FIGURE 1.

A stroke patient with acute occlusion of the right middle cerebral artery (A). A microcatheter and microwire were navigated through the occluded area to the distal patent artery. The microcatheter was then retrieved proximal to the thrombus. The angiogram showed partial recanalization of the blood flow, which was recorded as the microcatheter first-pass effect (B). An intracranial balloon was delivered for slow inflation and dilatation (2.0*10 mm) (C). Flow was maintained after angioplasty with residual stenosis <50% (D).