Management of unruptured intracranial aneurysms: A decision analysis

Decision analysis was carried out to gain insight into the optimal management of patients aged 20-80 years with unruptured intracranial aneurysms between 10 and 25 mm in diameter. Baseline probabilities for outcomes resulting from either elective repair of the aneurysm or nonintervention were obtained from studies of patients with intracranial aneurysms seen at the Mayo Clinic. The utility of each outcome was based on the mean life expectancy for otherwise normal people of the same age and sex, with an adjustment made for quality of life. If these baseline probabilities and utilities are used in the calculations, elective surgical repair of unruptured aneurysms of this size is preferable to nonintervention in men under age 69 and in women under age 75 if they are otherwise in good health.