Important Announcements

Nondiscrimination Statement Update

Boston Medical Center Health System complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, national origin (including limited English proficiency and primary language), religion, culture, physical or mental disabilities, socioeconomic status, sex, sexual orientation and gender identity and/or expression. BMCHS provides free aids and services to people with disabilities and free language services to people whose primary language is not English.

To see our full nondiscrimination statement, click here.

Campus Construction Update

Starting September 14, we’re closing the Menino building lobby entrance. This, along with the ongoing Yawkey building entrance closure, will help us bring you an even better campus experience that matches the exceptional care you've come to expect. Please enter the Menino and Yawkey buildings through the Moakley building, and make sure to leave extra time to get to your appointment. Thank you for your patience. 

Click here to learn more about our campus redesign. 

MR RESCUE

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MR RESCUE: A Trial of Imaging Selection and Endovascular Treatment for Ischemic Stroke 

Sponsor: NIH

Investigators: Carlos Kase MD (principal), Viken Babikian MD, Thanh Nguyen MD, Jose Romero MD

MR RESCUE Investigators: CS. Kidwell, R Jahan, J Gornbein, JR Alger, V Nenov, Z Ajani, L Feng, BC Meyer, S Olson, LH Schwamm, AJ Yoo, RS Marshall, P M Meyers, DR Yavagal, M Wintermark, J Guzy, S Starkman, and JL Saver 

N Engl J Med 2013; 368:914-923 March 7, 2013 DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa1212793

 

In this study, patients were randomly assigned within 8 hours after the onset of large-vessel, anterior-circulation strokes to undergo mechanical embolectomy (Merci Retriever or Penumbra System) or receive standard care. All patients underwent pretreatment computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging of the brain. Randomization was stratified according to whether the patient had a favorable penumbral pattern (substantial salvageable tissue and small infarct core) or a nonpenumbral pattern (large core or small or absent penumbra). Outcomes were assessed using the 90-day modified Rankin scale, ranging from 0 (no symptoms) to 6 (dead).

 

In conclusion, a favorable penumbral pattern on neuroimaging did not identify patients who would differentially benefit from endovascular therapy for acute ischemic stroke, nor was embolectomy shown to be superior to standard care.

(Funded by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke; MR RESCUE ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00389467.)