Availability of tracheal shift in the chest X-ray image as pre-treatment evaluation of mechanical thrombectomy.

Background: The use of mechanical thrombectomy (MT) for treatment of acute large vessel occlusion has recently increased. Prompt and timely guiding catheter (GC) induction is necessary to improve prognosis of MT and reduce the time for recanalization. However, difficulties in GC induction are encountered in some patients. This GC induction depends mainly on the aortic arch structure. Therefore, this study focused on assessing presence of tracheal shift on chest X-ray images as pre-treatment evaluation method for GC induction due to its wide availability as an indicator for status of the mediastinum.

Methods: We retrospectively examined 33 patients who underwent MT at our facilities between April 2017 and March 2021. The patients were divided into two groups according to presence or absence of tracheal shift on chest X-ray images. Background characteristics and treatment courses in these two groups were compared.

Results: Among 33 patients, tracheal shift was observed on the chest X-ray images of 14 patients. Furthermore, tracheal shift was positively correlated with the time of GC induction (32.9 min vs. 11.6 min, [ < 0.05]) and the female sex ( = 0.03). Additionally, tracheal shift exhibited correlations with multiple risk factors of atherosclerosis ( = 0.04).

Conclusions: In patients with tracheal shift, GC induction could be expectedly difficult. Therefore, advanced disinfection of the right upper arm and affected side of the neck during MT in preparation for changing an approach route is required.