The recent DISTAL trial evaluated endovascular treatment (EVT) for stroke caused by occlusion of medium or distal vessels. The study, which enrolled 543 participants across 55 hospitals in 11 countries, found that EVT did not significantly improve disability outcomes or reduce mortality in comparison to best medical treatment alone. Symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage and all-cause mortality at 90 days were also similar between the two groups. Successful reperfusion with EVT was achieved in 71.7% of patients, but the researchers suggested the need for new techniques or devices to enhance EVT outcomes for these occlusions. Dr. Marios Psychogios from the University Hospital Basel, Switzerland, emphasized the importance of further research to identify patient subgroups that could benefit from EVT based on imaging selection and treatment strategies.

Source: The New England Journal of Medicine