155 Safety and Efficacy of Endovascular Versus Microsurgical Treatment of Unruptured Wide-necked Middle Cerebral Artery Aneurysms: A Propensity-Matched Analysis of the Neurovascular Quality Initiative-Quality Outcomes Database (NVQI-QOD)

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: There is clinical equipoise regarding the best treatment for unruptured wide-necked middle cerebral artery (WN-MCA) aneurysms. METHODS: The NVQI-QOD registry was queried for patients with unruptured WN-MCA aneurysms. Wide-neck was defined as aneurysm neck = 4 mm or dome:neck ratio = 2. Demographics, aneurysm characteristics, and safety data were queried. Aneurysm occlusion status and modified Rankin score (mRS) at discharge and last follow up were evaluated. Propensity score matching was utilized to match aneurysm size, number of aneurysms treated, patient age and aneurysm status (asymptomatic or symptomatic). RESULTS: Of 670 unruptured MCA aneurysms, 319 were wide-necked. Thirty operations were excluded as the aneurysm was previously treated. 289 operations in 282 patients were assessed (203 EVT, 86 MS). After propensity score matching, there were 86 operations in each group. The median aneurysm size was 5.6 mm (EVT) versus 5.3 mm (MS), p = 0.243. Patients who underwent MS were more likely to have complete occlusion at discharge (90.4% vs. 58.8%, p < 0.001). The median follow up was 404 days in the EVT group versus 157.5 days in the MS group (p = 0.241). Patients who underwent EVT were more likely to have a mRS of zero at discharge (50/59 (84.8%) versus 29/54 (53.7%), p < 0.0003) and last follow up (36/55 (65.5%) versus 13/36 (36.1%), p = 0.006). Safety data showed similar intra-operative (7% EVT vs. 3.5% MS, p = 0.496) and post-operative (4.7% EVT vs. 7% MS, p = 0.750) complication rates. CONCLUSIONS: This report describes the largest-to-date, modern cohort of propensity matched patients undergoing treatment of unruptured WN-MCA aneurysms. Patients undergoing EVT had better functional outcomes at discharge and last follow up though there was significant loss to follow up. Patients undergoing MS were more likely to have complete aneurysm occlusion. Safety data was similar in both groups.