Baseline characteristics of the two groups
| POST (N=157) | Pivotal (N=125) | |
| Age (years) (mean) | 65+15 | 64+14 |
| Female, % | 46 | 49 |
| NIH Stroke Score (mean) | 16+6 | 17.6+5.2 |
| Target vessel: ICA, % | 22 | 18 |
| MCA, % | 58 | 70 |
| Vertebrobasilar artery, % | 20 | 9 |
| TIMI 0–1, % | 100 | 100 |
| Median time from symptom onset to arterial puncture, h | 4.5 | 4.1 |
| Median time required for revascularization, min | 41 | 45 |
MCA, middle cerebral artery; TIMI, thrombolysis in myocardial infarction; ICA, internal carotid artery.