Intra-arterial Stroke Treatment prior to the Stent-Retriever Era: High Mortality and Lack of Volume-Outcome Association

IAT for 2007-2010 was associated with higher patient mortality than recent and prior clinical trials. Treated Medicare patients were considerably older than clinical trial populations. Hospitals had little influence on mortality, and increased hospital volume was not associated with lower mortality. Future real-world experience should monitor these parameters as use of stent retrievers disseminates.