Clinical experience with endovascular treatment of aneurysms using Guglielmi detachable coils

Guglielmi detachable coils (GDCs) provide an endovascular means for aneurysm treatment; however, their role has yet to be defined. This article reviews the most recent clinical series regarding efficacy, safety, and clinical outcomes in both the acute and nonacute setting. Successful treatment was possible in the majority of cases and included cases of complete aneurysm obliteration and with only a small neck remnant. Patients with a neck remnant often received additional treatments although some patients went on to complete obliteration without further treatment. Successful treatment provided protection from rebleeding in a follow-up period of 2 years. Success depended on operator experience as well as width of the aneurysm ostium. Recurrence and incomplete obliteration were more common with giant or large aneurysms and aneurysms with a wide base. Major procedure-related complications predominantly resulted from intraprocedural rupture and thromboembolic events. These could both be treated via endovascular means at the time of the procedure. Thromboembolic events occurred more frequently with acutely ruptured aneurysms, especially aneurysms with a wide base. Vasospasm rates were not found to vary significantly from those found in surgical series when corrected for Fisher grouping. Morbidity and mortality rates as well as Glasgow outcome scores were at least as good as what would be expected from surgery during both the acute and nonacute setting. The papers reviewed indicate that the GDC provides safe and efficacious treatment for most berry aneurysms in both the acute and nonacute setting relative to surgical results.