[Ischemic stroke--interventional therapy]

Abstract

In addition to the long-established local thrombolysis by means of a catheter, other mechanical procedures for the interventional treatment of acute ischemic stroke have been introduced over the last ten years. These new methods have proved to be effective for the recanalization of occluded vessels supplying the brain and can, in principle, also be employed outside of the therapeutic window valid for intravenous thrombolysis. For just this reason such interventionaltherapies are being increasingly used, also in combination with intravenous thrombolysis. However, higher demands are placed on imaging diagnostics in order to protect the patients from unnecessary risks resulting from these invasive measures. Since this is still a very new therapeutic procedure it has not yet been conclusively demonstrated that the interventional method, in spite of all theoretical advantages in comparison with intravenous thrombolysis, really does lead to a better outcome for the patients. The indication must thus be made on an individual basis at the interdisciplinary level.