First Pass Effect With Neurothrombectomy for Acute Ischemic Stroke: Analysis of the Systematic Evaluation of Patients Treated With Stroke Devices for Acute Ischemic Stroke Registry.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Achieving complete revascularization after a single pass of a mechanical thrombectomy device (first pass effect [FPE]) is associated with good clinical outcomes in patients with acute ischemic stroke due to large vessel occlusion. We assessed patient characteristics, outcomes, and predictors of FPE among a large real-world cohort of patients (Systematic Evaluation of Patients Treated with Stroke Devices for Acute Ischemic Stroke registry).

METHODS

Demographics, clinical outcomes, and procedural characteristics were analyzed among patients in whom FPE (modified Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction 2c/3 after first pass) was achieved versus those requiring multiple passes (MP). Modified FPE and modified MP included patients achieving modified Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction 2B-3. Primary outcomes included 90-day modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score and mortality.

RESULTS

Among 984 Systematic Evaluation of Patients Treated with Stroke Devices for Acute Ischemic Stroke patients, 930 had complete 90-day follow-up. FPE was achieved in 40.5% (377/930) of patients and MP in 20.0% (186/930). Baseline characteristics were similar across all groups. The FPE group had fewer internal carotid artery occlusions compared with MP (P=0.029). The FPE group had faster puncture to recanalization time (P≤0.001), higher rates of 90-day mRS score of 0 to 1 (52.6% versus 38.6%, P=0.003), mRS score of 0 to 2 (65.4% versus 52.0%, P=0.003), and lower 90-day mortality compared with the MP group (12.0% versus 18.7%, P=0.038). Similarly, compared with modified MP patients, the modified FPE group had fewer internal carotid artery occlusions (P=0.004), faster puncture to recanalization time (P≤0.001), and higher rates of 90-day mRS score of 0 to 1 (P=0.002) and mRS score of 0 to 2 (P=0.003).

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings demonstrate that FPE and modified FPE are associated with superior clinical outcomes.