Mechanical Thrombectomy for M2 versus M1 Occlusions: A Propensity-Matched Analysis With Severity-Stratified Assessment of Early Neurological Improvement

The authors aimed to compare the outcomes of mechanical thrombectomy (MT) for M1 versus M2 occlusions in patients with isolated medium-vessel occlusions, using propensity score matching to account for confounding factors. Their analysis revealed that M2 occlusions were associated with significantly better outcomes and lower mortality rates, particularly in patients with moderate to severe neurological deficits. These findings suggest that the benefits of MT may be more pronounced in M2 occlusions, especially among those with higher baseline NIHSS scores, highlighting a potential gap in representation in recent randomized controlled trials.