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Updated: Apr 8, 2026
Optimized Management of Endovascular Treatment for Acute Ischemic Stroke
Published on: January 18, 2018
Predictors of futile recanalization in nonagenarians treated with mechanical thrombectomy: a multi-center
Lucio D'Anna1,2, Giovanni Merlino3,4,5, Michele Romoli6
1Department of Stroke and Neuroscience, Charing Cross Hospital, Imperial College London NHS Healthcare Trust, London, UK. l.danna@imperial.ac.uk.
Background:
There is a lack of data regarding patients aged 90 years or older undergoing mechanical thrombectomy and their predictors of futile recanalization.
Aims:
We sought to evaluate the predictors of futile recanalization in patients ≥ 90 years with large vessel occlusion undergoing mechanical thrombectomy.
Methods:
This multi-center observational retrospective study included patients ≥ 90 years consecutively treated with mechanical thrombectomy in four thrombectomy capable centers between January 1st, 2016 and 30th March 2023. Futile recanalization was defined as large vessel occlusion patients experiencing a 90-day poor outcome (mRS 3-6) despite successful recanalization (mTICI ≥ 2b) after mechanical thrombectomy.
Results:
Our cohort included 139 patients ≥ 90 years with acute ischemic stroke due to anterior circulation large vessel occlusion treated with mechanical thrombectomy. One hundred seventeen of one hundred thirty-nine patients ≥ 90 years who achieved successful recanalization were included in the analysis (seventy-six female (64.9%)), of whom thirty-one (26.49%) experienced effective recanalization and eighty-six (73.51%) experienced futile recanalization. Patients with futile recanalization had higher NIHSS on admission (p < 0.001); they were less frequently treated with intravenous thrombolysis (p = 0.048), had more often general anesthesia (p = 0.011), and longer door to groin puncture delay (p = 0.002). Univariable regression analysis showed that use of intravenous thrombolysis (0.29, 95% CI 0.02-0.79, p = 0.034) and site of occlusion distal vs proximal (0.34, 95% CI 0.11-0.97, p = 0.044) were associated with reduced probability of futile recanalization while NIHSS on admission (1.29, 95% CI 1.16-1.45, p < 0.001), NIHSS at 24 h (1.15, 95% CI 1.07-1.25, p = 0.002), type of anesthesia used (4.18, 95% CI 1.57-11.08, p = 0.004), and door to groin puncture time (1.02, 95% CI 1.00-1.05, p = 0.005) were associated with increased probability of futile recanalization. Multivariable regression analysis showed that use of intravenous thrombolysis (0.44, 95% CI 0.09-0.88, p = 0.039) was associated with reduced probability of futile recanalization.
Conclusion:
Our study seems to suggest that mechanical thrombectomy with intravenous thrombolysis is associated with reduced probability of futile recanalization in a multi-center cohort of patients aged 90 years or older.
