Intra-arterial Thrombolysis to Target Occlusions in Distal Arteries and the Microcirculation

Acute ischemic stroke remains a leading cause of disability in the United States and worldwide despite substantially improved treatments for the most severe strokes over the last 5 years. Treatment of severe ischemic strokes, specifically those due to occlusion of large intracranial arteries, has been transformed by endovascular removal of the thrombus using stent retrievers or aspiration catheters. Treatment with mechanical thrombectomy is associated with a 20% to 27% absolute increase in the rate of functional independence compared with patients not treated with thrombectomy. Despite highly efficacious treatment, approximately 54% of patients who experience severe strokes have functional dependence or die, and among those who survive, approximately 72% have some degree of disability.
Source: JAMA - Category: General Medicine Source Type: research