Background/Aims: The optimal treatment strategy for acute ischaemic stroke caused by medium-to-distal vessel occlusion is unclear. Endovascular therapy in this field is currently limited by device suitability for distal vessel navigation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy the Red43 aspiration catheter (Penumbra, Alameda, CA) in patients with stroke caused by medium and distal vessel occlusions.
Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of consecutive patients who underwent mechanical thrombectomy acute ischemic stroke at a single high-volume tertiary neuroscience centre from April 2023 to March 2024. All patients with acute ischemic stroke and a medium or distal vessel occlusion in which the Red43 aspiration catheter was used were included for analysis.
Results: The Red43 aspiration catheter was able to be successfully tracked to the vessel occlusion site in 94% of patients. mTICI 2b-3 reperfusion after primary use of the Red43 catheter was 77%. mTICI 2c-3 reperfusion after primary use of the Red43 catheter was 66%. There were no cases of procedural vessel perforation, dissection, or symptomatic intracranial haemorrhage.
Conclusions: The Red43 aspiration catheter resulted in reasonable rates of successful reperfusion, with a favourable safety profile, in medium-to-distal vessel occlusion stroke.