Thrombectomy

Mechanical thrombectomy, or simply thrombectomy, is the interventional procedure of removing a blood clot (thrombus) from a blood vessel. It is commonly performed in the cerebral arteries (interventional neuroradiology). The effectiveness of thrombectomy was confirmed in several randomised clinical trials conducted at various medical centers throughout the United States. Notable physicians involved in the approval of thrombectomy include Jeffrey L. Saver, Mayank Goyal, Tudor G. Jovin, Adnan H. Siddiqui, Elad Levy , and Reza Jahan.

Applications in brain

Ischemic stroke represents the fifth most common cause of death in the western world and the number one cause of long-term disability. Until recent times, systemic intravenous fibrinolysis was the only evidence-based therapy for patients with acute onset of stroke due to large vessel occlusion.

In 2015, the results of five trials from different countries were published in the ''New England Journal of Medicine'', demonstrating the safety and efficacy of mechanical thrombectomy with stent-retrievers in improving outcomes and reducing mortality for patients who present within six hours from their time last known well. It is now a widespread procedure performed in most primary, thrombectomy capable, or comprehensive stroke centers across the globe.

In 2018 the DAWN and DEFUSE-3 trials were published. These trials showed that mechanical thrombectomy is a safe and effective treatment for individuals who have an acute ischemic stroke out to 24 hours of symptom onset.

Stent-retriever thrombectomy

The procedure can be performed with general anesthesia or under conscious sedation in an angiographic room. A system of coaxial catheters is pushed inside the arterial circulation, usually through a percutaneous access to the right femoral artery. A microcatheter is finally positioned beyond the occluded segment and a stent-retriever is deployed to catch the thrombus; finally, the stent is pulled out from the artery, usually under continuous aspiration in the larger catheters.

Direct aspiration

A different technique for mechanical thrombectomy in the brain is direct aspiration. It is performed by pushing a large soft aspiration catheter into the occluded vessel and applying direct aspiration to retrieve the thrombus; it can be combined with the stent-retriever technique to achieve higher recanalization rates, but the complexity of the procedure increases.

Direct aspiration has not been studied as thoroughly as stent-retriever thrombectomy, but it is still widely performed because of its relative simplicity and low cost.

Delivery

Patients in London who suffered stroke were found to be much more likely to get thrombectomy in 2022 than those in other parts of England. 42% of thrombectomy units only operated during office hours and Monday to Friday, largely due to a shortage of neuroinerventionalists.

See also

* Stroke
* Embolectomy
* Pulmonary thromboendarterectomy

References

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External links

Endovascular clot retrieval (ECR) , Radiology Reference Article , Radiopaedia.org

Failed Thrombectomy

Neurology procedures
Vascular procedures