You are here

Article Text

Article menu
Ischemic stroke
Original research
Predictors of futile recanalization in patients undergoing endovascular treatment in the DIRECT-MT trial
Free
  1. Tengfei Zhou1,2,
  2. Tingyu Yi3,
  3. Tianxiao Li1,2,
  4. Liangfu Zhu1,
  5. Yucheng Li1,
  6. Zhaoshuo Li1,
  7. Meiyun Wang4,
  8. Qiang Li1,
  9. Yingkun He1,
  10. Pengfei Yang5,
  11. Yongwei Zhang5,
  12. Zifu Li5,
  13. Yongxin Zhang5,
  14. Xiaofei Ye6,
  15. Wenhuo Chen3,
  16. Shouchun Wang7,
  17. Jianmin Liu5
  18. DIRECT-MT Registry Investigators
  1. 1 Department of Cerebrovascular Disease, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
  2. 2 Department of Cerebrovascular Disease, Zhengzhou University People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
  3. 3 Department of Neurology, Zhangzhou Municipal Hospital of Fujian Province and Zhangzhou Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Zhangzhou, China
  4. 4 Department of Radiology, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
  5. 5 Department of Neurosurgery, Naval Medical University Changhai Hospital, Shanghai, China
  6. 6 Department of Statistics, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
  7. 7 Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
  1. Correspondence to Dr Tianxiao Li, Department of Cerebrovascular disease, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, Henan, China; litianxiao6666{at}126.com

Abstract

Background Futile recanalization—when patients have a successful recanalization but fail to achieve a satisfactory functional outcome— is a common phenomenon of endovascular treatment of acute ischemic stroke (AIS). The present study aimed to identify the predictors of futile recanalization in AIS patients who received endovascular treatment.

Methods This is a post-hoc analysis of the DIRECT-MT trial. Demographics, clinical characteristics, acute stroke workflow interval times, biochemical parameters, and imaging characteristics were compared between futile and meaningful recanalization groups. Multivariate analysis was performed to identify the predictors of futile recanalization.

Results Futile recanalization was observed in 277 patients. In multivariable logistic regression analysis, older age (p<0.001), higher baseline systolic blood pressure (SBP) (p=0.032), incomplete reperfusion defined by extended Thrombolysis In Cerebral Infarction (eTICI) grades (p=0.020), and larger final infarct volume (FIV) (p<0.001) were independent predictors of futile recanalization.

Conclusions Old age, high baseline SBP, incomplete reperfusion defined by eTICI, and large FIV were independent predictors of futile recanalization after endovascular therapy for AIS.

  • stroke
  • thrombectomy
  • thrombolysis

Data availability statement

Data are available in a public, open access repository. All free text entered below will be published.

https://doi.org/10.1136/neurintsurg-2021-017765

Statistics from Altmetric.com

    Request Permissions

    If you wish to reuse any or all of this article please use the link below which will take you to the Copyright Clearance Center’s RightsLink service. You will be able to get a quick price and instant permission to reuse the content in many different ways.

    Introduction

    Endovascular thrombectomy (EVT), in addition to intravenous tissue-type plasminogen activator, is the standard of care for acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients due to large-vessel occlusion (LVO) of the anterior circulation.1 The results of the DIRECT-MT trial showed that EVT alone was non-inferior to thrombectomy preceded by alteplase administered with LVO in patients presenting directly at EVT-capable centers.2 According to the results of DIRECT-MT, the proportion of patients with successful reperfusion (extended Thrombolysis In Cerebral Infarction (eTICI) ≥2b) was 82.0%. However, the rate of favorable outcome (defined as modified Rankin scale (mRS) score 0–2) was 36.7%, and >60% of patients failed to achieve a favorable outcome. Futile recanalization means patients who achieved successful recanalization but failed to improve the functional outcome. The risk factors of futile recanalization in patients with ischemic stroke undergoing EVT are yet to be identified. Thus, in this study, we analyzed data from the DIRECT-MT trial to identify the factors that predict futile recanalization.

    Methods

    DIRECT-MT was an investigator-initiated, multicenter, prospective, randomized, open-label trial with blinded outcome assessment involving patients with AIS, eligible to receive intravenous alteplase and undergo EVT. The study methods and patient eligibility criteria have been reported previously.3 In this subgroup analysis, additional exclusion criteria were the absence of follow-up, the presence of pre-stroke history, an admission mRS ≥1, patients who did not undergo catheter angiography, and patients who failed to achieve a successful recanalization (eTICI <2b).

