Conclusion
Perioperative stroke is a devastating complication following cardiac surgery, with an overall incidence of approximately 2%. Unfortunately, the risk factors for stroke and cardiovascular disease significantly overlap which have hindered efforts to predict patients at elevated risk preoperatively. Perioperative stroke is associated with significantly inferior outcomes in terms of both morbidity and mortality, in particular a 28% reduction in 1-year survival. The potential to reduce morbidity and mortality with the emergence of mechanical thrombectomy, demonstrates the need for clear links between cardiothoracic and stroke teams to support individuals affected by perioperative stroke