Anesthesia for Endovascular Therapy for Stroke

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Anesthesiology
• Interventional Radiology

Background:

• Standard care for acute ischemic stroke involves intra-arterial endovascular thrombectomy alongside intravenous thrombolysis.
• Anesthetic techniques for this procedure vary, prompting investigation into their impact on patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare clinical outcomes of endovascular thrombectomy for acute ischemic stroke under different anesthetic regimens.
• To evaluate the safety and efficacy of general anesthesia, conscious sedation, and local anesthesia in this patient population.

Main Methods:

• Patients undergoing endovascular thrombectomy were stratified into three groups: general anesthesia, conscious sedation with local anesthesia, and local anesthesia only.
• Vital parameters, procedure duration, and functional outcomes (NIHSS, MRS) were assessed at various time points.

Main Results:

• No significant differences were observed in vital parameters (e.g., MAP) or revascularization duration across the anesthetic groups.
• Functional and clinical outcomes, assessed by NIHSS and MRS scores at 7 days, discharge, and 3 months, showed no significant variations between groups.

Conclusions:

• Endovascular thrombectomy success rates and clinical outcomes are comparable across general anesthesia, conscious sedation, and local anesthesia.
• The findings support the implementation of conscious sedation protocols to standardize treatment for patients undergoing endovascular procedures.