Safety and effectiveness of CATCH+ as a first-line device for revascularization in the treatment of acute ischemic stroke

Purpose: Mechanical thrombectomy devices and stent retrievers have recently been advocated for use as first-line therapy in acute ischemic stroke. Here we evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the CATCH+ stent retriever as a percutaneous thrombectomy device.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on 101 consecutive patients who presented with anterior or posterior intracranial vessel occlusion and were treated with the CATCH+ intracranial system, either alone or in combination with intravenous tissue plasminogen activator, at a single treatment center. The primary outcome measure was successful post-procedural reperfusion as classified by the mTICI score. Secondary endpoints included mortality rate, incidence of adverse events, and functional outcomes evaluated at discharge using the mRS score.

Results: Sixty-nine (68.3%) patients received thrombolysis prior to mechanical thrombectomy. Successful reperfusion (mTICI≥2b) was achieved in 73.3% of patients at the end of the procedure, and good functional outcomes (mRS≤2) were observed in 32.7% of patients at discharge. Three patients developed asymptomatic subarachnoid hemorrhage, two developed asymptomatic dissections of the internal carotid artery, and one patient developed a symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage. Seventeen patients died (mortality rate 16.8%).

Conclusions: The CATCH+ device is a safe and effective mechanical thrombectomy device for the first-line treatment of acute ischemic stroke.