Introduction: Randomized trials showed a certain benefit of mechanical thrombectomy (MT) also in selected patients over 80 years, however data about non-selected population from a real clinical practice are missing. Thus, we aimed to report outcomes of patients over 80 years and compared them to younger ones.

Methods: Retrospective analysis involved all patients treated with MT (stent-retrievers) in both centers in 2010-2017. Neurological deficit was assessed with the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) and final outcome after 3 months using the modified Rankin scale (mRS); good clinical outcome was scored 0-2. The achieved recanalization was rated with Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction (TICI) scale. Presence of symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (SICH) was assessed according to the SITS- MOST criteria.

Results: Of 703 enrolled patients, 138 (19.6%) were over 80 years (52 males, mean age 84 ± 3.4 years) with a median admission NIHSS of 18 points. Recanalization (TICI 2b-3) was achieved in 107 (77.5%) patients, SICH in 8 (5.8%) and good clinical outcome in 47 (34.1%) patients. 59 (42.8 %) patients died within 3 months. No difference was found in rate of achieved recanalization (p-0.38) and SICH (p-0.67) between patients over 80 years and patients aged 65-80 years, but the rate of mRS 0-2 was lower (p-0.004) and mortality higher (p-0.001) in older patients.

MECHANICAL THROMBECTOMY FOR ACUTE ISCHEMIC STROKE IN PATIENTS OVER 80 YEARS IN A REAL CLINICAL PRACTICE: GIVE ALL A CHANCE?