Improved catheter delivery for aspiration thrombectomy using Tenzing 7 ledge reducing catheter and FreeClimb 70

PurposePrevious comparative mechanical thrombectomy device trials reported a substantial crossover rate from first-line aspiration to stent-retriever thrombectomy. A specialized delivery catheter may help track large-bore aspiration catheters to target occlusions. We report our multicenter experience of aspiration thrombectomy of intracranial large vessel occlusions using the FreeClimb^TM 70 and Tenzing® 7 delivery catheter (Route 92, San Mateo, CA).MethodsAfter local Institutional Review Board approval, we retrospectively reviewed the clinical, procedural, and imaging data of patients who underwent mechanical thrombectomy with the FreeClimb 70 and Tenzing 7.ResultsFreeClimb 70 was successfully delivered using Tenzing 7 to target occlusion in 30/30 (100%) patients (18 M1, 6 M2, 4 ICA-terminus, and 2 basilar artery occlusions), without the use of a stent-retriever for anchoring. In 21/30 (70%) cases, a leading microwire was not needed to advance the Tenzing 7 to the target. Median (interquartile range) time from groin puncture to first pass was 12 (interquartile range 8-15) minutes. Overall first pass effect, or first pass effect (modified thrombolysis in cerebral ischemia 2C-3), was achieved 16/30 (53%). For M1 occlusions, first pass effect was 11/18 (61%). Successful reperfusion (modified thrombolysis in cerebral ischemia ≥ 2B) was achieved in 29/30 (97%) cases after a median of 1 pass (interquartile range 1-3). Median groin puncture to reperfusion time was 16 (interquartile range 12-26) minutes. There were no procedural complications or symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage. Average improvement in National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale at discharge was 6.6  ±  7.1. There were three patient deaths (renal failure, respiratory failure, and comfort care).ConclusionsInitial data support the use of Tenzing 7 with FreeClimb 70 catheter for reliable access to rapid, effective, and safe aspiration thrombectomy of large vessel occlusions.