Simultaneous Craniotomies for Multiple Intracranial Aneurysm Clippings-One-Stage Surgery with Multiple Craniotomies

The treatment of multiple intracranial aneurysms (MIAs) involves various modalities and sometimes requires staged operations. This study aimed to prove the efficacy and safety of one-stage multiple craniotomies (OSMC) for multiple cerebral aneurysms.

We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of the patients who underwent treatment for intracranial aneurysms between May 2003 and April 2020. The surgical results, complications, and lengths of hospital stay were compared between the patients who underwent OSMC and those who underwent multistage multiple craniotomies.

The demographic characteristics of the OSMC and multistage multiple craniotomies groups (n = 82 and 43, respectively) were similar. There were no statistically significant differences between the 2 groups when the amount of blood transfused, complications, and surgical results were compared (P = n.s. for all); however, the operation time and hospitalization period (353.9 minutes vs. 490.3 minutes and 12.3 days vs. 21.8 days, respectively; P = 0.001 for both) were shorter in the OSMC group. The treatment cost (17,000 USD vs. 22,000 USD, P = 0.001) was lower in the OSMC group.

OSMC for aneurysm clipping in patients with MIAs is a relatively safe and economical method. Furthermore, it has good clinical outcomes. This new surgical method is worthwhile in that it can be applied to patients who are afraid to undergo multiple surgeries, and we suggest that it is an efficient, low-cost option for the treatment of MIAs.