 |
|
COMMENTS AND OPINIONS
Percutaneous Clot Removal in Acute Ischemic Stroke
Pitchaiah Mandava, MD, PhD;
Thomas A. Kent, MD
|
|
| Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text and any section headings. |
|
|
|
We have many concerns regarding the article titled "Percutaneous Clot Removal Devices in Acute Ischemic Stroke: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis" by Stead et al.1 While we appreciate the need for an article reviewing the efficacy of thrombectomy devices, this particular review has serious methodological problems that put its conclusions of improved outcome with thrombectomy in doubt.
Stead and colleagues included both single case reports and series with small numbers. Studies with small numbers are most prone to publication bias.2 Methods such as the funnel plot are recommended to detect bias,2 but with small series where all subjects have the same outcome, the odds ratio would be an implausible 0 or infinity, making the funnel plot meaningless and casting doubt on the basis for the study's conclusions.
We note wide variability in the timing of outcomes, including studies with follow-up from 1 . . . [Full Text of this Article] AUTHOR INFORMATION
 CiteULike  Connotea  Del.icio.us  Digg  Reddit  Technorati  Twitter
What's this?
RELATED ARTICLE
Percutaneous Clot Removal Devices in Acute Ischemic Stroke: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Latha G. Stead, Rachel M. Gilmore, M. Fernanda Bellolio, Alejandro A. Rabinstein, and Wyatt W. Decker
Arch Neurol. 2008;65(8):1024-1030.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
RELATED LETTER
Percutaneous Clot Removal in Acute Ischemic Stroke—Reply
Wyatt W. Decker, Latha G. Stead, M. Fernanda Bellolio, Rachel M. Gilmore, and Alejandro A. Rabinstein
Arch Neurol. 2009;66(2):284.
EXTRACT
| FULL TEXT
|
