Aspiration thrombectomy of acute complete carotid bulb occlusion.

Two patients with acute complete carotid bulb occlusion were treated using intra-arterial aspiration thrombectomy a mean of 3 hours after stroke onset. A slightly angulated 8-F guiding catheter designed for general interventional use was employed to aspirate the thrombus in the carotid artery. Manual aspiration through a 50-mL syringe resulted in effective removal of the thrombus followed by good patency of the internal carotid artery. Aspiration thrombectomy is a simple, feasible and effective rescue procedure for patients with acute complete carotid bulb occlusion.