Mechanical thrombectomy for acute ischemic stroke: systematic review and meta-analysis

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Interventional Cardiology

Background:

• Acute ischemic stroke is a leading cause of disability and mortality.
• Standard medical treatment has limitations in restoring blood flow and improving patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the safety and efficacy of mechanical thrombectomy in addition to standard medical treatment for acute ischemic stroke.
• To compare outcomes of mechanical thrombectomy plus standard treatment versus standard treatment alone.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
• Comprehensive electronic literature search across major databases (MEDLINE/PubMed, Cochrane Library, LILACS/IBECS, Embase).
• Independent data selection and collection by two investigators.

Main Results:

• Mechanical thrombectomy significantly reduced all-cause mortality (16.81% vs. 20.13%, p=0.04).
• Improved functional independence at 90 days was observed (45.65% vs. 27.45%, p<0.01).
• Significantly higher revascularization rates were achieved (76.2% vs. 33.85%, p<0.01) with no increase in symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage.

Conclusions:

• Mechanical thrombectomy, when combined with standard medical treatment, is safe and effective for acute ischemic stroke.
• The procedure offers significant benefits in reducing mortality and improving functional outcomes.