Endovascular treatment for acute basilar artery occlusion: A multicenter randomized controlled trial (ATTENTION)

Abstract

Background and hypothesis: Recently, two multicenter randomized controlled trials (RCT) failed to show a significantly beneficial effect of endovascular treatment (EVT) in patients with acute basilar artery occlusion (BAO). However, both trials suffered from equipoise issues which may have hindered the validity of the trial results. Therefore, additional RCT studies are needed to explore the potential benefit of EVT in patients presenting with BAO.

Study design: ATTENTION is an investigator-initiated, multicenter, prospective, randomized, controlled clinical trial with open-label treatment and blinded outcome assessment (PROBE) of EVT versus best medical management (BMM). The primary effect parameter is a modified Rankin Score of 0-3 at day 90.

Discussion: ATTENTION will provide evidence for the efficacy and safety of EVT in stroke patients within 12 h after BAO.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04751708.

Keywords: Basilar artery occlusion; endovascular treatment; ischemic stroke; randomized trial.