Letter by Tang et al Regarding Article, “General Anesthesia Versus Conscious Sedation for Endovascular Treatment of Acute Ischemic Stroke: The Anstroke Trial (Anesthesia During Stroke)”

We read the study by Lowhagen Henden et al1 with great interest. The authors concluded that no difference in neurological outcomes was found between general anesthesia and conscious sedation 3 months after endovascular treatment for acute ischemic stroke. However, we have 2 main points of concern, time and blood pressure. Time is effectivity. Every 5-minute delay before endovascular reperfusion worsens clinical outcome in 1 out of 100 patients.2 Although general anesthesia may increase the time to require to begin the procedure, it …