title: Endovascular reperfusion therapy for acute  ischemic stroke: a meta-analysis.
abstract: Intra-arterial thrombolysis has been advocated for treatment of acute ischemic stroke and several prognostic factors were identified in these patients. Other endovascular methods aiming to recanalize occluded vessels including balloon angioplasty, stenting and use of mechanical clot retrieving devices were devised. To date, this approach is replaced by a multi-modal reperfusion therapy (MMRT) approach that emphasizes combination of various methods to achieve reperfusion. MMRT includes intra-arterial infusion of thrombolytics and/or antiplatelet agents, mechanical clot disruption and retrieval and balloon angioplasty with stent placement. Recent results suggest that MMRT results in higher chances for both recanalization of the occluded artery and reperfusion of the ischemic tissue.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Hadassah Hebrew University Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel.
authors.forename: Ronen R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Leker
authors.forename: Savvas
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Grigoriadis
authors.forename: José E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Cohen
mesh_terms: D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000628:therapy*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy / Q000379:methods; D057510:Endovascular Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007269:Injections, Intra-Arterial; D015424:Reperfusion / Q000379:methods; D020521:Stroke / Q000628:therapy*; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy / Q000379:methods*