    The baseline information included: age, sex, baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score, admission systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure, and body mass index; history of hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes, smoking, atrial fibrillation, previous stroke/transient ischemic attack (TIA), or coronary artery disease; medication history of anticoagulation, antiplatelet, statin, or vitamin K antagonist therapy. Biochemical tests included serum creatinine level, serum glucose level, international normalized ratio, and activated partial thromboplastin time. The cause of stroke included cardioembolic, intracranial atherosclerosis, ipsilateral extracranial, or undetermined causes. The intervals from symptom onset to presentation in the emergency department, imaging, randomization, alteplase bolus, the start of the endovascular procedure, and recanalization were also recorded.

    All patients underwent head CT scan, and head and neck CT angiography (CTA) on admission; the baseline infarct range was assessed by the Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score (ASPECTS) with non-contrast CT; the extent of intracranial thrombus was assessed using the Clot Burden Score (CBS ranges from 0 to 10, where a score of 0 implies complete occlusion of the ipsilateral anterior circulation vessels, and a score of 10 implies no occlusion); the baseline collaterals were measured using baseline CTA and dichotomized into good (2–3) and poor (0–1) based on pial arterial filling score4; and the location of intracranial artery occlusion was identified on baseline CTA (internal carotid artery (ICA), proximal M1, distal M1 and M2). The eTICI score assessed on the final angiogram and successful reperfusion was graded as 2b, 2c, or 3.5 Perioperative medication and complications, including symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH) and asymptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (aICH),6 infarction in new territory at 5–7 days, embolization into a new territory,7 any other procedural complications, and the final infarct volume (FIV), were assessed on follow-up CT at days 5–7 using an automated algorithm.

    Statistical analysis

    Clinical and radiological outcomes were dichotomized into the meaningful recanalization group (defined as 90-day mRS ≤2, eTICI ≥2b) and the futile recanalization group (defined as 90-day mRS >2, eTICI ≥2b). The association between baseline clinical variables, biochemical parameters, imaging characteristics, and acute stroke workflow interval times was examined in univariate analysis. Means and medians were compared using t-test and Wilcoxon rank-sum test, respectively. Frequencies were compared using the χ2 test. To maximize sensitivity, variables with p<0.1 were entered in the multivariate logistic regression with a backward likelihood ratio model. Data are presented as adjusted odds ratio (OR) and its 95% confidence interval (95% CI). The adjusted factors included patient age, the NIHSS score at baseline, the time from stroke onset to randomization, mRS score before stroke onset, and cerebral collateral blood-flow status, which were adapted from the original statistical analysis plan. All the analyses were performed using SAS software, version 9.2 (SAS Institute), with a significance level of p<0.05 (two-sided).

    Results

    After excluding 17 patients who did not undergo catheter angiography, 112 patients who failed to achieve successful recanalization, and two patients who were lost to follow-up, 463 patients were enrolled in this study. The median age of the cohort was 69 (IQR 61–76) years; 260 patients were men, the median NIHSS score was 17 (IQR 13–21), and the median ASPECTS value was 9 (IQR 7–10). The median time from stroke onset to recanalization was 270 (IQR 222–320) min. A total of 225 patients underwent endovascular thrombectomy alone, and 238 received combination therapy with intravenous alteplase and endovascular thrombectomy.

