Sedation Options for Endovascular Treatment of Stroke

A non-randomized prospective study compared conscious sedation with local anesthesia for treatment of ischemic stroke with endovascular techniques.¹

It was found that conscious sedation was associated with poorer functional outcomes and higher mortality. In addition, it did not reduce interventional complications or duration.

Based on this study, conscious sedation offers no benefit over local anesthesia in the endovascular treatment of ischemic stroke.

Reference

1. van de Graaf RA, Samuels N, Mulder MJHL, et al. Conscious sedation or local anesthesia during endovascular treatment for acute ischemic stroke. Neurology. 2018;91:e19-e25.