In defense of our patients

We read with interest and dismay the article ‘Public health urgency created by the success of mechanical thrombectomy studies in stroke’ recently published in Circulation.1 There is now overwhelming, class 1, level A evidence supporting mechanical thrombectomy (MT) as the standard of care for eligible patients with acute stroke secondary to an emergent large vessel occlusion (ELVO). We agree that attention must be focused on how to translate this evidence into better outcomes for more patients. However, the opinions expressed by Drs Hopkins and Holmes lead to unwarranted conclusions that have dangerous implications for patient care. Their article reflects (1) a disregard for training, expertise, and experience in the management of a disease that may lead to death or disability when treating physicians do not have them; (2) a misunderstanding of the fundamental underpinnings of stroke physiology and anatomy; and (3) a false association between a real...

Source: Journal of NeuroInterventional Surgery - May 30, 2017 Category: Neurosurgery Authors: Hussain, S., Fiorella, D., Mocco, J., Arthur, A., Linfante, I., Zipfel, G., Woo, H., Frei, D., Nogueira, R., Albuquerque, F. C., on behalf of the Society of NeuroInterventional Surgery, the Cerebrovascular Section of the American Association of Neurologic Tags: Editorials Source Type: research