IMPORTANCE: Acute ischemic stroke is a major cause of mortality and morbidity in the United States. We review the latest data and evidence supporting catheter-directed treatment for proximal artery occlusion as an adjunct to intravenous thrombolysis in patients with acute stroke. OBJECTIVE: To review the pathophysiology of acute brain ischemia and infarction and the evidence supporting various stroke reperfusion treatments. EVIDENCE REVIEW: Systematic literature search of MEDLINE databases published between January 1, 1990, and February 11, 2015, was performed to identify studies addressing the role of thrombolysis and mechanical thrombectomy in acute stroke management. Studies included randomized clinical trials, observational studies, guideline statements, and review articles. Sixty-eight articles (N = 108,082 patients) were selected for review. FINDINGS: Intravenous thrombolysis is the mainstay of acute ischemic stroke management for any patient with disabling deficits presenting within 4.5 hours from symptom onset. Randomized trials have demonstrated that more patients return to having good function (defined by being independent and having slight disability or less) when treated within 4.5 hours after symptom onset with intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (IV rtPA) therapy. Mechanical thrombectomy in select patients with acute ischemic stroke and proximal artery occlusions has demonstrated substantial rates of partial or complete arterial recanalization and improved outcomes compared with IV rtPA or best medical treatment alone in multiple randomized clinical trials. Regardless of mode of reperfusion, earlier reperfusion is associated with better clinical outcomes. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Intravenous rtPA remains the standard of care for patients with moderate to severe neurological deficits who present within 4.5 hours of symptom onset. Outcomes for some patients with acute ischemic stroke and moderate to severe neurological deficits due to proximal artery occlusion are improved with endovascular reperfusion therapy. Efforts to hasten reperfusion therapy, regardless of the mode, should be undertaken within organized stroke systems of care.
IMPORTANCE: Acute ischemic stroke is a major cause of mortality and morbidity in the United States. We review the latest data and evidence supporting catheter-directed treatment for proximal artery occlusion as an adjunct to intravenous thrombolysis in patients with acute stroke. OBJECTIVE: To review the pathophysiology of acute brain ischemia and infarction and the evidence supporting various stroke reperfusion treatments. EVIDENCE REVIEW: Systematic literature search of MEDLINE databases published between January 1, 1990, and February 11, 2015, was performed to identify studies addressing the role of thrombolysis and mechanical thrombectomy in acute stroke management. Studies included randomized clinical trials, observational studies, guideline statements, and review articles. Sixty-eight articles (N = 108,082 patients) were selected for review. FINDINGS: Intravenous thrombolysis is the mainstay of acute ischemic stroke management for any patient with disabling deficits presenting within 4.5 hours from symptom onset. Randomized trials have demonstrated that more patients return to having good function (defined by being independent and having slight disability or less) when treated within 4.5 hours after symptom onset with intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (IV rtPA) therapy. Mechanical thrombectomy in select patients with acute ischemic stroke and proximal artery occlusions has demonstrated substantial rates of partial or complete arterial recanalization and improved outcomes compared with IV rtPA or best medical treatment alone in multiple randomized clinical trials. Regardless of mode of reperfusion, earlier reperfusion is associated with better clinical outcomes. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Intravenous rtPA remains the standard of care for patients with moderate to severe neurological deficits who present within 4.5 hours of symptom onset. Outcomes for some patients with acute ischemic stroke and moderate to severe neurological deficits due to proximal artery occlusion are improved with endovascular reperfusion therapy. Efforts to hasten reperfusion therapy, regardless of the mode, should be undertaken within organized stroke systems of care.
Authors: Ralf Baron; Donna M Ferriero; Giovanni B Frisoni; Chetan Bettegowda; Ziya L Gokaslan; John A Kessler; Annamaria Vezzani; Stephen G Waxman; Sven Jarius; Brigitte Wildemann; Michael Weller Journal: Nat Rev Neurol Date: 2015-10-27 Impact factor: 42.937
Authors: D Sacks; B Baxter; B C V Campbell; J S Carpenter; C Cognard; D Dippel; M Eesa; U Fischer; K Hausegger; J A Hirsch; M S Hussain; O Jansen; M V Jayaraman; A A Khalessi; B W Kluck; S Lavine; P M Meyers; S Ramee; D A Rüfenacht; C M Schirmer; D Vorwerk Journal: AJNR Am J Neuroradiol Date: 2018-05-17 Impact factor: 3.825
Authors: Christopher T Richards; Baiyang Wang; Eddie Markul; Frank Albarran; Doreen Rottman; Neelum T Aggarwal; Patricia Lindeman; Leslee Stein-Spencer; Joseph M Weber; Kenneth S Pearlman; Katie L Tataris; Jane L Holl; Diego Klabjan; Shyam Prabhakaran Journal: Prehosp Emerg Care Date: 2017-06-29 Impact factor: 3.077
Authors: John H Griffin; Laurent O Mosnier; José A Fernández; Berislav V Zlokovic Journal: Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol Date: 2016-10-06 Impact factor: 8.311