While highlighting the benefits of endovascular clot retrieval (ECR), Hwang and Gawarikar1 identified Victoria as establishing the first statewide 24/7 ECR service in Australia. We agree with the authors’ caution against focusing on a singular therapy for a few patients at the cost of delivering basic, high quality stroke care to all. As they note in the article, offering ECR requires capacity to appropriately assess patients with advanced imaging and to treat or transfer patients if ECR is indicated.1
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- 1. Hwang YT, Gawarikar Y. Clot retrieval and acute stroke care. Med J Aust 2017; 206: 333-334. <MJA full text>
- 2. Cadilhac DA, Moloczij N, Denisenko S, et al. Establishment of an effective acute stroke telemedicine program for Australia: protocol for the Victorian Stroke Telemedicine project. Int J Stroke 2014; 9: 252-258.
- 3. State of Victoria, Department of Health and Human Services. Endovascular clot retrieval for acute stroke: statewide service protocol for Victoria. Melbourne: Department of Health and Human Services; 2016. https://www2.health.vic.gov.au/about/publications/policiesandguidelines/endovascular-clot-retrieval-for-acute-stroke-statewide-service-protocol (accessed May 2017).
- 4. Bagot KL, Bladin CF, Vu M, et al. Exploring the benefits of a stroke telemedicine programme: an organisational and societal perspective. J Telemed Telecare 2016; 22: 489-494.
- 5. National Stroke Foundation. National stroke audit: acute services report 2015. Melbourne: National Stroke Foundation; 2015. https://informme.org.au/en/stroke-data/Acute-audits (accessed May 2017).
No relevant disclosures.