[Review] Endovascular thrombectomy for acute stroke: evolving eligibility criteria and adjunct therapies

Endovascular thrombectomy is the standard treatment for ischaemic stroke, a leading cause of disability worldwide. Randomised trials in the past decade have expanded eligibility criteria to include broader patient populations, such as those with large ischaemic core stroke. However, many patients still have poor outcomes despite high rates of macrovascular reperfusion, underscoring the need for strategies that go beyond restoring large-vessel flow. Intra-arterial thrombolysis and cytoprotective agents are under investigation for their potential to reduce secondary complications during and after endovascular thrombectomy.