The RESCUE technique is a safe and effective lesion-specific endovascular strategy for ICAS-LVO, providing superior first-pass reperfusion and shorter procedural time compared with the conventional Solumbra technique, without increasing safety concerns.
The RESCUE technique achieved a significantly higher first-pass reperfusion (FPR) rate compared to the Solumbra technique in patients with ICAS-LVO.
The RESCUE technique was associated with a significantly shorter procedural duration from groin puncture to first recanalization.
Overall successful reperfusion rates (mTICI ≥2b) were high and not significantly different between the two groups.
Favorable functional outcomes at 90 days were similar between the RESCUE and Solumbra groups.
The RESCUE technique did not increase the rates of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH) or 90-day mortality compared to the Solumbra technique.
Conventional mechanical thrombectomy for ICAS-LVO is associated with low first-pass reperfusion, distal embolization, and recurrent thrombosis, motivating the design of the RESCUE technique.
This research describes a new step-by-step procedure called the RESCUE technique for treating a type of stroke caused by a blood clot forming on top of a pre-existing narrowing in a brain artery (called ICAS-LVO). The technique combines several tools and medications — including a retrievable stent, a clot-busting drug called tirofiban delivered directly into the artery, and balloon angioplasty — in a specific sequence. In a randomized trial of 85 patients, the RESCUE technique cleared the blocked artery completely on the first attempt in 86% of cases, compared to 62% with the standard approach (called the Solumbra technique), and did so about 20 minutes faster on average. Despite the improvements in how quickly and completely the artery was opened, the two groups had similar rates of good recovery at 90 days (about 60% vs. 57%), and similar low rates of serious bleeding in the brain and death. This suggests the RESCUE technique is at least as safe as the current standard treatment while being more effective at opening blocked arteries quickly and on the first try — which is generally considered an important goal in stroke care, as faster and more complete reperfusion is associated with better outcomes. This research suggests that a targeted, multi-step approach tailored specifically to this type of stroke may offer advantages over conventional methods. However, the study was conducted at a single center with a relatively small number of patients, and the authors note that larger, multi-center studies are needed to confirm these findings before the technique could be widely adopted.
Wu Y, Wang H, Gui Y, Sun R, Feng G, Li W, et al.. (2026). An innovative endovascular approach for acute ischemic stroke attributable to ICAS-LVO: the RESCUE (Retrievable stent-Endovascular tirofiban-paSs-ExtraCtion-microgUide-rEscue angioplasty) technique.. Frontiers in neurology. https://doi.org/10.3389/fneur.2026.1886448