Guglielmi detachable coils: an alternative therapy for surgically high-risk aneurysms

In September 1995, the Guglielmi Detachable Coil (GDC) system received approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treatment of surgically high-risk aneurysms. Up until that time, only the centers participating in the clinical device trial were able to offer the GDC system as an option to patients considered to be surgically high-risk and who would otherwise be assigned to conservative treatment. As additional sites become available, neuroscience nurses need to be educated on the device and the type of care necessary for these patients.