Neuroendovascular rescue. Nonthrombolytic approach to acute brain ischemia.

The field of neuroendovascular therapy is rapidly growing. New technology and operators' expertise is developing at a pace that will make this discipline progressively more available and successful. For the intensive care of patients who have acute brain ischemia, new techniques of recanalizing occluded arteries are progressively being introduced. Thus, the concept of neuroendovascular rescue has gone beyond the use of thrombolytic drugs, expanding our capability to restore flow to ischemic brain tissue after prolonged therapeutic windows. It is important for the interventionalist and the intensivist to work closely together to guarantee the most favorable outcome possible.