Rapid Systematic Review: Intra-Arterial Thrombectomy (“Clot Retrieval”) for Selected Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke

Mechanical intra-arterial thrombectomy reduces long-term disability in a properly selected subset of patients who have an AIS caused by large vessel occlusion. Many of these patients will have failed to improve after intravenous administration of t-PA, and mortality is not increased when combined with t-PA. Careful screening criteria should be in place to identify the limited subset of patients to whom this therapy is delivered to derive optimal treatment benefits.