In recent years, endovascular stroke therapy has received considerable attention after multiple trials demonstrating positive outcomes. The pathological target of this intervention involves large-vessel occlusion with a severely ischaemic core and susceptible penumbra region, which includes brain cells with tenuous viability. Cells in this penumbra region receive some collateral perfusion, but signs of cellular and metabolic stress are present, and infarction ensues without timely restoration of blood flow [2]. Furthermore, the extent of the stroke and long-term neurological outcomes might be related to the anaesthetic technique. Retrospective data from multiple studies show worse stroke outcomes in patients who received general anaesthesia compared with conscious sedation. These results could certainly have been interpreted to suggest that the practice of administering general anaesthesia for stroke interventions was clinically inappropriate. Before a change in practice, however, important potential confounders in these retrospective studies needed to be addressed