ESOC 2022 | Impact of time-to-treatment on bridging thrombolysis outcomes in SWIFT DIRECT

Stroke outcomes are highly time dependent. Evidence shows that time to thrombolysis is significantly associated with long term outcomes, recurrent stroke, and all cause mortality. Several recent randomized controlled trials have assessed the benefit of bridging thrombolysis with intravenous alteplase compared to direct mechanical thrombectomy. Thomas Meinel, MD, Bern University Hospital, and University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland, shares the findings of a sub analysis of one such trial, SWIFT DIRECT (NCT03192332), assessing if the treatment effect of bridging therapy differs with time to treatment. There was no significant impact of time-from-onset-to-needle on functional and safety outcomes. A collaborative effort is ongoing to assess this issue with greater statistical power. This interview took place at the ESOC 2022 congress in Lyon, France.