Neuroprotection Devices in Cardiac Catheterization Laboratories: Does It Sufficiently Protect Our Patients?

Stroke is a devastating complication of cardiovascular interventions. Intraprocedural stroke is a well-documented and feared risk of cardiac percutaneous transcatheter procedures. If clinically significant strokes are absent, silent strokes remain the next in line to pose large concerns related to future cognitive decline, stroke risk, and overall increased morbidity and mortality. Cerebral protection devices (CPD) developed overtime aim to neutralize this risk through either a capture-based filter or a deflector mechanism. Many CPDs exist currently, each one unique, with varying degrees of evidence. The adoption of CPDs has allowed cardiac percutaneous transcatheter procedures to be carried out in patients with high thromboembolic risks who may have historically been discommended. Though skewed towards certain devices and transcatheter procedures, a large body of evidence is still present across other devices and procedures. This review will discuss clinical importance and respective stroke rates, updated evidence surrounding CPDs, differing opinions across types of CPDs, cost benefits, and what lies ahead for CPDs within the realm of procedures undertaken in cardiac catheterization laboratories.