Endovascular management of middle cerebral artery aneurysms (single-center case series study)

Abstract

BackgroundMiddle cerebral artery (MCA) aneurysms were usually subjected to treatment by surgery, while endovascular treatment (EVT) was performed only in chosen patients. We assessed the efficacy, safety, and durability in addition to the clinical outcome of EVT when it is regarded as the first-line treatment modality for MCA aneurysms.ResultsWe recruited 30 patients with MCA aneurysms who underwent definitive management from July 2017 to July 2018. All those patients were treated endovascularly; 22 patients (73.3%) presented with subarachnoid hemorrhage, and 8 patients (26.7%) had different presentations, including isolated headaches and seizures. EVT was performed for all patients and required the use of a balloon, stent, or double catheter techniques in 13 cases and flow diverter stents alone in two cases. Clinical outcome was assessed by the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) at 3 months. Angiographic follow-up was done by a conventional angiography at 6 months and after 1 year. EVT was efficiently conducted, leading to an outstanding accomplishment (mRS = 1–2) in 29 patients. However, one patient had a thromboembolic complication, followed by death after severe chest infection that was not related to the procedure. Immediate anatomical results included complete aneurysmal occlusion with the establishment of normal cerebral circulation. Angiographic follow-up revealed 24 unchanged occlusions and 5 cases with recanalization that required further treatment.ConclusionEVT of MCA aneurysms is a viable treatment option with positive outcomes in most cases. Nevertheless, the employment of long-term imaging follow-up is compulsory for validating such early results, often with respect to anatomical and functional stability.