Mechanical Thrombectomy for Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients Aged 80 Years or Older

Background: There are limited data about the prognostic factors predicting outcomes after mechanical thrombectomy with stent retrievers for the elderly. Here, we evaluated outcomes in elderly patients in a real-world setting. Methods: Between April 2015 and January 2017, 80 patients with anterior intracranial acute large vessel occlusion, who had lived independently before ictus, were treated with mechanical thrombectomy using a stent retriever at our institute. We compared outcomes between patients >= 80 years old (n = 36) and those <80 years old (n = 44), and assessed prognostic factors for favorable outcomes (modified Rankin Scale score 0-2) at 90 days in all patients. Results: There was no significant difference in baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score and Alberta Stroke Program Early Computed Tomography Score between the 2 groups. Successful revascularization (modified Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction [mTICI] scores 2b/3) (83% versus 93%, P = .286), complete recanalization (mTICI 3) (47% versus 50%, P = .826), and favorable outcomes (42% versus 57%, P = .261) were achieved more often in those <80 years old, but differences did not reach statistical significance. Multivariate regression analysis showed that baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (P = .013) and mTICI scores of 3 (P = .006) were significant predictive factors, but being >= 80 years old and baseline Alberta Stroke Program Early Computed Tomography Score were not. In those >= 80 years old, mTICI score of 3 was an influential factor for favorable outcome (P = .017). Conclusions: Being aged 80 years or older was not a significant predictor for outcomes after mechanical thrombectomy, whereas complete recanalization was an influential predictor of outcome in the elderly.