Sonothrombolysis in Acute Ischemic Stroke: Current Evidence and Future Global Direction

Sonothrombolysis is a promising, noninvasive treatment for acute ischemic stroke that uses ultrasound energy for thrombolysis. Compared to the current treatments of intravenous thrombolysis and endovascular therapy, sonothrombolysis is a low-cost, reusable, and automated treatment that could greatly expand global access to acute reperfusion therapies. This review summarizes the mechanism of action, clinical trial findings, and future research priorities of sonothrombolysis. Although trials have shown promising recanalization rates, targeted studies of large vessel occlusion strokes in limited resource settings are still needed to realize the global impact of sonothrombolysis.