Preprocedure Intravenous Recombinant Tissue Plasminogen Activator and Risk of Distal Embolization with Thrombectomy in Acute Ischemic Stroke

Background: Intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (IV rt-PA) prior to thrombectomy may reduce the risk of intraprocedural distal embolization in acute ischemic stroke patients. Methods: We analyzed the diffusion-weighted imaging acquired with 1.5- or 3-T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans obtained within 24 hours of thrombectomy in consecutive acute ischemic stroke patients. An independent physician identified distal embolization, defined as discrete foci of restricted diffusion independent of the primary area of infarction on MRI scan.
Source: Journal of Stroke and Cerebrovascular Diseases - Category: Neurology Authors: Source Type: research