Neurosurgical management of inadequately embolized intracranial aneurysms: a series of 17 consecutive cases

Microsurgical management of previously embolized intracranial aneurysms: A single center experience and literature review

BACKGROUND

Endovascular treatment of intracranial aneurysms (IAs) provides less invasiveness and lower morbidity than microsurgical clipping, albeit with a long-term recurrence rate estimated at 20%. We present our single-center experience and a literature review concerning surgical clipping of recurrent previously coiled aneurysms.

METHODS

Retrospective analysis of nine (9) patients' data and final clinical/angiographic outcomes, who underwent surgical clipping of IAs in our center following initial endovascular treatment, over a 12-year period (2010-2022). Regarding the literature review, data were extracted from 48 studies including 969 patients with 976 aneurysms.

RESULTS

9 patients (5 males - 4 females) were included in the study with a mean age of 49 years. Subarachnoid hemorrhage was the initial presentation in 78% of patients. Aneurysms' most common location was the middle cerebral artery bifurcation (5/9) followed by the anterior communicating artery (3/9) and the internal carotid artery bifurcation (1/9). Indications for surgery were coil loosening, coil compaction, sac regrowth, and residual neck. Procedure-related morbidity and mortality were zero whereas complete aneurysm occlusion was achieved after surgical clipping in all cases (100%). All patients had minimal symptoms or were asymptomatic (mRS 0-1) at the final follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

Surgical clipping seems a feasible and safe technique for selected cases of recurrent previously coiled intracranial aneurysms. A universally accepted recurrence classification system and a guideline template for the management of such cases are needed.

A review of technological innovations leading to modern endovascular brain aneurysm treatment

Tools and techniques utilized in endovascular brain aneurysm treatment have undergone rapid evolution in recent decades. These technique and device-level innovations have allowed for treatment of highly complex intracranial aneurysms and improved patient outcomes. We review the major innovations within neurointervention that have led to the current state of brain aneurysm treatment.

Surgical Clipping of Previously Coiled Recurrent Intracranial Aneurysms: A Single-Center Experience

Objective: This study reviews our experiences in surgical clipping of previously coiled aneurysms, emphasizing on recurrence mechanism of intracranial aneurysms (IAs) and surgical techniques for different types of recurrent IAs.

Method: We performed a retrospective study on 12 patients who underwent surgical clipping of aneurysms following endovascular treatment between January 2010 and October 2020. The indications for surgery, surgical techniques, and clinical outcomes were analyzed.

Result: Twelve patients with previously coiled IAs were treated with clipping in this study, including nine females and three males. The reasons for the patients having clipping were as follows: early surgery (treatment failure in two patients, postoperative early rebleeding in one patient, and intraprocedural aneurysm rupture during embolization in one patient) and late surgery (aneurysm recurrence in five patients, SAH in one, mass effect in one, and aneurysm regrowth in one). All aneurysms were clipped directly, and coil removal was performed in four patients. One patient died (surgical mortality, 8.3%), 1 patient (8.3%) experienced permanent neurological morbidity, and the remaining 10 patients (83.4%) had good outcomes. Based on our clinical data and previous studies, we classified the recurrence mechanism of IAs into coil compaction, regrowth, coil migration, and coil loosening. Then, we elaborated the specific surgical planning and timing of surgery depending on the recurrence type of IAs.

Conclusion: Surgical clipping can be a safe and effective treatment strategy for the management of recurrent coiled IAs, with acceptable morbidity and mortality in properly selected cases. Our classification of recurrent coiled aneurysms into four types helps to assess the optimal surgical approach and the associated risks in managing them.

Microsurgery of residual or recurrent complex intracranial aneurysms after coil embolization - a quest for the ultimate therapy

The long-term stability of coil embolization (CE) of complex intracranial aneurysms (CIAs) is fraught with high rates of recanalization. Surgery of precoiled CIAs, however, deviates from a common straightforward procedure, demanding sophisticated strategies. To shed light on the scope and limitations of microsurgical re-treatment, we present our experiences with precoiled CIAs. We retrospectively analysed a consecutive series of 12 patients with precoiled CIAs treated microsurgically over a 5-year period, and provide a critical juxtaposition with the literature. Five aneurysms were located in the posterior circulation, 8 were large-giant sized, 5 were calcified/thrombosed. One presented as a dissecting-fusiform aneurysm, 9 ranked among wide neck aneurysms. Eight lesions were excluded by neck clipping (5 necessitating coil extraction); 1 requiring adjunct CE. The dissecting-fusiform aneurysm was resected with reconstruction of the parent artery using a radial artery graft. Three lesions were treated with flow alteration (parent artery occlusion under bypass protection). Mean interval coiling-surgery was 4.6 years (range 0.5-12 years). Overall, 10 aneurysms were successfully excluded; 2 lesions treated with flow alteration displayed partial thrombosis, progressing over time. Outcome was good in 8 and poor in 4 patients (2 experiencing delayed neurological morbidity), and mean follow-up was 24.3 months. No mortality was encountered. Microsurgery as a last resort for precoiled CIAs can provide-in a majority of cases-a definitive therapy with good outcome. Since repeat coiling increases the complexity of later surgical treatment, we recommend for this subgroup of aneurysms a critical evaluation of CE as an option for re-treatment.

