Efficient bloodless mechanical thrombectomy for massive dural sinus thrombosis associated with COVID-19 using the 12-French Penumbra Lightning intelligent aspiration system

Abstract

Endovascular treatment for dural sinus thrombosis is typically reserved for a small subset of patients who fail medical management. Conventional neurovascular aspiration catheters are suboptimal for use in dural sinus thrombosis given their relatively small caliber with respect to the large dural sinuses and risk of significant blood loss if continuous suction is applied through the catheter as it traverses patent portions of the large veins. We present a case where the Penumbra Lightning aspiration system, currently approved for thrombectomy in the peripheral and pulmonary vasculature, was successfully used for dural sinus thrombectomy with rapid clinical improvement of the patient.

Keywords:

• Dural
• lightning
• penumbra
• sinus
• thrombectomy

Disclosure statement/Funding

The authors report no funding or conflicts of interest. The patient gave consent for the publication of this case report.