KALAMAZOO, Michigan, USA, Nov. 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The New England Journal of Medicine published the results of the DAWN Trial, the first to provide compelling evidence in treating late window and wake-up stroke patients with mechanical thrombectomy. Currently, less than one in 10 patients suffering from an ischemic stroke receives thrombectomy, due in part to a lack of scientific evidence supporting treatment beyond six hours. The results shown in the DAWN trial have the potential to fundamentally change the paradigm of care for stroke patients globally.

According to Dr. Tudor Jovin, co-principal investigator from the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, "By quadrupling the size of the therapeutic time window, the consequence of DAWN is that many more patients with large vessel occlusion stroke have the potential to be treated with mechanical thrombectomy. DAWN validates the physiological, rather than time-based approach to patient selection for endovascular therapy."

"Time alone should no longer be a disqualifier for thrombectomy but rather only a source of urgency. We hope this new treatment paradigm will benefit a large proportion of patients who were previously deemed untreatable," commented Dr. Raul Nogueira, Professor of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Radiology at Emory University School of Medicine and Director of Neuroendovascular Service, Marcus Stroke & Neurosciences Center, Grady Memorial Hospital and co-principal investigator on the study.
"The results of the DAWN Trial offer the first level-one evidence of significant reduced disability in patients who present in the late time window," said Mark Paul, president of Stryker's Neurovascular division. "However, best outcomes are achieved when patients are treated as quickly as possible, requiring increased patient awareness, EMS outreach and hospital infrastructure to be in place."

The DAWN Trial reflects Stryker's commitment to clinical leadership and focus on patient pathway development. Sponsored by Stryker, the trial was designed to evaluate functional outcomes at 90 days in stroke patients treated with mechanical thrombectomy using the Trevo® Retriever compared to those receiving medical therapy alone. Patients were screened for inclusion in the trial if they had a stroke that started within six to 24 hours, or a stroke with an unknown time of onset—a significantly longer treatment window than the currently cleared thrombectomy indication.

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