Does endovascular therapy change outcomes in nonagenarians with acute ischemic stroke?. (August 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Caruso, James P.; Wu, Eva; Vance, Awais Z.; Olson, Daiwai; Ban, Vin Shen; El Ahmadieh, Tarek Y.; Aoun, Salah G.; Barr, John D.; Novakovic, Roberta; Welch, Babu G.; White, Jonathan A.
• Is Part Of: Journal of clinical neuroscience. Volume 78(2020)
• Page Start: 207
• Page End: 210
• Publication Date: 2020-08
• Subjects: Ischemic stroke -- Endovascular -- Elderly -- Thrombectomy; Brain -- Surgery -- Periodicals; Neurosciences -- Periodicals; Nervous system -- Surgery -- Periodicals; Brain -- surgery -- Periodicals; Neurosurgical Procedures -- Periodicals; Neurosciences -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 616.8
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jocn.2020.04.060
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0967-5868

Abstract

Highlights: Nonagenarians are at high risk for morbidity after acute ischemic stroke. Data is needed to guide interventional treatment decisions for acute ischemic stroke. There is no functional benefit to thrombectomy over medical therapy in nonagenarians. In both groups, no intracranial hemorrhage was observed. Abstract: Background: Ischemic strokes can be devastating for elderly patients, and randomized control trials of mechanical thrombectomy have shown encouraging results. We present the first analysis of clinical outcomes in nonagenarians with acute ischemic stroke treated with best medical therapy compared to endovascular revascularization therapy. Methods : A retrospective analysis was performed on 42 patients 90 years or older who were treated for acute ischemic stroke. Modified Rankin scores were calculated immediately post-injury, at discharge, and at 30 days and 90 days following discharge. Student's t -test and Wald tests were performed to evaluate whether endovascular treatment was associated with modified Rankin Score improvement at discharge, 30 days, or 90 days after discharge. Results : Follow-up data were available for 32/42 (76%) and 20/42 (48%) patients at 30 and 90 days after discharge, respectively. 8/9 (89%) patients who underwent endovascular treatment reached Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction scale 2b or better with no procedural complications. 12/42 (29%) patients, including four who underwent endovascular treatment, were discharged to hospice or deceased. No significant differences in modified Rankin Score improvement were observed between the endovascular and medical management groups at discharge (p = 0.96), at 30 days (p = 0.63), or at 90 days (p = 0.96). Conclusions : Our analysis shows that revascularization therapy is a safe treatment, but it was not associated with improved functional status in nonagenarians with acute ischemic stroke. Endovascular therapy shows promise, and larger prospective studies are necessary to assess the benefits of revascularization therapy in the elderly population.