This study looked at how treating acute ischemic stroke with a procedure called endovascular thrombectomy compares to just using medicine. Doctors analyzed data from many patients to see who recovered best after ninety days.
People who got the procedure had a much higher chance of walking and living independently. Those who received the treatment were far more likely to have a good outcome than those who only got medical care.
The benefit was seen in patients with good blood flow around the clot and also in those with poor flow. Even when blood flow was low, the procedure still helped more people recover their normal lives.
Experts say these results support offering the procedure to patients based on their specific imaging and overall health. However, the number of studies used was small, so doctors should use caution when applying these findings to every situation.