The future of stroke is small

There has been a reinvigoration in the field of ischemic stroke over the past couple of years. Several positive trials [1] were published in 2015, demonstrating the superior effectiveness of mechanical thrombectomy in combination with intravenous thrombolysis compared with intravenous thrombolysis alone. The treatment effect in some trials [2] was truly impressive, with up to a 50% absolute benefit in one study of highly selected patients. Concurrently, a new field of prehospital stroke assessment, treatment and research has evolved. Both these developments have given some optimism to the field of neuroprotection, which had previously stalled in the wake of consistently neutral or...