Analysis of the Outcome and Prognostic Factors of Decompressive Craniectomy between Young and Elderly Patients for Acute Middle Cerebral Artery Infarction

OBJECTIVE: We compared the effect of decompressive craniectomy between patients < 65 and ≥ 65 years age and investigated prognostics factors that may help predict favorable outcome in acute stroke patients undergoing decompressive surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 52 patients diagnosed with acute middle cerebral artery (MCA) territory infarction that underwent decompressive craniectomy were retrospectively reviewed. The outcome of all patients were evaluated by assessing the Glasgow coma scale, Glasgow outcome scale (GOS), and Modified Rankin scale (mRS) six months after the onset of the disease. 21 patients were preoperatively evaluated with a computed tomography angiography (CTA). Leptomeningeal collateral (LMC) circulation was graded using CTA by experienced neurosurgeons to assess its prognostic value. RESULTS: The thirty day mortality for patients ≥ 65 was 35.0% compared to 37.5% in patients < 65. There was no significant difference in the clinical and function outcome between the two groups (4.8 ± 1.2 vs. 4.5 ± 1.5, p = 0.474). Mortality was lower with early surgery (within 24 hours) group for both age groups (25% vs. 37.5% in ≥ 65, 20% vs. 40.7% in < 65). Longer intensive care units stay time and good collateral supply score were correlated with favorable outcome (p = 0.028, p = 0.018). CONCLUSION: Decompressive craniectomy within 24 hours of stroke symptom onset improved survival in both the < 65 and ≥ 65 age groups. There was no significant difference in the functional outcome of both age groups. Unlike previous reports, old age, delayed operation, and multiple of infarct territories were not predictive of poor functional outcome. The presence of good collateral circulation may be a predictor of positive clinical outcome in acute ischemic stroke patients undergoing decompressive craniectomy.