The move to 24/7 mechanical thrombectomy provision for ischaemic stroke: an observational study of the impact on referrals, activity, procedural efficacy, and safety at a supra-regional centre

Background: Health systems are striving to improve delivery of mechanical thrombectomy (MT) for ischaemic stroke. With the move to 24/7 provision, we aimed to assess (1) the change in referral and procedural frequency and timing, (2) reasons referrals did not proceed to MT, and (3) nocturnal procedural efficacy and safety.

Methods: This was an observational study comparing 12-month data for an extended daytime service (2021/2022, hours, 0800-2000) to that for a 12-month period delivering 24/7 cover (2023-2024). Nocturnal and daytime outcomes (rate of recanalisation using modified TICI scoring), extent of postprocedural infarction (using ASPECTS grading), rate of early neurological improvement (using 24-h NIHSS change), 90-day mortality, and complicating symptomatic intracranial haemorrhage (SICH) in the latter period were compared.

Results: Both referrals (432 to 851) and procedural caseload (191 to 403) approximately doubled with the move to 24/7 cover; 36% of procedures occurred overnight (n = 145). The dominant reasons for referrals not proceeding to MT were a large core infarct (n = 144) or absence of a large vessel occlusion on baseline imaging (n = 140). There were no significant differences in successful recanalisation (TICI 2B/3: 85.5% vs 87.1%, P = .233), rates of postprocedural ASPECTS≥7 (74.9% vs 75.8%, P = .987), early neurological improvement (NIHSS reduction ≥30%: 43.4% vs 42.4%, P = .917), 90-day mortality (19.6% vs 18.6%, P = .896), or SICH (1.9% vs 4.1%, P = .214) obtained for daytime vs nighttime hours.

Conclusion: 24/7 MT provision has resulted in a rapid rise in the number of patients who may benefit from MT. This service can be provided with an acceptable safety profile during nighttime hours in a high-volume comprehensive UK centre.