Title
ARTS (Aspiration-Retriever Technique for Stroke): Initial clinical experience
UMMS Affiliation
Department of Radiology; Department of Neurology
Publication Date
2016-06-01
Document Type
Article
Disciplines
Nervous System Diseases | Neurology | Radiology
Abstract
BACKGROUND: A new generation of highly navigable large-bore aspiration catheters and retriever devices for intracranial mechanical thrombectomy has markedly improved recanalization rates, time and clinical outcomes. We report collected clinical data utilizing a new technique based on combined large lumen aspiration catheter and partially resheathed stent retriever (ARTS: Aspiration (catheter)-(stent) Retriever Technique for Stroke). This technique is applied, especially in presence of bulky/rubbery emboli, when resistance is felt while retracting the stent retriever; at that point the entire assembly is locked and removed in-toto under continuous aspiration with additional flow arrest.
METHODS: A retrospective data analysis was performed to identify patients with large cerebral artery acute ischemic stroke treated with ARTS. The study was conducted between August 2013 and February 2015 at a single high volume stroke center. Procedural and clinical data were captured for analysis.
RESULTS: Forty-two patients (median age 66 years) met inclusion criteria for this study. The ARTS was successful in achieving Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction (TICI) > /=2b revascularization in 97.6% of cases (TICI 2b = 18 patients, TICI 3 = 23 patients). Patients' median National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score at admission was 18 (6-40). A 3-month follow-up modified Rankin Scale value of 0-2 was achieved in 65.7% of the successfully treated patients (average 2.4). Two patients (4.8%) developed symptomatic intraparenchymal hemorrhages. Six procedure unrelated deaths were observed.
CONCLUSIONS: We found that ARTS is a fast, safe and effective method for endovascular recanalization of large vessel occlusions presenting within the context of acute ischemic stroke.
Keywords
Stroke, TICI, aspiration catheter, mechanical thrombectomy, stent retriever
DOI of Published Version
10.1177/1591019916632369
Source
Interv Neuroradiol. 2016 Jun;22(3):325-32. doi: 10.1177/1591019916632369. Epub 2016 Feb 22. Link to article on publisher's site
Journal/Book/Conference Title
Interventional neuroradiology : journal of peritherapeutic neuroradiology, surgical procedures and related neurosciences
Related Resources
PubMed ID
26908591
Repository Citation
Massari F, Henninger N, Lozano JD, Patel A, Kuhn AL, Howk M, Perras M, Brooks C, Gounis MJ, Kan P, Wakhloo AK, Puri AS. (2016). ARTS (Aspiration-Retriever Technique for Stroke): Initial clinical experience. Neurology Publications. https://doi.org/10.1177/1591019916632369. Retrieved from https://escholarship.umassmed.edu/neuro_pp/426
Comments
Co-author Nils Henninger is a doctoral student in the Millennium PhD Program (MPP) in the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (GSBS) at UMass Medical School.