Benefits of catheter thrombectomy during carotid stenting: a preliminary study.

Despite the use of distal embolic protection devices (DEPs) in carotid artery (CA) stenting, an appreciable risk of stroke exists, particularly in symptomatic patients. The mechanism of embolic events is possibly related to microembolization of atherothrombotic débris that remains or forms on the stent struts. This study evaluated the safety of using thrombus-extraction catheters in the setting of CA stenting.From August 2006 through June 2008, 43 symptomatic and asymptomatic patients with severe CA stenosis (>90%) underwent CA stenting with DEPs. After stenting and before removal of the DEP, an extraction catheter was passed through the stented segment. The extracted volume and the filtered extracted volume were visually examined for débris. The primary outcome was a composite of stroke and death at 30 days. Outcomes were compared with those in a control population of 783 patients who underwent CA stenting with a DEP, but without prophylactic thrombus aspiration. Retrospective analysis was performed on prospectively gathered data.Substantial amounts of atherothrombotic débris were extracted from the stented segment in all 43 thrombectomy patients, none of whom died or experienced periprocedural stroke. In the control group, 3.9% of patients experienced these outcomes. Differences in primary outcome did not reach statistical significance.We conclude that the prophylactic use of extraction catheters is safe and does not incur periprocedural events. The results of this preliminary study are encouraging, although larger, randomized trials (optimally using diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging) are needed in order to evaluate this technique's potential benefits in reducing neurologic complications.