Malignant MCA Stroke: an Update on Surgical Decompression and Future Directions

Despite a decline over the past decade in overall stroke mortality, hemispheric strokes retain a strikingly high mortality due to their potential for malignant edema and herniation. The pathogenesis of ischemic cerebral edema is steered by disruption of ionic homeostasis in the neurogliovascular unit. Significant effort has been made to identify potential medical therapies targeting edema formation with promising results. To date, decompressive craniectomy remains the therapy with the most robust impact on mortality. Historically, patient selection for surgical treatment of malignant supratentorial strokes has focused on a strict age cutoff and hemispheric dominance. Recent evidence supports a significant mortality benefit in elderly population, although the impact in morbidity is modest. Careful patient selection for surgical treatment in conjunction with comprehensive neurocritical care and inclusion of family in the educated decision making process remain the mainstay of care for such shattering disease.