Ischemic Post-conditioning in Acute Ischemic Stroke Thrombectomy (PROTECT-1b)

Inclusion Criteria: * Age ≥ 18 years; * Acute ischemic stroke within 24 hours from stroke onset (or from time last known well) to groin puncture; * Previous mRS ≤ 2; * Baseline NIHSS ≥ 6; * Baseline ASPECTS ≥ 6; * With an occlusion of unilateral middle cerebral artery M1 segment/distal intracranial carotid artery; * Successful recanalization (mTICI ≥ 2b) after thrombectomy confirmed by DSA; * Written informed consent provided by the patients or their legal relatives. Exclusion Criteria: * Confirmed or clinically suspected cerebral vasculitis/fibromuscular dysplasia; * Difficulty in reaching the designated position of the balloon used for ischemic post-conditioning; * Stenting in the middle cerebral artery M1 segment/distal intracranial carotid artery during thrombectomy; * \> 2 times balloon dilations as rescue therapy due to angioplasty during thrombectomy; * Moderate/severe residual stenosis (≥ 50%) in the offending artery after thrombectomy; * Patients with contraindications to MRI; * Other conditions that the investigator considered inappropriate for inclusion.