Endovascular minimally invasive treatment of the intracranial aneurysms--first 124 cases

Since May 2005, we have started to treat the intracranial aneurysms endovascular way as an alternative minimally invasive technique to the classic neurosurgery treatment.

Studying the patients' demographics, clinical presentation, aneurysm size and configuration, type of coils used for embolization, the percentage of compaction and recanalization (especially in patients who presented with subarachnoid hemorrhage), and immediate complications.

An all-inclusive retrospective review of every patient who underwent coils embolization (stent or balloon assisted included) of saccular aneurysms from May 2005 to September 2011 was performed. A total of 116 patients (46 men and 60 women) and 124 aneurysms were treated. A total of 96 patients (41 men and 55 women) underwent follow-up femoral cerebral angiograms (mean follow-up was 25 months and the longest was at 37 months). Five patients required intra-arterial abciximab due to thrombus formation. Four patients had aneurysm rupture while the coil was being advanced. Eleven patients were treated during vasospasm peak. Seven patients had recanalization at 12 months follow-up.

The average hospitalization period was of 4 days. There is a close relation between Hunt and Hess scale score before treatment and post interventional neurological status. Due to subarachnoid hemorrhage, the vasospasm remains a threat to the patient's neurological status. The treatment of cerebral aneurysms with endosacular embolization by coils is a safe and durable option. The risk of recanalization or re-rupture in our cohort is small compared to series published elsewhere. Larger series of patients are needed to support our evidence.