Efficacy of Mechanical Thrombectomy Using an Aspiration Catheter Compared with a Stent Retriever Alone for Middle Cerebral Artery M2 Occlusion

OBJECTIVE: Mechanical thrombectomy (MT) for middle cerebral artery M2 occlusion (M2O) is challenging because the procedure is performed in a narrow and tortuous artery. In this study, we compared MT using an aspiration catheter (AC) versus a stent retriever (SR) used alone, and retrospectively evaluated the efficacy and safety of MT using an AC for M2O. METHODS: Seventy-four consecutive patients who underwent MT for M2O at our institution between April 2016 and April 2020 were evaluated. The subjects were classified into those treated by AC (AC group) or SR alone (SR group). The AC group included patients treated by both contact aspiration and a combination technique of AC and SR. Background factors and outcomes, including modified treatment in cerebral infarction (mTICI) 2c-3 recanalization, were compared between the groups. RESULTS: AC and SR groups consisted of 47 and 27 patients respectively. Among them, the rate of mTICI 2b-3 was 93.6% vs 92.6%, and that of mTICI 2c-3 was 72.3% vs 48.2% (P = 0.004). The perioperative symptomatic subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) rate was 0% vs 7.4%, and modified Rankin scale scores of 0–2 were 78.6% vs 50% (P = 0.03). In the AC group, the mTICI 2c-3 rate was higher in patients in whom the AC was adequately advanced to the thrombus compared to those with inadequate AC advancement (83.3% vs 36.3%, P = 0.002). CONCLUSION: The rate of mTICI 2c-3 was higher in the AC than SR group, with no cases of symptomatic SAH. MT using AC for M2O might achieve safe and effective thrombectomy.