Intravenous thrombolytic therapy is the only approved treatment for acute ischaemic stroke, but the majority of patients do not benefit from, or are ineligible to receive, such treatment. Angiographically guided recanalization of the occluded vessel through use of a stent retrieval device offers the potential to effectively restore blood flow in patients with ischaemic stroke, and has shown promise in early-stage trials. Jansen and Rohr review advances in such neurothrombectomy techniques and summarize completed and ongoing trials. The authors outline important considerations when selecting patients for this intervention.
