Efficacy and safety of emergent microsurgical embolectomy in patients with acute ischemic stroke after the failure of intravenous thrombolysis and mechanical thrombectomy - a systematic review protocol
Abstract
Introduction: Intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator within 4.5 h since onset of symptoms is the first line treatment in acute ischaemic stroke (AIS). In case of emergent large vessel occlusion (ELVO), IVT is insufficient with 13-33% of early recanalization of middle cerebral artery (MCA) only.
Endovascular mechanical thrombectomy (MT) within 6 h since the onset of symptoms has increased the rate of recanalization and improved clinical outcomes significantly. If appropriate and if there are no contraindications, IVT is followed by MT.
This combination therapy is the second line therapy and the best currently available treatment for patients with AIS and MCA occlusion. Successful recanalization is one of the predictors of favourable outcomes as well as negative predictive marker of mortality.
The third line option, microsurgical embolectomy, has been discussed for the treatment of patients with AIS and MCA occlusion after failed MT. The objective of this review will be to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ME in patients with AIS and MCA occlusion, after the failure of IVT and MT on revascularization within 8, 16 and 24 h.
Methods: The initial search will be conducted using the MEDLINE and EMBASE databases. The extensive search will involve the listed databases for published literature (MEDLINE, EMBASE, BMC, Cinahl, Scopus, and WoS) and unpublished literature (Open Grey, MedNar, Cos Conference Papers Index, and ProQuest).
Following the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology, two independent reviewers will analyse the titles, abstracts and full texts, and then perform critical appraisal of methodological quality and data extraction from selected studies using the standardized tools. Narrative synthesis of the findings from the included studies, structured around the type of intervention, target population characteristics, and type of outcome will be performed.
Funnel plots will be used to detect and/or correct publication bias.