Mothership and Drip-and-Ship Strategies in Mechanical Thrombectomy for Acute Ischemic Stroke.
Ann Emerg MedMay 5, 2026 (epub)
Lei Guo, Jun Zhang, Guo Tang et al.
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In 30 seconds
This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the effectiveness of mothership versus drip-and-ship strategies for acute ischemic stroke due to large vascular occlusion in 25,005 patients. The study found that the mothership approach was associated with a higher likelihood of achieving a 90-day modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score of 0 to 2 (OR 1.15).
Key findings
- Mothership strategy increased the likelihood of achieving 90-day mRS 0 to 2 (OR 1.15).
- No significant difference in 90-day mRS 0 to 3 (OR 1.12).
- Successful recanalization rates were similar between strategies (OR 1.03).
- No difference in 90-day mortality (OR 0.99).
Why it matters
Understanding the comparative effectiveness of transport strategies for acute ischemic stroke can guide clinical decision-making and optimize patient outcomes. The findings suggest that while mothership may improve certain functional outcomes, broader impacts on mortality and complications remain similar.