Who Needs Intra-Arterial Ischemic Stroke Therapy?
Intra-arterial therapy has been shown to be efficacious in opening occluded arteries in some patients with severe ischemic stroke.3–6 However, far from all patients with ischemic stroke are candidates for intra-arterial stroke therapy. Only patients with occlusion of relatively large intracranial arteries typically undergo recanalization intra-arterially. Potential benefit of intra-arterial therapy must be balanced against potential risk. The risks are not trivial, as intra-arterial therapy has been associated with a 5% to 7% risk for clinically significant procedural complications4, 7 and a 6% to 15% risk for symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage.4–9 For patients with less severe stroke symptoms, the risks for intra-arterial therapy almost certainly outweigh the benefits. Patients with a National Institutes of Health Stroke Score (NIHSS) of less than 10 who are treated with intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rtPA) have an 82% chance of a good outcome (modified Rankin
Related Questions
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- Is counterpulsation a potential therapy for ischemic stroke?
- Who Needs Intra-Arterial Ischemic Stroke Therapy?
