Bailout endovascular techniques applied in a complicated basilar thrombectomy case

Patients with stroke symptoms due to acute basilar artery occlusion can benefit from endovascular thrombectomy.(1 2) Several papers have reported unwanted events during thrombectomy procedures such as breakage, fragmentation, or even intravascular migration of the devices or catheter pieces. These papers also presented methods or techniques to retrieve defective devices such as a snare, retrievable stents, or balloons.(3-6)Video 1 presents a case of basilar thrombectomy that was complicated with fragmentation and then distal migration of a Marksman microcatheter tip into the left posterior cerebral artery. The video shows the bailout technique that was used to retrieve the migrated catheter tip using a gentle/simple and posterior circulation-friendly technique-a technique based on fundamental neurointerventional concepts.

Automated summary

Patients with acute basilar artery occlusion can benefit from endovascular thrombectomy. Unwanted events during thrombectomy procedures, such as device breakage, fragmentation, or intravascular migration, have been reported in several papers. These papers also suggest methods or techniques to retrieve defective devices, such as snare, retrievable stents, or balloons. Video 1 presents a case of basilar thrombectomy complicated with device fragmentation and distal migration, demonstrating a bailout technique based on fundamental neurointerventional concepts.