PERCUTANEOUS BALLOON EMBOLECTOMY WITH A SELF-EXPANDING TULIP SHEATH -IN-VIVO EXPERIMENTS

PURPOSE: To test a self-expanding tulip-shaped sheath designed for per cutaneous embolectomy in an in vivo animal experiment. MATERIALS AND M ETHODS: In nine sheep, a total of 23 percutaneous balloon embolectomie s were performed with use of a self-expanding tulip sheath device with an outer diameter of 9- or 10-F when collapsed. A 10-F instrument was used in 11 cases, and a 9-F instrument was used in 12. Radiopaque emb oli were pushed into the aorta via the left carotid or contralateral f emoral artery with a 16-F introducer sheath. RESULTS: The embolus was captured in the tulip cage in all 23 cases. Retrieval of the embolus i nto the sheath was complete in 21 of 23 cases. In two cases, minor par ts of the embolus dislodged from the sheath. Major embolism did not oc cur. In nine cases, the outer sheath had to be cleared of remaining cl ot particles with aspiration. CONCLUSION: The noncovered self-expandin g tulip sheath is an effective and safe instrument for percutaneous em bolectomy under in vivo conditions.