Injecting Clot-Dissolving Drug After Removing Large Brain Artery Clot Improves Stroke Outcomes
By HospiMedica International staff writers Posted on 10 Feb 2025 |

Approximately 1 in 5 ischemic strokes, which are caused by a clot, occur due to a blockage in a large artery in the brain (large vessel occlusions). The standard treatment for this type of stroke is the swift removal of the clot to restore blood flow using minimally invasive endovascular therapy. This procedure involves inserting a narrow catheter (small tube) and/or a stent into an artery to retrieve the clot and restore circulation, helping to prevent further brain damage. Without treatment, more than 80% of individuals with strokes caused by large vessel occlusions face disability, and 20% may die, according to previous research. Even when clots are successfully removed, up to half of the patients may either die or remain disabled three months after the stroke. Now, preliminary late-breaking research presented at the American Stroke Association’s International Stroke Conference 2025 indicates that removing a clot from a large brain artery and then injecting the clot-dissolving drug tenecteplase into the artery may help stroke survivors achieve better function 90 days after their stroke compared to those who receive standard clot removal treatment alone.
The study, led by neurologists from Beijing Anzhen Hospital (Beijing, China) across 19 centers in China, investigated the safety and efficacy of directly injecting tenecteplase into a large brain artery (intra-arterial injection) near the site where the clot had been removed, to restore blood flow. All participants had large vessel occlusions and were treated between 4.5 and 24 hours after the last time they were observed to be in good health. According to the study design, 127 patients received tenecteplase and successfully underwent endovascular therapy, while 129 patients received only standard medical care after successful clot removal. Disability was evaluated using the modified Rankin Scale, which ranges from 0 (no disability) to 6 (death).
The analysis revealed that stroke survivors who received the tenecteplase injection along with standard care after clot removal were 44% more likely to have an excellent outcome (modified Rankin score 0-1) after 90 days than those who only received standard care (40.5% vs. 26.4%). The incidence of brain bleeds within two days after treatment was similar for both groups, with 5.6% of those receiving tenecteplase and 6.2% of those receiving standard medical care experiencing brain bleeds. Furthermore, the death rates within 90 days were comparable for both groups, with 21.4% in the tenecteplase group and 21.7% in the standard care group. The researchers continue to follow the participants to evaluate their outcomes at one year. They believe these findings could potentially influence future treatment guidelines for stroke survivors who have undergone successful clot removal.
“Intra-arterial tenecteplase after successful thrombectomy could improve the percentage of people with an excellent outcome. It could also improve the rate of large vessel occlusion stroke survivors who can return to society and live independently,” said Xiaochuan Huo, M.D., Ph.D., lead author of the study.
Latest Critical Care News
- Novel Coating Significantly Extends Longevity of Implantable Biosensors
- Nanogel-Based Drug Delivery Technology to Improve UTI Treatment
- New IV Pole Improves Safety and Ease of Administering IV Medications at Hospital Bedside
- Battery-Powered Wearable Device Monitors Joint Pain
- Wireless Pacifier Monitors Vitals of NICU Babies Without Need for Painful Blood Draws
- Breakthrough Sensor Technology Tracks Stroke After Effects
- New Study Demonstrates AI-Assisted Detection of Reduced Ejection Fraction
- Novel 3D Adipose Tissue Bioprinting Method to Find Applications in Regenerative Medicine
- Miniaturized Pacemaker for Newborns Found Safe and Effective for Up to Two Years
- World’s First 3D Neural Electrode Uses Soft Actuation Technology to Avoid Nerve Damage
- Smartwatch Algorithm Detects Cardiac Arrest
- Blood-Brain Barrier “Organ Chip” Treats Brain Tumors Unreachable by Chemotherapy
- AI Model Could Use ECG Tests to Detect Premature Aging and Cognitive Decline
- World-First Technology Uses Real-Time ECG Signal Analysis for Accurate CVAD Placement
- AI Outperforms Humans at Analyzing Long-Term ECG Recordings
- Smart Sensor Enables Precise, Self-Powered Tracking of Healing Wounds
Channels
Artificial Intelligence
view channel
Innovative Risk Score Predicts Heart Attack or Stroke in Kidney Transplant Candidates
Heart researchers have utilized an innovative risk assessment score to accurately predict whether patients being evaluated for kidney transplants are at risk for future major cardiac events, such as a... Read more
AI Algorithm Detects Early-Stage Metabolic-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease Using EHRs
Liver disease, which is treatable when detected early, often goes unnoticed until it reaches advanced stages. Metabolic-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), the most prevalent form of liver disease,... Read moreSurgical Techniques
view channel
Easy-To-Apply Gel Could Prevent Formation of Post-Surgical Abdominal Adhesions
Surgical adhesions are a frequent and often life-threatening complication following open or laparoscopic abdominal surgery. These adhesions develop in the weeks following surgery as the body heals.... Read more
Groundbreaking Leadless Pacemaker to Prevent Invasive Surgeries for Children
Leadless pacemakers marked a significant advancement in cardiac care, primarily because traditional pacemakers are dependent on leads, which are prone to breakage over time. Currently, two FDA-approved... Read morePatient Care
view channel
Portable Biosensor Platform to Reduce Hospital-Acquired Infections
Approximately 4 million patients in the European Union acquire healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) or nosocomial infections each year, with around 37,000 deaths directly resulting from these infections,... Read more
First-Of-Its-Kind Portable Germicidal Light Technology Disinfects High-Touch Clinical Surfaces in Seconds
Reducing healthcare-acquired infections (HAIs) remains a pressing issue within global healthcare systems. In the United States alone, 1.7 million patients contract HAIs annually, leading to approximately... Read more
Surgical Capacity Optimization Solution Helps Hospitals Boost OR Utilization
An innovative solution has the capability to transform surgical capacity utilization by targeting the root cause of surgical block time inefficiencies. Fujitsu Limited’s (Tokyo, Japan) Surgical Capacity... Read more
Game-Changing Innovation in Surgical Instrument Sterilization Significantly Improves OR Throughput
A groundbreaking innovation enables hospitals to significantly improve instrument processing time and throughput in operating rooms (ORs) and sterile processing departments. Turbett Surgical, Inc.... Read moreHealth IT
view channel
Printable Molecule-Selective Nanoparticles Enable Mass Production of Wearable Biosensors
The future of medicine is likely to focus on the personalization of healthcare—understanding exactly what an individual requires and delivering the appropriate combination of nutrients, metabolites, and... Read more
Smartwatches Could Detect Congestive Heart Failure
Diagnosing congestive heart failure (CHF) typically requires expensive and time-consuming imaging techniques like echocardiography, also known as cardiac ultrasound. Previously, detecting CHF by analyzing... Read morePoint of Care
view channel
Handheld, Sound-Based Diagnostic System Delivers Bedside Blood Test Results in An Hour
Patients who go to a doctor for a blood test often have to contend with a needle and syringe, followed by a long wait—sometimes hours or even days—for lab results. Scientists have been working hard to... Read more
Smartphone-Enabled, Paper-Based Quantitative Diagnostic Platform Transforms POC Testing
Point-of-care diagnostics are crucial for public health, offering rapid, on-site testing that enables prompt diagnosis and treatment. This is especially valuable in remote or underserved regions where... Read moreBusiness
view channel
Becton Dickinson to Spin Out Biosciences and Diagnostic Solutions Business
Becton, Dickinson and Company (BD, Franklin Lakes, NJ, USA), has announced that its board of directors has unanimously authorized BD management to pursue a plan to separate BD's Biosciences and Diagnostic... Read more