Switching Strategy for Mechanical Thrombectomy of Acute Large Vessel Occlusion in the Anterior Circulation

Background and Purpose We introduce the concept of a switching strategy for mechanical thrombectomy with period-to-period analysis. In period 1, forced arterial suction thrombectomy with a Penumbra reperfusion catheter was performed, even in difficult cases; in period 2, forced arterial suction thrombectomy was initially performed, with switching to Solitaire in difficult cases. Methods We analyzed 135 consecutive patients treated with mechanical thrombectomy with acute large vessel occlusion in the anterior circulation, 61 from period 1 and 74 from period 2. We defined difficult case for both periods as 3 failed attempts at recanalization. Results Period 2 showed a trend for better angiographic outcome of Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction 2b-3 (73.8%, period 1 versus 85.1%, period 2; P=0.10). In interperiod subgroup analysis of difficult cases, switching significantly outperformed nonswitching in Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction 2b-3 recanalization (52.7% versus 82.9%; P=0.030). Differences in puncture-to-recanalization time, symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage incidence, and procedure-related complications were not statistically significant. Conclusions A switching strategy using 2 mechanical thrombectomy techniques (forced arterial suction thrombectomy to Solitaire) may harbor better angiographic outcomes than a 1 technique only strategy (forced arterial suction thrombectomy).