    Futile recanalization was observed in 277 (59.8%) patients, and 186 patients achieved a meaningful recanalization. The baseline characteristics of the patients are listed in table 1. Patients in the futile recanalization group were significantly older (median 72 vs 67 years, p<0.0001) and had significantly higher NIHSS scores (median 19 vs 15, p<0.0001) on admission, higher baseline SBP (median 147 vs 141 mm Hg, p=0.0087), higher level of serum glucose (median 7.20 vs 6.62 mmol/L, p=0.0035), lower rate of smoking (19.49% vs 29.03%, p=0.0174), higher rate of hypertension (64.98% vs 53.23%, p=0.0113), and a higher rate of atrial fibrillation (54.51% vs 34.41%, p<0.0001) than those in the meaningful recanalization group. Also, a higher rate of occlusion site of ICA (43.48% vs 26.49%, p=0.0006), lower ASPECT score (median 8 vs 9, p<0.0001), higher CBS clot burden score, and poorer collateral score (p<0.0001) were observed in the futile recanalization group, with respect to the etiology of stroke caused by a cardioembolic condition (p<0.0001), than in the meaningful recanalization group. In addition, patients in the futile recanalization group had a longer interval from stroke onset to randomization (median 177 vs 156 min, p=0.0066), from randomization to revascularization (median 100 vs 85 min, p=0.0009), from hospital admission to intravenous administration (median 190 vs 174 min, p=0.0328), from groin puncture to revascularization (median 64 vs 51 min, p=0.0021), and from stroke onset to revascularization (median 250.5 vs 277 min, p<0.0001) than those in the meaningful recanalization group. Fewer patients in the futile recanalization group received tirofiban during the procedure (23.55% vs 37.10%, p=0.0017) and achieved a complete recanalization of eTICI 3 (35.79% vs 47.28%, p=0.005) on the final angiogram than those in the meaningful group. In addition, patients with futile recanalization had more procedural complications such as aICH (46.93% vs 22.58%, p<0.0001), sICH (8.30% vs 0.54%, p=0.0002), infarction in new territory (5.05% vs 0%, p=0.0018), and embolization in a new territory (14.44% vs 5.38%, p=0.0021) than those with meaningful recanalization. Median FIV on follow-up CT was significantly larger in the futile recanalization group than in the meaningful recanalization group (63.54 vs 15.54 mL, p<0.0001), while the rate of intravenous thrombolysis before EVT did not differ between the two groups.

    View this table:
    Table 1

    Baseline characteristics of patients with futile and meaningful recanalizations

    In multivariable logistic regression analysis (table 2), the following factors were associated with futile recanalization: older age (OR 1.120, 95% CI 1.055 to 1.189, p<0.001), higher baseline SBP (OR 1.026, 95% CI 1.002 to 1.051, p=0.032), incomplete reperfusion defined by eTICI grades assessed on final angiogram (OR 0.510, 95% CI 0.290 to 0.898, p=0.020), and larger FIV (OR 1.018, 95% CI 1.008 to 1.029, p<0.001).

    View this table:
    Table 2

    Logistic regression analysis identifying independent predictors of futile recanalization

    Discussion

    With the development of new mechanical thrombectomy devices, the rate of successful recanalization has been greatly improved in patients receiving EVT. However, successful recanalization does not always predict a good outcome. In the current study, a subgroup analysis from DIRECT-MT research revealed that the rate of futile recanalization was 59.8%, which was higher than the 47% reported previously.8 Earlier studies have shown that many risk factors, such as gender, age, baseline NIHSS, collaterals, time from symptoms onset to reperfusion, baseline ASPECTS, and anesthesia were associated with futile recanalization.9 10 Our post-doc analysis demonstrated that old age, high baseline SBP, incomplete reperfusion, and large FIV contribute to the risk of futile recanalization. In theory, intravenous thrombolytic drugs may enter the distal branch vessels for patients with successful recanalization, improve macrovascular recanalization at the capillary level, and reduce distal embolism. On the other hand, intravenous thrombolytic therapy may also increase the risk of hemorrhage. However, in the current study, there was no significant difference in the rate of futile recanalization between the thrombectomy alone group and the combination therapy group.

    Compared with the younger patients, those >80 years old who underwent endovascular treatment exhibited a lower rate of good clinical outcomes and increased mortality. The HERMES meta-analysis of several randomized controlled trials of EVT reported good functional outcomes in 46% of patients and a 15% mortality rate. However, among patients >80 years old who received endovascular treatment, the rates were 29.8% for 90-day functional outcomes and 28% for mortality.11 Older patients had more underlying diseases than younger patients, and decreased neuronal plasticity may be difficult to achieve with age along with improved neurological functions post-reperfusion therapy. Leukoaraiosis and the vulnerable blood–brain barrier are more likely to make older patients suffer from intracranial hemorrhage (ICH); also, collateral blood supply may be worse in older patients than in younger individuals. Notably, compared with the best medical therapy, elderly patients may still benefit from EVT, especially those with a good pre-stroke functional status.12

    Higher baseline SBP levels have been reported with a lower likelihood of good functional outcomes in ischemic stroke patients receiving EVT.13 14 Our findings indicate that higher admission SBP levels are independently associated with futile recanalization, which is consistent with the previous results.13 14 Patients with AIS may have a reactive increase in blood pressure (BP), which may promote cerebral perfusion; however, higher BP may increase hyperperfusion and exacerbate cerebral edema after successful recanalization of a large artery occlusion, which in turn affects blood flow, especially in patients with a large ischemic core, eventually leading to infarct expansion and recurrent cerebral ischemia. Previous studies have shown a correlation between hypertension and ICH after recanalization.15 In the current study, the BP variability is linearly associated with futile recanalization in the treatment of AIS, while in other studies, a J- or U-shaped correlation was established between BP and functional outcome—both low and high BP were associated with poor functional outcome.16 17 Some studies also showed that BP variability is a major predictor of outcome after ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes.18 19

