Clot extraction (thrombectomy) for stroke has been on a roll lately. After the failure of a series of trials a few years ago investigators and industry went back to the drawing board. The result of their efforts– a new and improved thrombectomy– has brought about a dramatic reversal of fortune for the technology. In the past year five newer trials…
Primary PCI Guideline Update: Multivessel Interventions In, Thrombectomy Out
October 21, 2015 by Leave a Comment
The guidelines for primary PCI for ST-elevation MI (STEMI) have been updated to reflect major findings from recent trials: PCI of a noninfarct artery is now acceptable for some STEMI patients with multivessel disease. In previous guidelines PCI of noninfarct arteries had been considered unsafe. Routine thrombectomy prior to primary PCI for stent implantation is now…
A Requiem for Routine Clot Removal During Heart Attacks
March 16, 2015 by Leave a Comment
Using a stent to open a blocked coronary artery is the treatment of choice in the early period of a heart attack (myocardial infarction). A limitation is the risk of dislodging part of the clot, leading to new downstream blockages of smaller vessels. One strategy that has been under development for a long time is thrombectomy, in…
Three Trials Show Benefits Of Thrombectomy In Stroke Patients
February 11, 2015 by Leave a Comment
Three new studies offer important additional evidence that early treatment with current thrombectomy devices that extract clots from blood vessels in the brain can lead to improved outcomes in carefully selected stroke patients. The trials were stopped early based on efficacy following positive findings last year from another trial, MR CLEAN. The three new trials were…
New Devices May Bring Improved Treatment To Stroke Patients
December 17, 2014 by Leave a Comment
A large new trial provides the first substantial evidence that new devices can improve the outcome of patients who have acute ischemic stroke. Earlier, less sophisticated versions of the devices had produced disappointing results in clinical trials. The previous trials may also have been hindered by long treatment delays and difficulties in recruiting suitable patients. The new…
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