Combined use of contact aspiration and the stent retriever technique versus stent retriever alone for recanalization in acute cerebral infarction: the randomized ASTER 2 study protocol

International audienceRationale: Mechanical thrombectomy (MT) using a stent retriever (SR) device is currently the recommended treatment in ischemic stroke due to anterior circulation large vessel occlusion. Combining contact aspiration (CA) with SR is a promising new treatment, although it was not found to be superior to SR alone as first-line treatment for achieving successful reperfusion.Aim: To determine whether endovascular treatment combining first-line use of CA and SR is more efficient than SR alone.Methods: The ASTER 2 clinical trial is a prospective, randomized, multicenter, open-label trial with a blinded endpoint. We included patients admitted with suspected anterior circulation ischemic stroke secondary to large vessel occlusion