Table 1

Summary of studies

Reference	Total number of patients	Number with BGC	Number without BGC	Number anterior/ Number posterior	Differences in baseline NIHSS?	Differences in comorbidities?	Study design	Inclusion criteria	Risk of bias
Pereira et al, 201521	87	48	39	48/0; 39/0	No	No	Post-hoc analysis of SWIFT-PRIME	Pre-stroke mRS ≤1, NIHSS 8–29. Treatment within 6 hours with Solitaire for anterior circulation stroke. Infarct <100 mL of tissue. ASPECTS ≥6	Moderate
Nguyen et al, 20148	338	149	189	142/7; 161/28	No	More afibrillation in BGC	Post-hoc analysis of NASA Registry	Present within 8 hours onset for anterior circulation, 12 hours for posterior circulation. Treatment with Solitaire device	Moderate
Velasco et al, 20169	183	102	81	102/0; 81/0	No	No	Single-center, retrospective	Present within 8 hours onset for anterior circulation stroke. Treatment with stent-retriever only	High
Zaidat et al, 201715 16	880	505	375	505/0; 375/0	No	No	Post-hoc analysis of STRATIS Registry	Pre-stroke mRS ≤1, NIHSS 8–30. Present within 8 hours onset for stroke. Treatment with Solitaire device. Only anterior circulation strokes included in BGC subanalysis.	Moderate
Nguyen 14	534	279	255	279/0; 255/0	NA	Younger patients in BGC group, higher afibrillation in BGC, lower hypertension in BGC	Post-Hoc analysis of TRACK Registry	Anticipated life expectancy of 3 months. Large vessel occlusion treated with TREVO. Only anterior circulation strokes included in BGC subanalysis	Moderate