Comparison of baseline characteristics and clinical outcomes stratified by the presence of distal embolization
| Total (n=119) | Distal embolization (n=50) | Non-distal embolization (n=69) | P | |
| Age, median (IQR) | 75.0 (65.0–84.0) | 72.5 (63.5–83.3) | 78.0 (65.50–85.0) | 0.314 |
| Gender (female), n (%) | 55 (46.2) | 27 (54.0) | 28 (40.6) | 0.147 |
| Medical history, n (%) | ||||
| Hypertension | 80 (67.2) | 31 (62.0) | 49 (71.0) | 0.301 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 25 (21.0) | 11 (22.0) | 14 (20.3) | 0.821 |
| Hyperlipidemia | 33 (27.7) | 13 (26.0) | 20 (29.0) | 0.720 |
| Coronary artery disease | 40 (33.6) | 21 (42.0) | 19 (27.5) | 0.099 |
| Previous stroke | 26 (21.8) | 12 (24.0) | 14 (20.3) | 0.629 |
| Smoking | 27 (22.7) | 12 (24.0) | 15 (21.7) | 0.771 |
| Atrial fibrillation | 63 (52.9) | 22 (44.0) | 41 (59.4) | 0.096 |
| Prior use of antiplatelets, n (%) | 36 (30.3) | 16 (32.0) | 20 (29.0) | 0.724 |
| Prior use of anticoagulants, n (%) | 25 (21.0) | 9 (18.0) | 16 (23.2) | 0.493 |
| Wake up stroke | 36 (30.3) | 14 (28.0) | 22 (31.9) | 0.649 |
| Occlusion location, n(%) | ||||
| MCA bifurcation | 72 (60.5) | 23 (46.0) | 49 (71.0) | 0.006 |
| ICA bifurcation | 47 (39.5) | 27 (54.0) | 20 (29.0) | |
| ICA tortuosity, n(%) | 61 (51.3) | 32 (64.0) | 29 (42.0) | 0.018 |
| NIHSS at baseline, median (IQR) | 13.0 (10.0–19.0) | 13.0 (10.0–19.0) | 13.0 (9.0–19.0) | 0.566 |
| ASPECTS at baseline, median (IQR) | 10.0 (8.0–10.0) | 10.0 (8.0–10.0) | 10.0 (8.0–10.0) | 0.640 |
| Prior IVT, n (%) | 55 (46.2) | 26 (52.0) | 29 (42.0) | 0.282 |
| First-line thrombectomy strategy, n(%) | 0.009 | |||
| SRT | 50 (42.0) | 28 (56.0) | 22 (31.9) | |
| CAT | 29 (24.4) | 6 (12.0) | 23 (33.3) | |
| SRT and CAT | 40 (33.6) | 16 (32.0) | 24 (34.8) | |
| Number of passes (IQR) | 2 (2–3) | 2 (2–3) | 2 (1–2) | ＜0.001 |
| Timing (min), median (IQR) | ||||
| Onset to puncture | 206.0 (135.0–360.0) | 225.5 (139.5–332.5) | 200.0 (129.5–392.5) | 0.936 |
| Door to puncture | 83.0 (63.0–108.0) | 86.5 (68.5–108.7) | 81.0 (61.0–102.5) | 0.343 |
| Puncture to recanalization | 112.0 (90.0–165.0) | 72.5 (63.5–83.3) | 78.0 (65.5–85.0) | 0.557 |
| Improvement of NIHSS scores ≥4 at 24 hours, n(%) | 55 (46.2) | 20 (40.0) | 35 (50.7) | 0.247 |
| Improvement of NIHSS scores ≥4 at discharge, n(%) | 81 (68.1) | 33 (66.0) | 48 (69.6) | 0.681 |
| 90-d mRS 0–2, n(%) | 48 (40.3) | 14 (28.0) | 34 (49.3) | 0.020 |
| sICH, n(%) | 15 (12.6) | 6 (12.0) | 9 (13.0) | 0.866 |
| 90-d Mortality, n(%) | 17 (14.3) | 8 (16.0) | 9 (13.0) | 0.649 |
ASPECTS, Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score; CAT, contact aspiration thrombectomy; 90d, 90 day; ICA, internal carotid artery; IQR, interquartile range; IVT, intravenous thrombolysis; MCA, middle cerebral artery; min, minute; mRS, modified Rankin Scale; NIHSS, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale; sICH, symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage; SRT, stent retriever thrombectomy.