Daša Viszlayová, Miroslav Brozman
In patients with acute ischemic stroke caused by a proximal intracranial arterial occlusion only early recanalisation of
the vessel is effective treatment. This treatment gives a chance to patients to be functionally independent and to be
able to return to daily living activities. Intravenous thrombolysis is a standard therapeutic care for stroke patients but
the rate of early reperfusion is only about 30 %, the rate for endovascular therapy is greater. The recent randomized
controlled trials of endovascular treatment contributed neutral results, many of them did not confirm the clinical benefit
and safety. Numerous questions have been raised concerning the design and conduct of these trials.The last published
five new studies – MR CLEAN, EXTEND – IA, ESCAPE, SWIFT PRIME and REVASCAT showing positive results of
endovascular therapy change the position and importance of this treatment in acute ischemic stroke caused by proximal
intracranial artery occlusion.