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Bridging Thrombolysis In Atrial Fibrillation Stroke Is Associated With Increased Hemorrhagic Complications Without Improved Outcomes, Feras Akbik, Ali Alawieh, Laurie Dimisko, Brian M. Howard, C Michael Cawley, Frank C. Tong, Fadi Nahab, Owen B. Samuels, Ilko Maier, Wuwei Feng, Nitin Goyal, Robert M. Starke, Ansaar Rai, Kyle M. Fargen, Marios N. Psychogios, Pascal Jabbour, Reade De Leacy, Saleh G. Keyrouz, Travis M. Dumont, Peter Kan, Jan Liman, Adam S. Arthur, Stacey Q. Wolfe, J. Mocco, Roberto Javier Crosa, W Christopher Fox, Benjamin Gory, Alejandro M. Spiotta, Jonathan A. Grossberg

Department of Neurosurgery Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Atrial fibrillation (AF) associated ischemic stroke is associated with worse functional outcomes, less effective recanalization, and increased rates of hemorrhagic complications after intravenous thrombolysis (IVT). Conversely, AF is not associated with hemorrhagic complications or functional outcomes in patients undergoing mechanical thrombectomy (MT). This differential effect of MT and IVT in AF associated stroke raises the question of whether bridging thrombolysis increases hemorrhagic complications in AF patients undergoing MT.

METHODS: This international cohort study of 22 comprehensive stroke centers analyzed patients with large vessel occlusion (LVO) undergoing MT between June 1, 2015 and December 31, 2020. Patients were divided into …