Comparative study of direct mechanical thrombectomy and bridging therapy for acute anterior circulation large-artery occlusive stroke

Objective To comparatively analyze the safety and efficacy of direct mechanical thrombectomy and bridging therapy for patients with acute anterior circulation large-artery occlusive stroke. Methods A total of 116 patients with acute anterior circulation large-artery occlusive stroke, admitted to our hospitals from October 2015 to March 2018, were chosen in our study; their clinical data were analyzed retrospectively. Among them, 63 patients accepted direct mechanical thrombectomy and 53 accepted bridging therapy. The preoperative baseline data and the diagnoses and treatments of the two groups were analyzed; the degrees of modified thrombolysis in cerebral infarction (mTICI), incidences of hemorrhage transformation and symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage, and modified Rankin scale (mRS) scores and mortality rate 90 d after operation were compared between the two groups. Results The preoperative Alberta stroke program early CT scale (ASPECTS) and Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) scores of the direct mechanical thrombectomy group were significantly lower than those of the bridge therapy group (P 0.05). Conclusion The clinical efficacy and safety of direct mechanical thrombectomy and bridging therapy for patients with acute anterior circulation large-artery occlusive stroke are similar. Key words: Ischemic stroke; Anterior circulation; Mechanical thrombectomy; Intravenous thrombolysis; Bridging therapy