A new study published in The New England Journal of Medicine has found that removing a blood clot from the brain may help some stroke patients recover better, even when treatment begins 24 to 72 hours after symptoms start.

The study found that patients who underwent a procedure to remove the clot had better recovery outcomes after 90 days than those who received medicines and other standard care alone. However, the procedure also increased the risk of bleeding in the brain and death. The findings were published online on October 23, 2026.

“The key is advanced brain imaging, which helps identify patients who still have salvageable brain tissue and may benefit from restoring blood flow. However, the findings should not be interpreted as a reason to delay seeking treatment. The study also reported an increased risk of symptomatic brain haemorrhage and death in the intervention group, underscoring the need for careful patient selection and specialist assessment.…