JET 7 catheter for direct aspiration in carotid T occlusions: preliminary experience and literature review

Objective: We report our preliminary experience with the Penumbra JET 7 reperfusion catheter (JET 7), a new large-bore (0.072″) aspiration catheter, in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) due to carotid T occlusion. Methods: Data of all eligible patients who received A Direct Aspiration First Pass Technique (ADAPT) for AIS due to carotid T occlusion at our center from March 2018 through June 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. The safety and performance of JET 7 cases and smaller large-bore catheters (LBCs) were compared. Results: JET 7 was used in 19 patients, and smaller LBCs were used in 41 patients. Median puncture to revascularization time was significantly different between the JET 7 and the smaller LBCs (16 vs. 27 min; P = 0.011). The rate of patients who received rescue therapy with a stent retriever was also significantly different between the JET 7 cases and the smaller LBCs cases (5.3% vs. 22.0%; P = 0.046). Successful revascularization (TICI ≥ 2b) was achieved in 94.7% of JET 7 cases and 75.6% of smaller LBCs cases (P = 0.148). Good functional outcome (mRS 0–2) at 90 days occurred in 63.2% of JET 7 cases and 46.3% of smaller LBCs cases (P = 0.274). Conclusions: In this early experience, ADAPT with JET 7 could be considered as one of the possible first-line therapies in carotid T occlusion, showing good rate of vascularization and lower rate of rescue therapy in comparison with smaller LBCs.