National trends in endovascular thrombectomy and decompressive craniectomy for acute ischemic stroke: A study using...

Ischemic stroke is a frequently encountered neurologic process with wide-spanning impact. A dreaded complication is "malignant" cerebral edema, necessitating decompression to reduce herniation risk. Following the publication of several landmark trials in 2015, endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) with novel clot-removal devices has emerged as an effective treatment for proximal large vessel disease. Herein, we examine recent national trends in EVT and decompressive craniectomy (DC) rates for acute stroke.

National Inpatient Sample data were abstracted from 2006 to 2016. Primary outcomes were EVT and DC rates, compared using Cochrane-Armitage test of trend. Chi-square test was also used to compare data from 2015 to 2016. Secondary outcomes included inpatient mortality and home discharge rates.

EVT rates steadily increased from 2006 to 2016, with most change occurring from 2014 to 2016 (1.36% in 2014, 2.29% in 2016). DC rates similarly increased from 2006 to 2015, though a sharp decline was observed in 2016 (0.42% in 2015, 0.22% in 2016). Test of trend from 2006 to 2016 for both variables was found to be statistically significant (p = 0.001); DC rate change from 2015 to 2016 was also statistically significant (p < 0.01). Mortality rate and home discharge rate steadily improved over the study period.

Recent innovation in stroke treatment has led to increased EVTs. While DC rate initially followed this same trend, a significant decline was noted in 2016, around the time that wider adoption of novel EVT technologies were instituted in clinical practice.