Meta-analysis: Comparing the Roles of IV Thrombolysis alone and Mechanical Thrombectomy alone in Acute Ischemic Stroke versus the Combination of IV Thrombolysis and Thrombectomy

Background Acute ischemic stroke (AIS) is one of the most serious and urgent medical emergencies that present to physicians in clinical practice (Murphy & Werring, 2020). AIS results from a blood clot (embolus) that impedes arterial blood delivery to the brain, resulting in a sudden fall in oxygen and essential nutrients to cerebral tissue (Hui, 2024). It is this interruption that starts a cascade of cellular injury and neurological deficits, causing permanent brain damage unless they are corrected promptly (Saver, 2005). AIS is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide (Saini, 2021). According to the latest data, stroke is the fifth highest cause of death in the United States, and over 800,000 new cases are reported every year (Wilkinson, 2022). Around five million people die from stroke in the world every year, and millions more are left with strokes that can leave them with long-term disabilities (Khandelwal, 2016). Not only are these figures staggering as far as the public health impact of AIS is concerned, but they also point to the fact that healthcare systems worldwide must bear the economic burden of acute management and long-term care costs (Broocks et al., 2021).