title: Endovascular thrombectomy for acute ischaemic stroke: a real-world experience.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Endovascular thrombectomy for acute ischaemic stroke due to proximal vessel occlusions in the anterior cerebral circulation within 6 h of stroke onset is now recognised as highly beneficial. Five randomised controlled trials in 2015 showed significant improvement in functional outcome at 90 days compared with intravenous thrombolysis alone. Liverpool Hospital is a tertiary referral centre with an acute stroke service, including 24/7 intravenous thrombolysis and endovascular thrombectomy.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether good functional outcomes with endovascular thrombectomy are achievable in patients with acute ischaemic stroke under 'real-world conditions' at an Australian tertiary referral centre.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective analysis of functional outcomes and mortality of 33 consecutive patients undergoing endovascular thrombectomy for acute ischaemic stroke in the anterior circulation at Liverpool Hospital over 24 months (2014-2015), including 13 'drip and ship' patients transferred from other centres.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Functional outcomes defined as 90-day modified Rankin scale (mRS) were similar to published trials with a good outcome noted in 39.4% (mRS 0-2) of patients. Lower admission National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score and shorter time to recanalisation from stroke onset correlated with good outcome (P < 0.05). Outcomes were not statistically different between the local and transferred cases. Mortality was not higher than historical rates for anterior circulation strokes due to proximal vessel lesions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This cohort of patients with anterior cerebral circulation occlusions was treated outside the well-resourced situation of clinical trials and good functional outcomes are similar. The study translates endovascular thrombectomy to a 'real-world' situation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Neurophysiology, Liverpool Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. c.cappelensmith@unsw.edu.au.|South Western Sydney Clinical School, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. c.cappelensmith@unsw.edu.au.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cappelen-Smith
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Neurophysiology, Liverpool Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.|South Western Sydney Clinical School, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cordato
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Neurophysiology, Liverpool Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.|South Western Sydney Clinical School, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.|Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Calic
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Liverpool Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cheung
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Liverpool Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wenderoth
mesh_terms: D061605:Administration, Intravenous; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001315:Australia; D057510:Endovascular Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015607:Stents; D020521:Stroke / Q000628:therapy*; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers; D017131:Thrombectomy / Q000379:methods*; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator
keywords: endovascular procedures; stroke; thrombectomy; thrombolytic therapy