Endovascular and surgical treatment of ruptured cerebral aneurysms in pediatric patients

Pediatric cerebral aneurysms are rare. There are very few recent studies that focus on the multidisciplinary treatment of ruptured aneurysms. We reviewed our pediatric endovascular and surgical experience with ruptured cerebral aneurysms.

Pediatric patients aged 16 years and younger who were admitted with a diagnosis of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage and treated at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia were included in this analysis.

Twelve patients with 13 aneurysms (4 male patients and 8 female patients; age range, 4 months-16 years; mean age, 5.1 years), were admitted with subarachnoid hemorrhage during the past 12 years. The majority of patients were admitted in good clinical condition; 31% were in Hunt and Hess Grade II, and 31% were in Hunt and Hess Grade III. The remaining patients were in poor clinical condition and were in Hunt and Hess Grade IV (23%) or Grade V (15%). Computed tomography revealed that 15% of the patients were in Fisher Grade 2, 23% were in Fisher Grade 3, and 62% were in Fisher Grade 4. Endovascular techniques were used in the treatment of 5 aneurysms, and microsurgery was used in the treatment of 8 aneurysms. In the endovascular group, aneurysm sizes ranged from 2 to 35 mm (mean, 12.6 mm); 3 aneurysms were in the anterior circulation, and 2 were in the posterior circulation. In the microsurgery group, 6 aneurysms were in the anterior circulation, and 2 were in the posterior circulation; sizes ranged from 3 to 15 mm (mean, 6.8 mm). Sixty-nine percent of the patients were independent at follow-up.

Contemporary endovascular and microsurgical techniques can be used effectively to treat ruptured cerebral aneurysms in pediatric patients. In the time period studied, the techniques were equally effective when used in the appropriate patients.