    In our model, the degree of reperfusion was associated with functional outcome, and incomplete revascularization on final angiography was a powerful predictor of futile recanalization. In accordance with our results, there was an unequivocal graded pattern of an increased proportion of subjects with no or minimal disability (mRS 0–1), which was found to be hierarchically linked with higher eTICI grades in the retrospective subgroup analysis of HERMES.20 Similarly, a recent meta-analysis showed that compared with TICI 2b, TICI 3 revascularization was associated with a significantly higher rate of good functional outcomes and a lower rate of mortality and ICH.21 Factors that cause incomplete recanalization include residual thrombus migration, stenosis of the target vessel, distal emboli, or increased downstream resistance, which might lead to hypoperfusion, infarction of new territory, and recurrent stroke. Together, these factors could increase the risk of futile recanalization.

    Our analysis showed that large FIV at subacute points was an independent predictor of futile recanalization. In concordance with our results, several studies have included data from HERMES and reported the association of FIV and functional outcome after endovascular treatment of AIS with large vessel occlusion.22 23 One reason for the discrepancy was the lower baseline non-contrast CT ASPECTS in the futile recanalization group, which was finally developed into real infarct volume. In addition, embolization into a new territory, ICH, and severe brain swelling may occur during endovascular treatment, and these factors may contribute to enlargement of the infarct. Another possible explanation is that, compared with patients in the meaningful recanalization group, patients in the futile recanalization group with less target mismatch have salvageable tissue and an increased likelihood of favorable clinical outcomes after reperfusion, but no-mismatch data were not available for all patients in our study.

    The present study has some limitations. First, although patients were prospectively registered, all data of this subgroup analysis were assessed retrospectively. Second, the small sample size in our study limited the ability to comment on variables associated with futile recanalization, such as the history of diabetes, and time from onset to treatment. Third, many patients were excluded because of a history of pre-stroke with mRS ≥1, which might affect the true effect of the evaluation, although it reduces the influence of previous stroke history on the outcome. Fourth, in this study, BP was recorded on admission. However, BP was highly variable during the perioperative period, and BP control was not the same for each patient; a BP measurement protocol should therefore be established, and variability may be a better indicator of futile recanalization. Fifth, successful reperfusion was assessed on the final angiogram; however, recanalization assessed on CTA at 24–72 hours indicated that a small proportion of patients develop spontaneous recanalization or re-occlusion and cannot reflect the natural progression after reperfusion accurately.

    Conclusions

    In the pooled analysis, we observed that futile recanalization is common following endovascular treatment, especially among patients with older age, higher baseline SBP, and incomplete reperfusion defined by eTICI grades assessed on final angiogram and larger FIV.

    Data availability statement

    Data are available in a public, open access repository. All free text entered below will be published.

    Ethics statements

    Patient consent for publication

    Ethics approval

    Ethics approval was obtained from the local institutional review board (Shanghai Changhai Hospital ethics committee, CHEC2018-003) and written informed consent was obtained from patients.

