title: Endovascular Recanalization Therapy in Acute Ischemic Stroke: Updated Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Recent randomized clinical trials (RCTs) have demonstrated benefits of endovascular recanalization therapy (ERT) contrary to earlier trials. We aimed to estimate the benefits of ERT added to standard therapy in acute ischemic stroke.
  
  
  METHODS
  From a literature search of RCTs testing ERT, we performed a meta-analysis to estimate an overall efficacy and safety of ERT for all trials, stent-retriever trials, and RCTs comparing ERT and intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (IV-TPA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  We identified 15 relevant RCTs including 2,899 patients. For all trials, ERT was associated with increased good outcomes (odds ratio [OR] 1.79; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.34, 2.40; P<0.001) compared to the control. ERT also increased no or minimal disability outcomes, good neurological recovery, good activity of daily living, and recanalization. ERT did not significantly increase symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (SICH) (OR 1.19; 95% CI 0.83, 1.69; P=0.345) or death (OR 0.87; 95% CI 0.71, 1.05; P=0.151). In contrast, ERT significantly reduced extreme disability or death (OR 0.77; 95% CI 0.61, 0.97; P=0.025). Restricting to five stent-retriever trials comparing ERT plus IV-TPA vs. IV-TPA alone, the benefit was even greater for good outcome (OR 2.39; 95% CI 1.88, 3.04; P<0.001) and extreme disability or death (OR 0.57; 95% CI 0.41, 0.78; P=0.001). Restricting to eight RCTs comparing ERT (plus IV-TPA in six trials) with IV-TPA alone showed similar efficacy and safety.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This updated meta-analysis shows that ERT substantially improves clinical outcomes and reduces extreme disability or death without significantly increasing SICH compared to standard therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Inje University Ilsan Paik Hospital, Goyang, Korea.
authors.forename: Keun-Sik
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Sang-Bae
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research Center, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Ji Sung
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Hallym University College of Medicine, Anyang, Korea.
authors.forename: Kyung-Ho
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Inha University College of Medicine, Incheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Joung-Ho
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Rha
keywords: Acute ischemic stroke; Intra-arterial; Meta-analysis; Thrombectomy; Thrombolysis