Abstract
Since 2015 catheter-based mechanical thrombectomy (MT), employing stent retrievers (Solumbra approach) and more recently thrombus aspiration (ADAPT technique) have complemented and now have even replaced systemic thrombolysis as the first-line therapy for acute ischaemic stroke (AIS) involving the anterior circulation in patients within 6 h from the onset of symptoms. Better efficacy and improved clinical outcomes provide convincing and solid evidence to favour the catheter-based approach, further stressing the importance of rapid onset of reperfusion; every minute counts.