Initial experience of using a large-bore (0.096″ inner diameter) access catheter in neurovascular interventions.

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to report our initial experience of using a large-bore (0.096″ inner diameter) access catheter in neurovascular interventions.

Methods: Data were retrospectively collected from 5 sites in the US for neurovascular procedures performed using a large-bore access catheter. The effectiveness outcome was technical success, defined as the access catheter's successfully reaching its target vessel without conversion to direct carotid puncture or to a smaller-bore access catheter and successfully completing the intended neurointervention.

Results: One hundred and thirteen procedures performed in 112 patients were included in this study. The mean age of the patients was 67.5 years (SD 16.2), and about half (49.1%) were female. The most common primary access sites were the femoral (64.6%) or radial (32.7%) artery. Challenging anatomic variations included severe vessel tortuosity (26/81, 32.1%), type II aortic arch (17/88, 19.3%), type III aortic arch (14/88, 15.9%), bovine arch (16/104, 15.4%), severe angle (<30°) between the subclavian and target vessel (11/74, 14.9%), and subclavian loop (7/79, 8.9%). The median access time to branch view was 18 min (IQR 11-28, N = 75). The technical success rate was 94.7%. Two dissections (1.8%) were related to the large-bore access catheter. Access site complications occurred in 2 patients (1.8%). Four additional symptomatic periprocedural complications not related to the large-bore access catheter occurred (7.1%).

Conclusion: For neurovascular interventions, a 0.096″ inner diameter access catheter could be used with both femoral and radial arterial approaches, had a high technical success rate, and had a low rate of periprocedural complications.