Although both atrial fibrillation and cerebral embolism are risk factors for haemorrhagic transformation of cerebral infarction [1], it is the fact that thrombolysis compounds this risk [1] which constitutes the challenge highlighted by the review article [2]. The risk of thrombolysis-related haemorrhagic transformation can be entirely avoided through the sole use of mechanical thrombectomy as a strategy to recanalise cerebral arteries occluded by embolic thrombi. Promising results from this strategy were obtained from an analysis of the results of a retrospective observational study of 130 subjects who were ineligible for intravenous thrombolysis [3].
