title: Neurothrombectomy in acute ischaemic stroke: a prospective single-centre study and comparison with randomized controlled trials.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In the last few months five multicentre, randomized controlled trials (RCTs) unequivocally showed the superiority of mechanical thrombectomy in large vessel occlusion acute ischaemic stroke compared to systemic thrombolysis. Despite varying inclusion criteria and time intervals from onset to revascularization overall increases of good functional outcome between 55% and 81% were reported. However, only a minority of screened patients (approximately 1%) were eligible for intra-arterial (IA) therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  An investigator-initiated, single-centre, prospective and blinded end-point analysis was performed of 3123 consecutive patients with acute ischaemic stroke presenting between February 2010 and December 2014.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred and fifty-four patients [4.9%, age (years) mean (SD), median (interquartile range) 71.2 (±14), 74.7 (65.9-81.4)] met the inclusion criteria of sparse early ischaemic signs on initial standard cranial computed tomography (CT) (ASPECT score ≥7), large vessel occlusion in the anterior circulation on CT angiography and start of treatment within 6 h of onset of symptoms. After consensual interdisciplinary treatment decisions 130 patients (4.2%) received IA treatment - in the majority stent-assisted thrombectomy in combination with intravenous (IV) recombinant tissue plasminogen activator - and 24 patients (0.7%) standard IV thrombolysis. On 3 months' follow-up an overall significant improvement of disability (P = 0.05) as measured by the modified Rankin Scale was shown in favour of the IA treatment group. Good functional outcome was achieved in about twice as many patients (IA vs. IV, 41.2% vs. 21.2%; P = 0.078).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  By choosing pragmatic inclusion criteria state-of-the-art IA therapy of a specialized tertiary stroke centre can be safely applied under real-world conditions to a higher percentage of patients with similar success to the recently published RCTs.
authors: Department of Neuroradiology, University Hospital Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule (RWTH) Aachen, Aachen, Germany.
authors: O
authors: O
authors: Nikoubashman
authors: Department of Neurology, University Hospital Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule (RWTH) Aachen, Aachen, Germany.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Jungbluth
authors: Department of Neurology, University Hospital Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule (RWTH) Aachen, Aachen, Germany.
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Schürmann
authors: Department of Neuroradiology, University Hospital Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule (RWTH) Aachen, Aachen, Germany.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Müller
authors: Department of Neurology, University Hospital Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule (RWTH) Aachen, Aachen, Germany.
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Falkenburger
authors: Department of Neurology, University Hospital Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule (RWTH) Aachen, Aachen, Germany.
authors: S C
authors: SC
authors: Tauber
authors: Department of Neuroradiology, University Hospital Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule (RWTH) Aachen, Aachen, Germany.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Wiesmann
authors: Department of Neurology, University Hospital Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule (RWTH) Aachen, Aachen, Germany.|JARA - Translational Brain Medicine, Jülich and Aachen, Germany.
authors: J B
authors: JB
authors: Schulz
authors: Department of Neurology, University Hospital Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule (RWTH) Aachen, Aachen, Germany.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Reich
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007261:Infusions, Intra-Arterial; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D018579:Patient Selection; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012042:Registries; D020521:Stroke / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator
keywords: acute ischaemic stroke (AIS); neurothrombectomy; randomized controlled trials (RCTs); single-centre and real-world study