The SAVE Technique : Large-Scale Experience for Treatment of Intracranial Large Vessel Occlusions.

BackgroundThe stent retriever assisted vacuum-locked extraction (SAVE) technique was introduced as an effective thrombectomy method in stroke patients suffering from intracranial large vessel occlusion (LVO). This article presents our multicenter, large-scale experience with SAVE.MethodsThe study involved a retrospective core team analysis of 200 patients undergoing mechanical thrombectomy using the SAVE technique due to intracranial LVO at 4 German centers. Primary endpoints were first-pass and overall complete/near complete reperfusion, defined as a modified thrombolysis in cerebral infarction (mTICI) score of 2c and 3. Secondary endpoints were the number of passes, time from groin puncture to reperfusion, embolization to new territories (ENT), postinterventional symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH), and favorable outcome at discharge, defined as a modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score <= 2.ResultsThe median age was 78 years (interquartile range IQR 68-85). Median National Institutes of Health stroke scale (NIHSS) at admission was 16 (IQR 12-20). Occlusions sites were: internal carotid artery (ICA-T) in 39/200 (19.5%), M1 in 126/200 (63%), M2 in 30/200 (15%), and others in 5/200 (2.5%) cases. The primary endpoints were documented in 114/200 (57% first pass mTICI 2c or 3) and 154/200 (77% overall mTICI 2c or 3) patients, respectively. The overall median time from groin puncture to reperfusion was 34min (IQR 25-52) with a median of 1 (IQR 1-2) attempts. An ENT was observed in 3 patients (1.5%) and the rate of sICH was 2.6%. The rate of successful reperfusion (mTICI >= 2b) on final angiograms was 95%. At discharge, 73/200 (36.5%) patients revealed a favorable outcome.ConclusionMechanical thrombectomy using the SAVE technique seems to be effective, fast and safe. First-line use of SAVE leads to high rates of complete and near complete reperfusion.