Echo intracranial base catheter use in neuroendovascular procedures: Institutional experience

Abstract

Background

Advanced neuroendovascular procedures require trackable and supportive guide catheters, which facilitate safe device delivery. Echo intracranial base catheter was engineered as a large lumen (0.100″ ID) access catheter that is super trackable, supportive, and kink resistance, all while fitting within the puncture of a typical 8F sheath when its used with the thin-walled, Dash short sheath (9F). This case series evaluates its performance as a guide catheter in various neurointerventional procedures.

Methods

Consecutive cases using an Echo access catheter were identified from a prospectively maintained patient database at a comprehensive stroke center between April and July 2025. Demographic, clinical, procedural, and angiographic characteristics were collected. Outcomes of interest included procedural success and periprocedural complications, including flow-limiting vasospasm, vessel dissection, and thrombus formation.

Results

Echo access catheter was used in a total of eleven cases, including six thrombectomies, two venous sinus stents, one intracranial stent, one intracranial angioplasty, and one aneurysm flow diversion. Average patient age was 61 years old, 6 (54.5%) were female, and all had femoral access. Echo catheter tip was placed in the petrous segment of ICA in three cases (27.2%), the lacerum segment in three cases (27.2%), the cervical segment in two cases (18.1%), the cavernous segment in one case (9.1%), the vertical petrous segment in one case (9.1%), and the transverse sinus in one case (9.1%). Intracranial stenting and flow diversion were completed with use of a distal access catheter, and intracranial angioplasty was successfully performed with an Echo access catheter alone. Echo access catheter was able to easily navigate to the transverse venous sinus over a ledge-reducing delivery microcatheter and deliver devices for venous sinus stenting and angioplasty. There was a 100% procedural success rate. No significant catheter-related complications were observed.

Conclusions

This series highlights Echo access catheter's safe and effective use in a diverse representation of neuroendovascular procedures.