Wrist vs groin: which artery route is best for stroke clot removal?

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: 1. Acute ischemic stroke in the posterior circulation confirmed by symptoms and imaging examinations. 2. Basilar artery occlusion confirmed by computed tomographic angiography (CTA), magnetic resonance angiography (MRA), or digital subtraction angiography (DSA). 3. Age ≥ 18 years. 4. Time from symptom onset to randomization within 24 hours of the estimated time of basilar artery occlusion. 5. Baseline NIHSS score ≥ 10 before randomization. 6. Intact dual circulation of the hand assessed by the modified Allen's test. 7. Written informed consent from patients or their legally authorized representatives. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Pre-stroke disability with mRS score ≥ 3. 2. Pregnant or lactating women. 3. Allergic to contrast agents or nitinol devices. 4. Participation in other clinical trials. 5. Systolic blood pressure \> 185 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure \> 110mmHg, and can not be controlled by antihypertensive drugs. 6. Known genetic or acquired bleeding diathesis, lack of coagulation factors; or oral anticoagulant therapy with INR \> 1.7. 7. Baseline lab values: blood glucose \< 50mg/dL (2.8mmol/L) or \> 400mg/dL (22.2 mmol/L), platelet count \< 50\*109 /L, or hematocrit \< 25%. 8. Life expectancy less than 1 year. 9. Lost to follow-up within 90 days (e.g. no fixed residence, overseas patients, etc.). 10. Acute ischemic stroke within 48 hours after percutaneous coronary intervention, cerebrovascular intervention, or major surgery (patients can be included if more than 48 hours). 11. Clinical manifestations of central nervous system vasculitis. 12. Premorbid nervous system diseases or mental disorders hindering the assessment of the disease. 13. Diseases or anatomical abnormalities that make it difficult for radial or femoral artery puncture, sheath insertion or instrument delivery, such as local infection, anatomical abnormalities confirmed by ultrasound or other imaging examinations, previous interventional or open surgery.