Mechanical thrombectomy in ischemic stroke

1. Big picture

Mechanical thrombectomy is the endovascular removal of an arterial thrombus in acute ischemic stroke. It is one of the most important emergency treatments in neurology because it can dramatically improve outcome in patients with large-vessel occlusion. The key exam idea:

Thrombolysis is a drug treatment. Thrombectomy is a catheter-based mechanical treatment.

In the lecture material, the important practical message is that after CT/MR angiography identifies the occluded vessel:

Small-vessel occlusion → thrombectomy is usually not possible; consider IV thrombolysis if within time window. Large-vessel occlusion — internal carotid artery, middle cerebral artery, vertebral ar