Stroke is the most common cause of permanent disability, the second most common cause
of dementia, and the fourth most common cause of death in the Western world. Recently,
based on positive multicenter randomized clinical trials, endovascular therapy for acute
stroke has undergone a revolution. Routine mechanical thrombectomy in addition to
intravenous thrombolysis has been shown to provide excellent outcomes for patients with
proximal anterior circulation occlusions. This procedure reduces disability and benefits are
seen across a wide range of age and initial stroke severity. Important features that affect
treatment decisions include time of presentation, the patient's clinical status, imaging
characteristics, and lab tests. Under optimal conditions, it should be available to patients
24/7, similar to systems offering prompt percutaneous coronary interventions to patients
with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarctions
