Recent advances in devices for mechanical thrombectomy

ABSTRACT

Introduction

Acute ischemic stroke (AIS) secondary to the occlusion of a large intracranial vessel (LVO) is a recognized public health problem. Mechanical thrombectomy (MT) has gained full acceptance: Class A, Level 1 in 2015 after the publication of numerous trials. Further meta-analyses have scrutinized extensively those results and international recommendations and guidelines have been given. Nevertheless, multiple-specific points remain to be clarified and are or will be under investigations.

Areas covered

This review of the most recent literature (mostly publications after 2015) will cover the actual common practice for MT, especially focusing on the devices available (and their validation), how they are commonly used, relate the most relevant results, and detail some emerging technologies.

Expert opinion

The authors will express their own view on the current practice and emphasize on the areas where questions remain and hypothesize what specific improvements are necessary and prone to occur.

KEYWORDS:

• A direct first pass aspiration technique (ADAPT)
• Balloon Guide Catheter (BGC)
• emboli in new territory (ENT)
• intra venous thrombolysis (IVT)
• first pass effect (FPE)
• large vessel occlusion (LVO)
• Mechanical Thrombectomy (MT)
• stent retriever (SR)
• TICI score

Declaration of interest

R Blanc owns common stocks in Base camp vascular. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

Reviewer disclosures

Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.

Additional information

Funding

This paper was not funded.