Stent retrievers and acute stroke treatment: a rapid learning curve for experienced neurointerventional surgeons

In the current issue of the journal, a study by Sheth et al 1 has examined the safety and efficacy of thrombectomy for acute ischemic stroke (AIS) using the Solitaire stent retriever device for patients treated in the roll-in phase of the Solitaire With the Intention For Thrombectomy (SWIFT) trial. This is a well designed study aimed at determining the learning curve for operators who had not previously used Solitaire for the treatment of emergent large vessel occlusion (ELVO). The roll-in period entailed treatment of two patients with the Solitaire device, before proceeding to the randomized phase of the trial. This represented the first clinical use of the stent retriever for these operators. Compared with randomized patients, those treated with Solitaire in the roll-in period achieved equivalent rates of reperfusion (55% vs 61%), adverse events (13% vs 9%), and good neurological outcomes (63% …