Factors related to vessel displacement due to stent retriever retraction: An in vitro study

Thrombectomy with a stent retriever (SR) may lead to intracranial hemorrhage due to vessel displacement. We aimed to explore factors related to vessel displacement using an in vitro vessel model.

A vessel model mimicking two-dimensional left internal carotid angiography findings was used in this study. Six SR types (Solitaire 3 × 40, 4 × 40, and 6 × 40; Embotrap 5 × 37; Trevo 4 × 41; and Tron 4 × 40) were fully deployed in the M2 ascending, M2 bend, or M1 horizontal portion. Subsequently, the SR was retracted, and the vessel displacement, maximum SR retraction force, and angle of the M2 bend portion were measured. A total of 180 SR retraction experiments were conducted using 6 SR types at 3 deployment positions with 10 repetitions each.

The mean maximum distance of vessel displacement for Embotrap Ⅲ 5 × 37 (6.4 ± 3.5 mm, n = 30) was significantly longer than that for the other five SR types (p = 0.029 for Solitaire 6 × 40 and p < 0.001 for the others, respectively). Vessel displacement was significantly longer in the M2 ascending portion group (5.4 ± 3.0 mm, n = 60) than in the M2 bend portion group (3.3 ± 1.6 mm, n = 60) (p < 0.001) and it was significantly longer in the M2 bend portion group than in the M1 horizontal portion group (1.1 ± 0.7 mm, n = 60) (p < 0.001). A positive correlation existed between the mean maximum SR retraction force or mean angle of the M2 bend portion due to SR retraction (i.e., vessel straightening) and the mean maximum distance of vessel displacement (r = 0.90, p < 0.001; r = 0.90, p < 0.001, respectively).

Vessel displacement varied with the SR type, size, and deployment position. Moreover, vessel displacement correlated with the SR retraction force or vessel straightening of the M2 bend portion.