Article Text
Abstract
Background The overall safety and efficacy of mechanical thrombectomy (MT) for acute ischemic stroke (AIS) in frail patients is not well delineated. This systematic review aims to summarize and compare outcomes in frail and non-frail patients who underwent MT for AIS.
Methods A systematic review of the literature was performed using PubMed, Ovid Medline, and Web of Science to identify studies with outcomes-related data for frail patients with MT-treated AIS. The recanalization rate, procedural complications, and clinical outcome at 90-day follow-up were collected.
Results In the four included studies there were 642 frail patients and 499 non-frail patients. Frail patients had reduced rates of good functional outcomes (29% vs 42%; χ2=22, p<0.01) and increased 90-day mortality (51% vs 25%; χ2=38, p<0.01) compared with non-frail patients.
Conclusion MT for treatment of AIS in frail patients may be associated with worse rates of morbidity and mortality along with reduced efficacy. Given that no studies to date directly compare conservative measures with endovascular management for AIS in frail patients, more studies are required to further evaluate and identify characteristics that may improve outcomes in these patients.
- Stroke
- Thrombectomy
Data availability statement
No data are available.
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Footnotes
Contributors MSP and RTK conceived the idea for the manuscript. MSP served as the guarantor. ND and JK were involved in conducting the systematic review, creating tables and figures, and analyzing data. ND, JK, MSP, and RTK were all major contributors to writing and editing the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.
Competing interests None declared.
Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; internally peer reviewed.
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