MAnagement of Systolic Blood Pressure During Thrombectomy by Endovascular Route for Acute Ischaemic STROKE (MASTERSTROKE)

December 30, 2025 updated by: Auckland City Hospital

MAnagement of Systolic Blood Pressure During Thrombectomy by Endovascular Route for Acute Ischaemic STROKE: the MASTERSTROKE Trial

Stroke is the third most common cause of death in New Zealand and is one of the leading causes of long-term disability at all ages. A life-saving clot retrieval procedure can save lives and prevent disability of patients with ischaemic stroke who get to hospital in time. In New Zealand, 90% of clot retrieval procedures are performed under general anaesthesia. Many anaesthetic drugs can affect blood pressure (BP) and blood flow within the brain. Increasing BP during the procedure could provide additional benefits in this devastating disease. A large trial is needed to investigate BP management during clot retrieval.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Active, not recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

Internationally stroke ranks second among all causes of disability and is adding to considerable worldwide healthcare burden. Over the last 5 years a new procedure to remove clots (Endovascular Thrombectomy - EVT) has been effective for the treatment of acute large strokes, with significant reductions in long term patient disability compared to standard treatment. However, there minimal guidance on blood pressure management during the procedure. The brain is especially vulnerable to low blood pressure during the acute stroke period due to low blood supply, impairment of how the brain regulates blood flow and further falls in blood flow to the brain. High blood pressure may be beneficial due to increased blood flow in areas at risk during this time. It could be harmful due to brain injury process, swelling, and bleeding into the brain. Conversely, relatively low blood pressure could be harmful. Current evidence is limited to large observational studies. This randomised controlled study will examine the safety and efficacy of two systolic blood pressures (SBP) management arms during general anaesthesia for EVT on outcomes in patients with acute ischaemic stroke.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
550

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

  • Australia
    • New South Wales
      • Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 2065
        • Royal North Shore Hospital
    • Queensland
      • Southport, Queensland, Australia, 4215
        • Gold Coast University Hospital
      • Woolloongabba, Queensland, Australia, 4102
        • Metro South Hospital and Health Service via the Princess Alexandra Hospital
  • New Zealand
    • Auckland
      • Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand, 1023
        • Auckland City Hopsital
    • Canterbury
      • Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand, 8140
        • Christchurch Hospital
    • Wellington Region
      • Newton, Wellington Region, New Zealand, 6021
        • Wellington Regional Hospital

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Patients diagnosed with anterior circulation stroke (ICA or proximal M1 or M2 segment of MCA) treated with ECR within 6 hrs of stroke onset and ECR patients presenting within 6-24 hours and favourable penumbra on perfusion scanning (see criteria 1-3).

Additional criteria in the 6 to 24-hour window.

  1. 'wake up' stroke; CT with no (or at most minimal) acute infarction or
  2. patient 80 years or older (NIHSS of 10 and infarct volume less than 21 ml on DWI or CT perfusion-CBF)
  3. patient less than 80 years (NIHSS of 10 and infarct volume less than 31 ml on DWI or CT perfusion-CBF NIHSS of 20 and infarct volume less than 51 ml on DWI or CT perfusion-CBF).

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Rescue"' procedures eg acute ischaemic stroke associated with major medical procedures such as coronary artery stenting and coronary artery bypass

    • pre-stroke mRS>=3
    • not having GA
    • terminal illness with expected survival <1 year
    • pregnancy
    • cardiovascular conditions where BP targeting will be contra-indicated
    • unable to participate in 3-month follow up

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Triple

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Active Comparator: Augmented - Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP) at 170mmHg +/- 10 mmHg
Techniques used to target SBP will not be controlled for and will be at the discretion of the procedural anaesthetist to manage blood pressure, this can include vasopressors, intravenous fluids, titration of anaesthetic maintenance drugs and use of other vasoactive drugs.
Procedure: Blood pressure management of Systolic Blood Pressure to maintain target range +/- 10 mmHg
Techniques used to target SBP will not be controlled for and will be at the discretion of the procedural anaesthetist to manage blood pressure, this can include vasopressors, intravenous fluids, titration of anaesthetic maintenance drugs and use of other vasoactive drugs.
Active Comparator: Standard - Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP) at 140mmHg +/- 10 mmHg
Techniques used to target SBP will not be controlled for and will be at the discretion of the procedural anaesthetist to manage blood pressure, this can include vasopressors, intravenous fluids, titration of anaesthetic maintenance drugs and use of other vasoactive drugs.
Procedure: Blood pressure management of Systolic Blood Pressure to maintain target range +/- 10 mmHg
Techniques used to target SBP will not be controlled for and will be at the discretion of the procedural anaesthetist to manage blood pressure, this can include vasopressors, intravenous fluids, titration of anaesthetic maintenance drugs and use of other vasoactive drugs.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Day 90 Modified Rankin Score
Time Frame: 90 days Post Thrombectomy
The Modified Rankin Score (mRS) is a 6 point disability scale with possible scores ranging from 0 (no symptoms at all) to 5 (severe disability). A separate category of 6 is usually added for patients who are deceased.
90 days Post Thrombectomy

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Days Alive out of Hospital (DAOH)
Time Frame: 90 days Post Thrombectomy
The number of days a participant spends at home in the first 90 days post-stroke (home days/DAH90 confirmed by patient follow-up and clinical note review.
90 days Post Thrombectomy
All cause mortality
Time Frame: 90 days Post Thrombectomy
All cause mortality confirmed by patient follow-up and clinical note review.
90 days Post Thrombectomy
Complicaiton of importance - symptomatic intracranial haemorrhage
Time Frame: From randomisation until 36 hours post treatment
Proportion of patients with symptomatic intracranial haemorrhage (within 36 hours of treatment) as documented in medical records.
From randomisation until 36 hours post treatment
Independent functionality
Time Frame: 90 days Post Thrombectomy
Independent functional outcome as determined by a modified Rankin Score of 0,1,or 2 at 90 Days. The Modified Rankin Score (mRS) is a 6 point disability scale with possible scores ranging from 0 (no symptoms at all) to 5 (severe disability). A separate category of 6 is usually added for patients who are deceased.
90 days Post Thrombectomy
Intraprocedural complications
Time Frame: From randomisation until 36 hours post treatment
Proportion of patients with intra-procedural complications (target vessel dissection, intracerebral haemorrhage, groin haematoma) as documented in medical records.
From randomisation until 36 hours post treatment

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Auckland City Hospital

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
The University of Queensland
Auckland Medical Research Foundation
The Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (ANZCA)
Neurological Foundation of New Zealand
Auckland Hospitals Research and Endowment Fund

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Doug Campbell, Dr, Auckland City Hospital

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

Helpful Links

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
November 28, 2019

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
January 31, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
February 28, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
November 30, 2022

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
November 30, 2022

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
December 12, 2022

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
January 5, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
December 30, 2025

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
November 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • MasterStroke vs 1.4
  • ACTRN12619001274167 (Registry Identifier: Australia New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry)
  • 1920 PG (Other Grant/Funding Number: Neurological Foundation)
  • 22/001 (Other Grant/Funding Number: Australia New Zealand College of Anaesthesia)
  • A+ 8173 (Other Grant/Funding Number: Auckland Hospitals Research and Endowment Fund)
  • 2119013 (Other Grant/Funding Number: Auckland Medical Research Foundation)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

IPD Plan Description

At this time the steering committee have not developed an IPD data sharing plan. Once the decision has been made regarding this process the information will be updated accordingly.

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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