Optimal anesthetic mode is not established for patients with vertebrobasilar stroke undergoing endovascular treatment. We want to investigate whether a procedural sedation mode approach is feasible compared to general anesthesia

Endovascular treatment has become standard of care for many patients with acute ischemic strokes due to large vessel occlusions and is recommended by several national and international guidelines. Several studies have shown that anesthetic modality during endovascular treatment might affect the functional outcome. While much evidence has been generated for ischemic stroke of the anterior circulation, only a few studies have investigated anesthetic modalities in strokes with occlusions of the vertebrobasilar arteries. The majority of patients with vertebrobasilar occlusion strokes undergo endovascular procedure in general anesthesia and not a less burdensome sedation despite the lack of evidence for that approach. A few retrospective studies and a small single-center prospective randomized trial investigating this topic indicate that primary procedural sedation might be a feasible anesthetic approach. Here we aim to provide further high-level evidence by conducting a prospective randomized clinical trial with a PROBE (parallel-group, open-label randomized controlled with blinded endpoint evaluation) design for this research question.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Decision for thrombectomy according to local protocol for acute recanalizing stroke treatment
2. Age 18 years or older, either sex
3. National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) ≥ 4
4. Acute ischemic stroke in the posterior circulation with isolated or combined occlusion of vertebral artery (VA) and basilar artery (BA)
5. Informed consent by the patient him-/herself or his/her legal representative obtainable within 72 h of treatment (deferred consenting procedure)

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Intracerebral hemorrhage
2. Coma on admission (Glasgow Coma Scale ≤ 8)
3. Severe respiratory instability, loss of airway protective reflexes or vomiting on admission, where primary intubation and general anesthesia is deemed necessary
4. Intubated state before randomization
5. Severe hemodynamic instability (e.g. due to decompensated cardiac insufficiency)