New research at Loyola University Chicago suggests that newer models of stent retrievers are effectively reducing strokes.
In a study at Loyola’s Stritch School of Medicine, researchers saw positive results when using stent retrievers like TREVO and Solitaire devices on 55 patients in 2015 and 2016, according to an article in the journal Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics.
Stent retrievers prevent ischemic strokes by removing clots that block blood flow to a portion of the brain. Constructed with a mesh tube attached to a wire, the stent is guided through a catheter in an artery in the groin all the way up to the brain. When it detects a clot, the retriever is used to grab it and pull it out of the patient.
Although medication such as tissue plasminogen activator can restore blood flow and limit stroke damage, it is safer and more effective to use stent retrievers, according to the researchers’ study.
Senior Writer
As a Senior Writer for TriMed Media Group, Katherine primarily focuses on producing news stories, Q&As and features for Cardiovascular Business. She reports on several facets of the cardiology industry, including emerging technology, new clinical trials and findings, and quality initiatives among providers. She is based out of TriMed's Chicago office and holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from Columbia College Chicago. Her work has appeared in Modern Healthcare, Crain's Chicago Business and The Detroit News. She joined TriMed in 2016.