Bridging Thrombolysis Versus Direct Endovascular Thrombectomy in Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients With ASPECTS ≤5: A Meta-Analysis

Background

Endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) is a standard treatment for acute ischemic stroke (AIS) caused by large vessel occlusion (LVO). However, the efficacy and safety of bridging thrombolysis (BT) compared to direct EVT (dEVT) remain controversial, particularly in patients with large core infarcts (Alberta stroke program early CT score [ASPECTS] ≤5). This meta-analysis aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of BT versus dEVT in this population.

Methods