliable blood flow arrest and flow reversal in combination with aspiration via syringes or high-flow pump systems. Aspiration through an 8F sheath results in either collapse of the vessel or oscillatory flow, which can result in a net antegrade or retrograde stream.