The Exploration of Early Factors Influencing Post-Thrombectomy Headache in Posterior Circulation Stroke

Headache is a common complication following posterior circulation stroke. While post-thrombectomy care predominantly focuses on neurological recovery, headache as a salient symptom is often overlooked, leaving a subset of patients affected by persistent chronic pain that severely compromises their quality of life. Here, we conducted a retrospective analysis of patients with good functional outcome (modified Rankin Scale score < 3) after mechanical thrombectomy for posterior circulation stroke, evaluating the incidence of headache within 3 months after surgery. Using univariate and multivariate logistic regression, fitted analysis, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, we identified admission random blood glucose and systolic blood pressure levels as significantly associated with postoperative headache occurrence. These findings suggest that in addition to neurological rehabilitation, early identification and management of headache-prone individuals are essential to improve long-term prognosis and quality of life in this patient population.