Age-specific trends in intravenous thrombolysis and mechanical thrombectomy utilization in acute ischemic stroke in children under age 18

Objectives: To evaluate current trends in the utilization of intravenous thrombolysis (IV-tPA) and mechanical thrombectomy (MT) in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) in various age groups of children in the United States. Methods: We conducted a serial cross-sectional study using primary AIS admissions in children ⩽ 17 years (weighted n = 2807) contained in the 2009–2019 KIDS Inpatient Database. Age-specific utilization frequency of IV-tPA and MT were calculated. Multivariable-adjusted models were used to evaluate demographic predictors of treatment. Results: From 2009 to 2019, there were 2807 AIS admissions in children in the KID of which 55.9% were in boys and 29.9% were 15–17 years old.128 (4.6%) received IV-tPA. IV-tPA utilization differed by age (5–9 years: 3.1%, 15–17 years 8.1% p value