Endovascular management and treatment of acute ischemic stroke

Abstract

Endovascular intra-arterial therapy is reserved for strokes from large vessel occlusion. This article reviews the critical role of the location of the occlusion, extent and characteristics of the occlusive thrombus on noninvasive imaging, and identification of ischemic core and salvageable tissue on perfusion imaging for proper patient selection. The advantages of stentrievers over other mechanical thrombectomy approaches are discussed and the role of the aspiration thrombectomy approach in modern clinical practice is reviewed. Finally, the implications of the results of recent randomized trials of endovascular therapy on the future of intra-arterial revascularization therapies are discussed.

Keywords: Acute ischemic stroke; Endovascular intervention; Intra-arterial therapy; Large vessel occlusion; Stentriever; Thrombectomy.