Radiation exposure and fluoroscopy time in mechanical thrombectomy of anterior circulation ischemic stroke depending on the interventionalist's experience-a retrospective single center experience.

PURPOSE: To quantify the influence of interventionalist's experience on procedure time, radiation exposure, and fluoroscopy time during mechanical thrombectomy (MT) in the anterior circulation. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of an institutional review board-approved stroke database of a comprehensive stroke center focusing on radiation exposure (as per dose area product in Gy × cm2, median [IQR]), procedure, and fluoroscopy time (in minutes, median [IQR]) in patients receiving MT in anterior circulation ischemic stroke. Procedures have been assigned according to the interventionalist's experience in MT into three sequential groups: A = 1-25 procedures, B = 26-50 procedures, and C = more than 50 procedures. RESULTS: Overall, 696 patients have been included in this analysis (A, n = 152; B, n = 151; C, n = 393). Procedure times (A, 86 [54-131]; B, 67 [48-103], p value 0.006), fluoroscopy times (A, 39 [25-72]; B, 32 [20-53], p value 0.001) as well as radiation exposure (A, 148.13 [89.58-243.37]; B, 111.60 [70.49-180.57], p value 0.001) were significantly shorter, respectively lower in group B than in group A. Procedure times (C, 59 [36-99]), fluoroscopy times (C, 31 [16-53]), and radiation exposure (C, 113.91 [68.48-182.88]) in group C were also significantly shorter/lower than in group A (all p values < 0.0001), but comparable with group B (p values 0.071, 0.809, and 0.934). CONCLUSION: This retrospective analysis demonstrates a significant influence of interventionalist's experience on procedure time, fluoroscopy time, and radiation exposure in mechanical thrombectomy in the anterior circulation. KEY POINTS: • There is a significant influence of interventionalist's experience on procedure time, fluoroscopy time, and radiation exposure in mechanical thrombectomy in the anterior circulation. • Interventionalists' learning curve is steepest during the first 25 cases. • These circumstances should be considered when reference levels or guide values are established and in training of physicians performing mechanical thrombectomy to promote optimization of patient doses in the future.