Background and purpose: Mechanical thrombectomy presents today a promising alternative to traditional stroke therapies. Our aim with this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the Catch mechanical thrombectomy device in the treatment of acute stroke and report the angiographic results and clinical outcomes.
Materials and methods: We performed an analysis of 40 consecutive patients with ischemic stroke treated with the Catch device at our academic center. Forty patients were treated with the device: 25 with anterior circulation stroke and 15 with posterior circulation stroke. Thirty seven (92.5%) patients received an additional treatment to aid revascularization, including 36 patients treated with rtPA (mean dose of 35 mg).
Results: The mean age was 63.5 years (range, 31-82 years; 55% men). The median NIHSS score at presentation was 18 (range, 3-38). The mean symptom-to-procedure start time was 440 minutes (range, 150-2637 minutes). Recanalization (TIMI 2-3) was achieved in 26/40 (65%). Symptomatic hemorrhage occurred in 18%. Procedural complications occurred in 6 patients without clinical consequences: 4 clot fragmentations and 2 vasospasms. Data were missing for 4 patients at 90 days. Ninety-day mortality was 41%; good 90-day functional outcome (mRS, ≤ 2) was achieved by 39% (14/36). Good neurologic outcomes at 90 days were more frequent (56.5% versus 7.7%), and mortality rates were lower (30% versus 61.5%) with successful compared with unsuccessful recanalization.
Conclusions: In our retrospective case series, the Catch device appears effective in achieving recanalization and improving 90-day outcome in patients with acute ischemic stroke.