Data extraction and outcome measures

Baseline characteristics of each study population were collected, including age, gender, lesion location, clinical presentation, past medical history, baseline NIHSS and mRS scores, and use rates of intravenous thrombolysis for stroke management.

Outcomes of interest were stratified by applied medical treatment into two groups; patients receiving VKA and ones treated with NOAC. Clinical outcomes included good outcomes (mRS 0–2), poor outcomes (mRS 3–5), mortality rates, rates of TIA or stroke, intracranial bleeding, and minor and major bleeding. Radiographic outcomes included partial or total angiographic recanalization rates of the occluded dissected vessel and rates of angiographic worsening. Angiographic worsening was defined as a progressive occlusive or aneurysmal morphological changes in the dissected vessel.