Impact of balloon guide catheter use on procedural efficacy and early neurological outcomes in endovascular thrombectomy for anterior circulation acute ischemic stroke: a propensity-score-matched analysis.

69 min [43-95], p < 0.001).

In multivariate analysis, balloon guide catheters use was associated with early neurological improvement before, but not after, adjustment for procedural variables.

Lower pre-stroke mRS and baseline NIHSS, higher baseline ASPECTS, intravenous thrombolysis, FPE, successful reperfusion, and shorter procedure time were associated with increased odds of early neurological improvement.