Endovascular Treatment of Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysms

Abstract

We report the clinical and angiographic results of endovascular treatment of unruptured intracranial aneurysms. Over a three-year period, 80 unruptured aneurysms in 74 patients were electively treated with endovascular management. One aneurysm was diagnosed during investigations for a second ruptured aneurysm, 54 aneurysms were incidentally discovered, 18 aneurysms presented with symptoms of mass effect and seven aneurysms presented with symptoms of brain stem ischemia. Mean size of the 80 unruptured aneurysms was 12.5±8.0 mm (range, 2-39 mm). Thirty-six aneurysms (45%) were small (<10 mm), 38 aneurysms (47.5%) were large (10-25 mm), and six aneurysms (7.5%) were giant (25-39 mm). Forty-eight wide-necked aneurysms (60%) were coiled with the aid of a supporting device. The mortality rate was 1.25%, and the overall morbidity was 1.25%. Of these, one of the patients suffered a stroke, leading to severe disability (1.25%). In one patient, the aneurysm ruptured during treatment, resulting in death. Initial aneurysm occlusion was complete (100%) in 76.25% aneurysms, nearly complete (90%-98%) in 10% aneurysms and incomplete (60%-85%) in 13.75% aneurysms. Follow-up angiography was available in 67 patients with 73 treated aneurysms (91.25%) from one to 36 months (mean 9.3 months); partial reopening occurred in 7.5%, mainly large and giant aneurysms (5.5%). Additional coiling was performed in four aneurysms. There were no complications in additional treatments. At 14.1-month clinical follow-up (range, 2 to 36 months), mRS score was 0 in 78.75% patients, 1 in 10% patients, 2 in 8.75% and 3 in 1.25%. There was no aneurysmal rupture during the follow-up period. Endovascular treatment of unruptured intracranial aneurysms has low procedural mortality and morbidity rates.