    References

    1. ↵
      2. Powers WJ ,
      3. Rabinstein AA ,
      4. Ackerson T , et al
      . 2018 guidelines for the early management of patients with acute ischemic stroke: a guideline for healthcare professionals from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. Stroke 2018;49:e46–110.doi:10.1161/STR.0000000000000158 pmid:http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29367334
      OpenUrlAbstract/FREE Full Text
    2. ↵
      2. Yang P ,
      3. Zhang Y ,
      4. Zhang L , et al
      . Endovascular thrombectomy with or without intravenous alteplase in acute stroke. N Engl J Med 2020;382:1981–93.doi:10.1056/NEJMoa2001123 pmid:http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32374959
      OpenUrlCrossRefPubMed
    3. ↵
      2. Yang P ,
      3. Treurniet KM ,
      4. Zhang L , et al
      . Direct intra-arterial thrombectomy in order to revascularize AIS patients with large vessel occlusion efficiently in Chinese tertiary hospitals: a multicenter randomized clinical trial (DIRECT-MT) protocol. Int J Stroke 2020;15:689–98.doi:10.1177/1747493019882837 pmid:http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31663831
      OpenUrlCrossRefPubMed
    4. ↵
      2. Tan IYL ,
      3. Demchuk AM ,
      4. Hopyan J , et al
      . CT angiography clot burden score and collateral score: correlation with clinical and radiologic outcomes in acute middle cerebral artery infarct. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 2009;30:525–31.doi:10.3174/ajnr.A1408 pmid:http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19147716
      OpenUrlAbstract/FREE Full Text
    5. ↵
      2. Goyal M ,
      3. Fargen KM ,
      4. Turk AS , et al
      . 2c or not 2c: defining an improved revascularization grading scale and the need for standardization of angiography outcomes in stroke trials. J Neurointerv Surg 2014;6:83–6.doi:10.1136/neurintsurg-2013-010665 pmid:http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23390038
      OpenUrlFREE Full Text
    6. ↵
      2. von Kummer R ,
      3. Broderick JP ,
      4. Campbell BC
      . The Heidelberg bleeding classification: classification of bleeding events after ischemic stroke and reperfusion therapy. Stroke 2015;46:2981–6.
      OpenUrlFREE Full Text
    7. ↵
      2. Goyal M ,
      3. Menon BK ,
      4. Demchuk A , et al
      . Proposed methodology and classification of infarct in new territory (INT) after endovascular stroke treatment. J Neurointerv Surg 2017;9:449–50.doi:10.1136/neurintsurg-2015-011839 pmid:http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26080828
      OpenUrlAbstract/FREE Full Text
    8. ↵
      2. Hussein HM ,
      3. Saleem MA ,
      4. Qureshi AI
      . Rates and predictors of futile recanalization in patients undergoing endovascular treatment in a multicenter clinical trial. Neuroradiology 2018;60:557–63.doi:10.1007/s00234-018-2016-2 pmid:http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29574600
      OpenUrlCrossRefPubMed
    9. ↵
      2. Nie X ,
      3. Pu Y ,
      4. Zhang Z , et al
      . Futile recanalization after endovascular therapy in acute ischemic stroke. Biomed Res Int 2018;2018:5879548.doi:10.1155/2018/5879548 pmid:29854767
      OpenUrlPubMed
    10. ↵
      2. Espinosa de Rueda M ,
      3. Parrilla G ,
      4. Manzano-Fernández S , et al
      . Combined multimodal computed tomography score correlates with futile recanalization after thrombectomy in patients with acute stroke. Stroke 2015;46:2517–22.doi:10.1161/STROKEAHA.114.008598
      OpenUrlAbstract/FREE Full Text
    11. ↵
      2. Goyal M ,
      3. Menon BK ,
      4. van Zwam WH , et al
      . Endovascular thrombectomy after large-vessel ischaemic stroke: a meta-analysis of individual patient data from five randomised trials. Lancet 2016;387:1723–31.doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(16)00163-X pmid:http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26898852
      OpenUrlCrossRefPubMed
    12. ↵
      2. Khan MA ,
      3. Baird GL ,
      4. Miller D , et al
      . Endovascular treatment of acute ischemic stroke in nonagenarians compared with younger patients in a multicenter cohort. J Neurointerv Surg 2017;9:727–31.doi:10.1136/neurintsurg-2016-012427 pmid:http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27402857
      OpenUrlAbstract/FREE Full Text
    13. ↵
      2. Goyal N ,
      3. Tsivgoulis G ,
      4. Iftikhar S , et al
      . Admission systolic blood pressure and outcomes in large vessel occlusion strokes treated with endovascular treatment. J Neurointerv Surg 2017;9:451–4.doi:10.1136/neurintsurg-2016-012386 pmid:http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27117174
      OpenUrlAbstract/FREE Full Text
    14. ↵
      2. Nogueira RG ,
      3. Liebeskind DS ,
      4. Sung G , et al
      . Predictors of good clinical outcomes, mortality, and successful revascularization in patients with acute ischemic stroke undergoing thrombectomy: pooled analysis of the mechanical embolus removal in cerebral ischemia (MERCI) and multi MERCI trials. Stroke 2009;40:3777–83.doi:10.1161/STROKEAHA.109.561431 pmid:http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19875740
      OpenUrlAbstract/FREE Full Text
    15. ↵
      2. Anadani M ,
      3. Orabi MY ,
      4. Alawieh A , et al
      . Blood pressure and outcome after mechanical thrombectomy with successful revascularization. Stroke 2019;50:2448–54.doi:10.1161/STROKEAHA.118.024687
      OpenUrlCrossRefPubMed
    16. ↵
      2. Maïer B ,
      3. Gory B ,
      4. Taylor G , et al
      . Mortality and disability according to baseline blood pressure in acute ischemic stroke patients treated by thrombectomy: a collaborative pooled analysis. J Am Heart Assoc 2017;6.doi:10.1161/JAHA.117.006484
    17. ↵
      2. Mulder MJHL ,
      3. Ergezen S ,
      4. Lingsma HF , et al
      . Baseline blood pressure effect on the benefit and safety of intra-arterial treatment in MR CLEAN (multicenter randomized clinical trial of endovascular treatment of acute ischemic stroke in the Netherlands). Stroke 2017;48:1869–76.doi:10.1161/STROKEAHA.116.016225
      OpenUrlAbstract/FREE Full Text
    18. ↵
      2. de Havenon A ,
      3. Majersik JJ ,
      4. Stoddard G , et al
      . Increased blood pressure variability contributes to worse outcome after intracerebral hemorrhage. Stroke 2018;49:1981–4.doi:10.1161/STROKEAHA.118.022133
      OpenUrl
    19. ↵
      2. Delgado-Mederos R ,
      3. Ribo M ,
      4. Rovira A , et al
      . Prognostic significance of blood pressure variability after thrombolysis in acute stroke. Neurology 2008;71:552–8.doi:10.1212/01.wnl.0000318294.36223.69
      OpenUrlCrossRefPubMed
    20. ↵
      2. Liebeskind DS ,
      3. Bracard S ,
      4. Guillemin F , et al
      . eTICI reperfusion: defining success in endovascular stroke therapy. J Neurointerv Surg 2019;11:433–8.doi:10.1136/neurintsurg-2018-014127 pmid:http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30194109
      OpenUrlAbstract/FREE Full Text
    21. ↵
      2. Rizvi A ,
      3. Seyedsaadat SM ,
      4. Murad MH , et al
      . Redefining ‘success’: a systematic review and meta-analysis comparing outcomes between incomplete and complete revascularization. J Neurointerv Surg 2019;11:9–13.doi:10.1136/neurintsurg-2018-013950
      OpenUrlAbstract/FREE Full Text
    22. ↵
      2. Boers AMM ,
      3. Jansen IGH ,
      4. Beenen LFM , et al
      . Association of follow-up infarct volume with functional outcome in acute ischemic stroke: a pooled analysis of seven randomized trials. J Neurointerv Surg 2018;10:1137–42.doi:10.1136/neurintsurg-2017-013724
      OpenUrlAbstract/FREE Full Text
    23. ↵
      2. Albers GW ,
      3. Goyal M ,
      4. Jahan R , et al
      . Relationships between imaging assessments and outcomes in solitaire with the intention for thrombectomy as primary endovascular treatment for acute ischemic stroke. Stroke 2015;46:2786–94.doi:10.1161/STROKEAHA.115.010710
      OpenUrlAbstract/FREE Full Text

