Critical Insights on Truthfully Reporting "Success Rates" in Modern Stroke Research: A Cautionary Tale

In 2015, several trials confirmed the safety and efficacy of mechanical thrombectomy for acute ischemic stroke. These findings revolutionized acute ischemic stroke treatment and established mechanical thrombectomy as a standard of care. Subsequent studies have further validated that optimal clinical outcomes are closely associated with achieving higher grades of complete reperfusion and minimizing the number of retrieval attempts. As a result, in recent years, the field has seen a growing trend of publications aggressively pursuing the highest rates of angiographic success. This trend is further exacerbated by the proliferation of impressive individual case reports shared on social media platforms, often devoid of significant scientific merit or educational value. We aim to review the potential biases in authors, which may incur when reporting recanalization rates, and underscore the importance of truthfully reporting success rates.