2017 年 11 巻 2 号 p. 53-58
Purpose: Anatomical factors involved in the difficulty of inserting a guiding catheter (GC) into the aortic arch include marked arteriosclerosis with severe vessel tortuosity and type-3/bovine aortic arches. For patients with such factors, we have inserted a balloon guiding catheter (BGC) using the balloon-inflation anchoring technique (BIAT). In this study, we introduce the BIAT, and examine its usefulness.
Subjects and Methods: The subjects were 44 patients who underwent acute mechanical thrombectomy for occlusion of the major cerebral artery in anterior circulation between January 2014 and February 2016. Of these, the BIAT was used for BGC insertion in patients, with the above anatomical factors, in whom it was difficult to insert a BGC using the standard method. The BIAT is a technique with a BGC in which an inner catheter is guided to the peripheral side by dilating/anchoring a balloon at maximum at the origin of the brachiocephalic trunk or left common carotid artery, and, subsequently, a BGC is guided to the target blood vessel by slightly deflating the balloon as a flow-guide.
Results: Of the 44 patients, BGC insertion was difficult in eight patients (18%). The mean age of the other patients (control group) was 68.9 years, whereas that of the eight patients was 79.7 years, being significantly more advanced (p = 0.025). The BIAT facilitated BGC insertion in all patients, and the technical success rate was 100%. There were no procedure-related complications. The mean interval from the start of femoral artery puncture until BGC insertion was 15.7 and 20.3 minutes, respectively, in the control and BIAT groups. There was no significant difference between the two groups (p = 0.35).
Conclusion: In 18% of patients who underwent acute mechanical thrombectomy, BGC insertion was difficult. In this group, the proportion of elderly patients was significantly higher. The BIAT facilitated BGC insertion in all patients. The mean interval from the start of puncture until BGC insertion was 20 minutes; a BGC could be guided in a relatively short period. This procedure may be particularly useful for acute mechanical thrombectomy, of which the duration directly contributes to the outcome.
