ABBREVIATIONS AIS: Acute ischemic stroke CT: computed tomography ASPECTS: Alberta Stroke Program Early Computed Tomography Score CTA: computed tomography angiography ICA: internal carotid artery LVO: large vessel occlusion MCA: middle cerebral artery MT: Mechanical thrombectomy mRS: modified Rankin scale n: Number of patients NIHSS: The National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale TICI: The thrombolysis in cerebral infarction CHAPTER 1 - OVERVIEW 1.1.