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(Stroke. 2007;38:704.)
© 2007 American Heart Association, Inc.

Try It or Trial It: Introduction

Intra-Arterial Thrombolysis for Basilar Artery Thrombosis

Trial It

William J. Powers, MD

From the Department of Neurology and Neurological Surgery, Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO.

Correspondence to William J. Powers, MD, Campus Box 8225, Rm 2218F, 4525 Scott Ave, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110. E-mail wjp{at}npg.wustl.edu

Abstract

The poor prognosis for recovery of basilar artery thrombosis has led to the adoption at many institutions of intra-arterial thrombolysis as part of clinical care. However, because neither randomized clinical trials nor observational data provide evidence for treatment efficacy and there are substantial risks and costs associated with this procedure, this treatment should only be performed in the context of a randomized, controlled clinical trial subject to appropriate Institutional Review Board review and independent safety monitoring.

Key Words: acute stroke • brain stem stroke • thrombolysis • thrombolytic Rx