Objective To evaluate the clinical effectiveness of Solitaire AB stent thrombectomy for acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Methods A retrospective study was carried out in 94 AIS patients admitted in our department from November 2014 to January 2016. According to the treatment they received, they were divided into group A (Solitaire AB stent thrombectomy, n=40) and group B (conventional microcatheter mechanical thrombectomy, n=54). All patients were followed up for 3 months. Their pre- and post-operative nerve function indices were compared between the 2 groups. The therapeutic effects were evaluated by thrombolysis in cerebral infarction (TICI) perfusion scale, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) and modified Rankin scale (MRS). SPSS statistics 16.0 was used to perform the statistical analysis. Independent sample t test or Chi-square test was employed for intergroup comparison, while paired t test for intragroup comparison. Results There were no significant differences in the serum levels of neuron-specific enolase (NSE), central nerve specific protein (S100β), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) at the same time point between the 2 groups (P>0.05). In both groups, the serum levels of NSE, S100β, TNF-α and IL-6 were significantly elevated in 24 h post-operatively, and then decreased in 72 h than those before operation (P<0.05). In group A, there were 70.00%(28/40) patients of TICI grade Ⅲ, 17.50%(7/40) of TICI grade Ⅱ, 12.50%(5/40) of TICI grade 0-Ⅰ. And the percentages were 57.41%(31/54), 25.93%(14/54), and 16.67%(9/54) respectively in the patients of group B, without significantly diffe-rences when compared with those of group A (P＝0.238). Though no significant difference was seen in NIHSS scores between group A and group B at same time point (P>0.05), the scores were obviously decreased in 1 and 2 weeks postoperatively than those before operation (P<0.05). After 3 months, there was no significant difference in the ratio of better prognosis between the 2 groups (80.00% vs 70.37%, P>0.05). Conclusion Solitaire AB stent thrombectomy shows similar efficacy as conventional mechanical thrombolysis in the treatment of AIS patients, but the operation is relatively complicated and difficult. Clinicians should choose rational surgical approaches according to patient′s condition.