Anatomical and clinical outcomes after endovascular treatment for unruptured cerebral aneurysms. A single-center experience

To describe the immediate and follow-up anatomical outcomes as well as procedure-related morbidity after endovascular procedures for unruptured cerebral aneurysms, we reviewed 68 patients with 78 unruptured aneurysms treated with detachable coils from may 1996 to february 2002. Angiograms were retrospectively reviewed for the nature of the aneurysms and the degree of therapeutic obliteration. Periprocedural complications, immediate clinical outcome and longterm neurological status were analyzed. Immediate anatomical outcomes were complete in 35 aneurysms (45%); residual neck in 24 (31%), partial contrast filling in 17 (22%), and failed embolization in two (2%). Of 27 aneurysms with follow-up angiography, 12 of the 13 aneurysms that were completely occluded in the initial treatment were still completely occluded at the end of a mean follow-up period of 17 months. Periprocedural complications were thromboembolic (n=6), haemorrhagic (n=3), coil protrusion (n=7) and other unrelated complications (n=3). Only two patients, with thromboembolic complications were moderately disabled with permanent neurological deficits in immediate clinical outcome, and their condition improved to independent in 1.5 and three months each. Small aneurysms and posterior circulation location showed more protective immediate results than aneurysms of large and anterior circulation after endovascular treatment (p values: 0.01 and 0.02). Our experiences of endovascular treatment for unruptured cerebral aneurysms were comparable to the results of recent series. Endovascular treatment for small posteriorly located aneurysms produced significantly better results than for large anteriorly located lesions.