Table 3.

Suitability Criteria for MAC vs. GA for Endovascular Therapy (EVT) during COVID-19 Pandemic[2]

Scenario in which MAC may be Preferred	Scenario in which GA may be preferred
Suspected COVID-19 patients with:	Suspected/Confirmed COVID-19 patients with signs of:
No signs of acute respiratory distress or hypoxemia and require high flow oxygen	Acute respiratory distress/hypoxemia and require high flow oxygen
No signs of active cough or vomiting	Active cough
Able to protect airway	Active vomiting
	Inability to protect airway
Occlusions in:	Occlusions in:
Anterior circulation	Posterior circulation
Nondominant cerebral hemisphere	Dominant cerebral hemisphere
NIHSS score <15	NIHSS >15 (Severe stroke)
GCS score >9	GCS score <9
Calm/cooperative patients	Agitated/uncooperative/aphasic patients

MAC; Monitored Anesthesia Care; GA: General Anesthesia; NIHSS: National Institute of Health Stroke Scale; GCS: Glasgow Coma Scale Score