Endovascular therapy for mild-to-moderate stroke due to basilar artery occlusion: A systematic review and meta-analysis

This systematic review and meta-analysis of 15 studies involving 3,981 patients evaluated the efficacy and safety of endovascular therapy (EVT) alongside best medical treatment compared to medical treatment alone for mild-to-moderate basilar artery occlusion (NIHSS < 10).

The study found no statistically significant difference between the two approaches for primary good functional recovery (mRS 0–2) or favorable functional outcomes (mRS 0–3). However, EVT doubled the odds of patients achieving an excellent functional recovery (mRS 0–1) without significantly increasing 90-day mortality or the risk of intracerebral hemorrhage.

Ultimately, these findings suggest that EVT may enhance the likelihood of a full recovery for milder basilar artery occlusion strokes without compromising safety, though dedicated randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm these benefits.