Impact of vessel tortuosity and radiological thrombus characteristics on the choice of first-line thrombectomy strategy: Results from the ESCAPE-NA1 trial

Fouzi Bala*, Petra Cimflova, Nishita Singh, Jianhai Zhang, Manon Kappelhof, Beom Joon Kim, Mohamed Najm, Rotem Golan, Ibukun Elebute, Faysal Benali, Nerea Arrarte Terreros, Henk Marquering, Charles Majoie, Mohammed Almekhlafi, Mayank Goyal, Michael D. Hill, Wu Qiu, Bijoy K. Menon

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Introduction: Despite improvements in device technology, only one-third of stroke patients undergoing endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) achieve first-pass effect (FPE). We investigated the effect of arterial tortuosity and thrombus characteristics on the relationship between first-line EVT strategy and angiographic outcomes. Patients and methods: Patients with thin-slice baseline CT-angiography from the ESCAPE-NA1 trial (Efficacy and safety of nerinetide for the treatment of acute ischemic stroke) were included. Tortuosity was estimated using the tortuosity index extracted from catheter pathway, and radiological thrombus characteristics were length, non-contrast density, perviousness and hyperdense artery sign. We assessed the association of first-line EVT strategy (stent-retriever [SR] versus contact aspiration [CA] versus combined SR+CA) with FPE (eTICI score 2c/3 after one pass), final eTICI 2b/3, number of passes and procedure duration using multivariable regression. Interaction of tortuosity and thrombus characteristics with first-line technique were assessed using interaction terms. Results: Among 520 included patients, SR as a first-line modality was used in 165 (31.7%) patients, CA in 132 (25.4%), and combined SR+CA in 223 (42.9%). FPE was observed in 166 patients (31.9%). First-line strategy was not associated with FPE. Tortuosity had a significant effect on FPE only in the CA group (aOR = 0.90 [95% CI 0.83-0.98]) compared with stent-retrievers and combined first-line approach (p interaction = 0.03). There was an interaction between thrombus length and first-line strategy for number of passes (p interaction = 0.04). Longer thrombi were associated with higher number of passes only in the CA group (acOR 1.03 [95% CI 1.00-1.06]). Conclusion: Our study suggests that vessel tortuosity and longer thrombi may negatively affect the performance of first-line contact aspiration catheters in acute stroke patients undergoing EVT.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)675-683
Number of pages9
JournalEuropean Stroke Journal
Volume8
Issue number3
Early online date1 Jun 2023
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Sept 2023

Keywords

  • Stroke
  • endovascular thrombectomy
  • ischemic
  • thrombus
  • reperfusion
  • STENT RETRIEVER THROMBECTOMY
  • ACUTE ISCHEMIC-STROKE
  • DISTAL EMBOLIZATION
  • MULTICENTER
  • ASPIRATION
  • OCCLUSION
  • ARTERY

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