Balloon guide catheter versus conventional guide catheter for clot removal in ischemic stroke

Balloon Guide Versus Conventional Guide Catheter in Stroke Thrombectomy

NA · University of South Florida · NCT07085390

This study will test whether a balloon guide catheter or a conventional guide catheter works better for adults having a thrombectomy to treat an acute ischemic stroke.

Quick facts

PhaseNA
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment100 (estimated)
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorUniversity of South Florida (other)
Locations1 site (Tampa, Florida)
Trial IDNCT07085390 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

Adults with an acute ischemic stroke due to a large vessel occlusion who are undergoing a mechanical thrombectomy at the enrolling hospital will have their procedure performed using either a balloon guide catheter or a conventional (non-balloon) guide catheter. Routine clinical data, imaging, and procedural details will be collected to compare metrics such as time to restore blood flow, technical success, and clinical outcomes. Participants receive standard-of-care thrombectomy and provide consent and some questionnaire information; no additional experimental treatment is given beyond the catheter type. The trial aims to clarify the technical, clinical, and procedural differences between the two catheter approaches.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults (age 18 or older) with a confirmed large vessel occlusion who are undergoing a thrombectomy at the enrolling hospital and can provide informed consent or have a legally authorized representative do so.

Not a fit: Patients without a large vessel occlusion, those who have spontaneous recanalization before the procedure, or those unable to provide consent are unlikely to benefit from participating.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the results could identify a catheter approach that shortens time to reopen the blocked artery, improves chances of recovery, and reduces procedure-related complications.

How similar studies have performed: Previous observational studies and some randomized data suggest balloon guide catheters may improve first-pass recanalization and reduce distal embolization, but findings have been mixed and definitive head-to-head evidence is limited.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Age 18 years or older
* Patient is undergoing a stroke thrombectomy procedure at the enrolling hospital
* Patient or the legally authorized representative are able to provide signed informed cosent for the study
* Patient is not enrolled in another clinical trial that may interfere with the results or interpretation of this study
* Identification of a Large Vessel Occlusion (LVO) on imaging

Exclusion Criteria:

* Lack of signed informed consent from the patient or legally authorized representative
* Spontanous recanalization or any other reason in which the mechanical thrombectomy procedure would be terminated

Where this trial is running

Tampa, Florida

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.

View on ClinicalTrials.gov →

Conditions: Acute Ischemic Stroke AIS, Ischemic Stroke, Thrombectomy

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.