Intra-arterial thrombolysis for acute ischemic stroke

Intra-arterial thrombolysis is a maturing treatment for acute thromboembolic stroke that shows promise in restoring cerebral blood supply. Reviewed evidence suggests that intra-arterial treatment has a longer window for treatment than intravenous t-PA and does improve outcome. A favorable outcome is dependent on careful patient selection aimed at avoiding intracranial hemorrhage. This article describes features to evaluate for patient selection and highlights factors along the treatment algorithm to maximize success.