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Abstract

Background: Te evaluate the outcomes of Endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) -treated AIS patients in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and explores predictors of functional recovery. Endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) is the standard of care for acute ischemic stroke (AIS), though patient outcomes can vary based on regional and clinical factors.

Method: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using medical records from King Abdulaziz University Hospital (KAUH) and King Fahad Hospital Jeddah (KFHJ), including AIS patients treated with EVT between January 2020 and July 2024. Neurological status was assessed using the NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS), and clinical outcomes were evaluated with the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) at 90 days, where scores of 0–2 indicated good outcomes. Data on demographics, treatment times, recanalization success, and peri-procedural complications were collected and analyzed.

Results: A total of 219 patients were included. Mean NIHSS scores on admission were similar across centers (14.6 ± 5 at KAUH vs. 15.5 ± 5.1 at KFHJ), while mRS scores at 90 days were slightly better at KAUH. The average time from last known well to hospital arrival was approximately 231 minutes across both centers. Door-to-puncture times were shorter at KFHJ (87.7 ± 61.2 minutes) compared to KAUH (114 ± 48.2 minutes). Successful recanalization (TICI 3) was achieved in 76.7% of cases, with higher rates at KAUH (87%) than KFHJ (72.1%). Functional independence (mRS 0–2) at 90 days was achieved in 33.5% of patients and was associated with younger age (p=0.05) and lower baseline NIHSS scores (p<0.001).

Conclusion: EVT is technically effective for AIS in the Saudi population, with recanalization rates comparable to global benchmarks. However, functional outcomes remain suboptimal due to delayed presentation, high rates of metabolic comorbidities, and post-procedural complications. Efforts to improve early stroke recognition, reduce pre-hospital delays—such as through the implementation of mobile stroke units—and control vascular risk factors are essential to improving patient outcomes.

Article Type

Original Study

First Page

87

Last Page

93

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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