Endovascular management of pediatric aneurysms

Although the general principles of endovascular aneurysm treatment in adults hold true in children, these young patients pose unique challenges: small anatomy, longer life expectancy, associated conditions and morphological characteristics of the aneurysms. Few publications in the literature address the role of endovascular treatment for pediatric aneurysms; including series by Agid et al. (2005) (1) revisiting the Toronto series, Lasjaunias et al. (2005) (2) updating the Bicêtre series and Sanai et al (2006) (8) presenting the San Francisco series. In their conclusions, the authors of the former two publications favored endovascular treatment over microsurgery. On the other hand, the authors of the latter publication favored microsurgery over endovascular treatment. The authors reviewed Louisiana State University experience regarding endovascular treatment of pediatric aneurysms focusing on outcomes. A retrospective chart review was performed of children under 18, who underwent endovascular treatment for intracranial aneurysms between 2000 and 2009 in our institution. Twelve patients harboring seventeen aneurysms were identified. The patients ranged in age from seventeen months to seventeen years. Complete aneurysm obliteration following endovascular treatment was around 95%. Our results showed unique features for pediatric aneurysms when compared to adult aneurysms. No intra operative mortality was recorded. One aneurysm recurred (5% recurrence rate among total number of aneurysms). In this case, six months after treatment, a control angiogram showed that the coils were displaced toward the dome of the aneurysm. This recurrence occurred before the introduction of the hydro coils. One patient died during the post intervention period (8% occurrence rate among total number of patients). Outcomes were better in anterior circulation aneurysms than in posterior circulation lesions. We had no mortality, morbidity or disability in the anterior circulation aneurysm group. In the posterior circulation group, there was one death representing 14% of the nine patients with aneurysms in this group. One recurrence occurred in the posterior circulation group representing 11% of the nine aneurysms in this group. Follow-up of all patients ranged from two to eight years. Endovascular treatment of pediatric intracranial aneurysm is safe and efficacious. Endovascular treatment in many instances provides less morbidity and mortality for treatment of pediatric aneurysms in inaccessible or eloquent locations than microsurgical clipping. The result of endovascular treatment depends on the location of the aneurysms and the underlying pathology. We advocate a multidisciplinary approach when choosing the therapeutic modality for treatment of pediatric aneurysms.