    Supplementary materials

    • Supplementary Data

      This web only file has been produced by the BMJ Publishing Group from an electronic file supplied by the author(s) and has not been edited for content.

    Footnotes

    • Contributors TFZ, TXL, QL, ZSL, LFZ, YCL, YKH and MYW designed the study, PFY, YXZ, ZFL, JML, YWZ,TYY, WHC and SCW conducted the trial and collected information, TFZ drafted the manuscript, all authors critically reviewed the manuscript and approved the final version.

    • Funding Supported by a grant (GN-2017R0001) from the Stroke Prevention Project of the National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China and by the Wu Jieping Medical Foundation; the National Key R&D Program of China (2017YFE0103600), National Natural Science Foundation of China (81720108021,), Scientific and Technological Research Project of Henan Province (182102310162).

    • Competing interests None declared.

    • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.

    • Supplemental material This content has been supplied by the author(s). It has not been vetted by BMJ Publishing Group Limited (BMJ) and may not have been peer-reviewed. Any opinions or recommendations discussed are solely those of the author(s) and are not endorsed by BMJ. BMJ disclaims all liability and responsibility arising from any reliance placed on the content. Where the content includes any translated material, BMJ does not warrant the accuracy and reliability of the translations (including but not limited to local regulations, clinical guidelines, terminology, drug names and drug dosages), and is not responsible for any error and/or omissions arising from translation and adaptation or otherwise.