Intra‐arterial treatment for acute ischemic stroke

This thesis deals with current issues in the field of acute ischemic stroke. The main objective has been to proof the effectiveness and safety of intra-arterial treatment in patients with acute ischemic stroke. MR CLEAN was the first study to proof the safety and effectiveness of intra-arterial treatment in patients presenting with an acute ischemic stroke caused by a large vessel occlusion treatable within six hours after symptom onset. Together with the results from the other recently published trials and the subsequent meta-analysis, intra-arterial treatment has become standard of care for acute ischemic stroke and has been incorporated in national and international guidelines. Intra-arterial treatment will have an enormous impact on health care systems and on the health and quality of life of countless patients across the globe.