A Suction Thrombectomy Technique: A Rapid and Effective Method for Intra-Arterial Thrombolysis

OBJECTIVE: During mechanical thrombolysis, to reduce procedure-related complications and time, the authors have performed a simple suction thrombectomy technique. In this article, the authors describe the technical details and clinical outcomes of this technique. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From January 2013 to December 2013, 14 consecutive acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients with large cerebral arterial occlusions in the middle cerebral artery (MCA; n = 7), internal cerebral artery (ICA; n = 5), basilar artery (BA; n = 1), and a tandem lesion (ICA and MCA; n = 1) were treated using this technique. The proximal part of the occluding clot was aspirated or captured and retrieved as one piece using a large bored microcatheter by applying negative suction pressure using a 50 mL syringe. RESULTS: Overall recanalization rate was 85.7% (12 patients). In the 8 patients in whom this technique was used alone, the recanalization rate was 87.5% (7 patients). The median procedural duration was 30 minutes (range 17-112) in these 7 patients. Distal embolism did not occur. Two patients developed post-procedural intracerebral hemorrhages and one was symptomatic. His modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score at 90 days was 4. CONCLUSION: This technique is a feasible, fast, and safe method for treatment of AIS.