Outcomes of endovascular thrombectomy with and without bridging thrombolysis for acute large vessel occlusion ischaemic stroke

Abstract

Background: Endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) for management of large vessel occlusion (LVO) acute ischaemic stroke is now current best practice. Aim: To determine if bridging intravenous (i.v.) alteplase therapy confers any clinical benefit. Methods: A retrospective study of patients treated with EVT for LVO was performed. Outcomes were compared between patients receiving thrombolysis and EVT with EVT alone. Primary end-points were reperfusion rate, 90-day functional outcome and mortality using the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) and symptomatic intracranial haemorrhage (sICH). Results: A total of 355 patients who underwent EVT was included: 210 with thrombolysis (59%) and 145 without (41%). The ..