Background: Mechanical thrombectomy (MT) is the standard of care for eligible acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients with large vessel occlusion (LVO) since 2015.
Aim: Our aim was to determine the key challenges for MT implementation and access worldwide.
Methods: We conducted an international online survey consisting of 37 questions, distributed through the World Stroke Organization network, and as invited by co-authors between December 2022 and March 2023. The survey included a preamble outlining its purpose, questions on respondent demographics, imaging availability, MT service availability, MT selection criteria, barriers to MT, and training status in each country.
Results: We received 526 responses from 89 countries distributed across 7 continents. One hundred and sixteen (22.1%) respondents did not have available MT service, 43(8.2%) had available MT only during working hours, 362(68.8%) had 24/7 MT availability. Regarding neuroimaging protocols, 13.5% used Non-contrast Computed Tomography (NCCT) only, 40.1% used NCCT/CT angiography, 37.5% used NCCT/CT angiography /CT perfusion), 0.4% used Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) only, and 7.8% used MRI/MR angiography. The most common reasons for not receiving MT were cost, late presentation, and lack of availability of qualified neuro-interventional services within reasonable distance. There were 59.1% of respondents who reported having a well-structured MT training program. Lack of qualified trainers, financial support, support from higher authorities and lack of collaboration between departments were the most common obstacles against developing a training program.
Conclusion: Our study highlights significant variations in MT availability, accessibility, patient selection criteria and MT service training programs worldwide. Financial costs and a shortage of trained neurointerventionalists were the main challenges in low- and middle-income countries.
Keywords: CT; Countries; MRI; Mechanical thrombectomy; Stroke; challenges.