• CARDIOLOGY

Simple solutions work. A plumber who unblocks a pipe can make the water run again. A neurointerventionist who pulls the clot from a blocked artery in time can restore brain perfusion and prevent irreversible ischaemic brain damage. Cardiologists paved the way by directly unblocking or stenting occluded arteries to save the heart from ischaemia. Developments in the technology have allowed its practical translation to the cerebral circulation. David Werring and colleagues review the techniques involved in mechanical thrombectomy and the evidence underpinning their use ( see page 252 ). However, knowing that mechanical thrombectomy works is only part of the solution; how can this be delivered to patients? The logistical challenges are considerable and will differ between countries, depending on their geography, population demographics, siting of hospitals and numbers and distribution of neurointerventionalists. Andrew Clifton’s editorial discusses the UK perspective ( see page 250 ) in the sure knowledge that …