In the UK, innovative measures are being introduced to enable ambulance crews to conduct initial scans and treatments, potentially speeding up the process of getting patients to thrombectomy centers.

Estimates suggest that between 10-20% of stroke patients could benefit from thrombectomies; however, uptake varies significantly, with Ireland reporting around 10%, Germany at 11%, and the UK's Stroke Association indicating only 2.5% of stroke patients were offered the treatment in 2021.

Professor John Thornton from Beaumont Hospital in Dublin highlights the transformative potential of EVT, emphasizing the importance of timely administration for optimal patient outcomes.

Efforts to improve these services include training for interventional neuroradiologists and adapting service models to better fit local healthcare needs.

Ischemic strokes, which are the most common type, occur when a clot obstructs blood flow to the brain; traditional treatments like thrombolysis are less effective for large clots, with success rates around 10-20%.

In Ireland, the thrombectomy service has been developed without additional funding and is gradually expanding its 24/7 availability as more professionals are trained, utilizing local anesthesia to minimize the need for on-call anesthetists.

Despite the clear benefits, many countries face challenges in establishing thrombectomy centers that operate 24/7, often due to resource limitations and difficulties in quickly transferring patients to these specialized facilities.

Endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) has been proven to be significantly more effective than medical therapy alone for treating acute ischemic strokes caused by large vessel occlusion, yet its adoption remains low across Europe.

This procedure, which involves using a catheter to directly remove clots from blood vessels, is considered a 'game changer' in preventing severe disability and death among stroke patients.

By 2021, over 204 hospitals in Germany had been certified to perform thrombectomies, yet many patients still do not receive timely treatment, underscoring the need for improved access.

European experts are actively working to enhance thrombectomy services by establishing dedicated centers and training interventionalists, although progress is often hindered by various logistical challenges.