Endovascular therapy in acute ischemic stroke: where we are, the challenges we face and what the future holds

Abstract

Stroke is the third leading cause of death and a leading cause of severe long-term disability worldwide. It costs the world’s economy billions of dollars each year in physician services, hospital costs, lost wages and decreased productivity. Rapid advances in medical technology have resulted in an explosion of treatment strategies in the management of acute ischemic stroke. Each clinical scenario presents unique challenges related to risks and benefits of therapy. In this article, we review the evolution of endovascular therapy in acute ischemic stroke, discuss the latest advances, challenges and controversies in the field and speculate on the future of this therapy.

Keywords::

• acute ischemic stroke
• endovascular therapy
• intra-arterial thrombolysis
• recanalization
• patient selection

Financial & competing interests disclosure

Bijoy K Menon has received travel support from Penumbra Inc. during his fellowship. Mayank Goyal has received honoraria from Penumbra Inc. for speaking engagements. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.