Surgical Clipping of Previously Ruptured, Coiled Aneurysms: Outcome Assessment in 53 Patients

BACKGROUND

Occasionally, previously coiled aneurysms will require secondary treatment with surgical clipping, representing a more complicated aneurysm to treat than the naïve aneurysm. Patients who initially presented with a ruptured aneurysm may pose an even riskier group to treat than those with unruptured previously coiled aneurysms, given their potentially higher risk for rerupture. The objective of this study was to assess the clinical outcomes of patients who undergo microsurgical clipping of ruptured previously coiled cerebral aneurysms. In addition, we present a thorough review of the literature.

METHODS

A total of 53 patients from a single institution who initially presented with a subarachnoid hemorrhage and underwent surgical clipping of a previously coiled aneurysm between December 1997 and December 2014 were studied. Clinical features, hospital course, and preoperative and most recent functional status (Glasgow Outcome Scale score) were reviewed retrospectively.

RESULTS

The mean time interval from coiling to clipping was 2.6 years, and mean follow-up was 5.5 years (range, 0.1-14.7 years). Five patients (9.8%) presented with rebleed prior to clipping. Most patients (79.3%, 42/53) experienced good neurologic outcomes. Most showed no change (81%, 43/53) or improvement (13%, 7/53) in functional status after microsurgical clipping. One patient (2%) deteriorated clinically, and there were 2 mortalities (4%).

CONCLUSIONS

Microsurgical clipping of previously ruptured, coiled aneurysms is a promising treatment method with favorable clinical outcomes.

Surgical management of recurrent aneurysms after coiling treatment

OBJECTIVE

Aneurysms that recur after coiling treatment are difficult to manage. The microsurgical technique in these cases differs significantly from that in regular aneurysm clipping. We present our experience in surgical management of aneurysms that recurred more than 1 month after coiling in a series of 19 patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Between January 2004 and December 2014, 1437 patients were treated surgically for intracranial aneurysms in our institution. We performed a retrospective review of the clinical records, operation videos, and cerebral angiograms. We focused on patients in whom the initial aneurysm was treated by coiling, but the results were incomplete or the aneurysm recurred.

RESULTS

Nineteen patients underwent surgical clipping for recurrent aneurysm more than 1 month after initial coiling treatment. The sex ratio (male:female) was 0.9, and the average age was 51.3 years (range 35-72 years). One aneurysm was classified as giant (≥ 25 mm), two as large (10-25 mm), and 18 as small (≤ 10 mm). A good outcome (Glasgow Outcome Scale 4 or 5) was observed in 16 of 19 patients (84.2%).

CONCLUSION

Microsurgical clipping can be safe and effective in the management of previously coiled residual and recurrent aneurysms.

Intracranial post-embolization residual or recurrent aneurysms: Current management using surgical clipping

Post-embolization residual or recurrent aneurysms (PERRAs) are not rare in patients with intracranial aneurysms treated by embolization. Their occurrence is mainly associated with an increased amount of interventional therapy. Repeated interventional embolization can be applied in some patients with PERRAs, whereas surgical clipping is preferred in other cases that are not suitable for repeated interventional embolization due to the difficulties inherent to this operation. The surgical clipping of PERRAs is very complicated and difficult to perform, and relevant reports are rare. This study offers a review of PERRA treatment using surgical clipping. Retrospective studies have shown that PERRAs are common aneurysms of the anterior and posterior communicating arteries. According to the recurrent characteristics of PERRAs, it is reasonable to categorize PERRAs into three types: type I-coils are compressed, and no embolic material fills the neck of the aneurysm; type II-coils are migrated, and very few coils fill the neck of the aneurysm or the parent artery; and type III-coils are migrated, and multiple coils fill the neck of the aneurysm or the parent artery. Direct clipping can be applied to types I and II PERRAs, whereas trapping, wrapping, or auxiliary revascularization is required in type III PERRAs. Most coils do not require removal unless they interfere with clipping. However, it is necessary to avoid damaging the surrounding adhesive tissue during coil removal. Satisfactory therapeutic outcomes can be achieved by selecting appropriate PERRA cases in which to perform surgical clipping.

Safety and efficacy of microsurgical treatment of previously coiled aneurysms: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

We conducted a systematic review of the literature to evaluate the safety and efficacy of surgical treatment of previously coiled aneurysms.

METHODS

A comprehensive review of the literature for studies on surgical treatment of previously coiled aneurysms was conducted. For each study, the following data were extracted: patient demographics, initial clinical status, location and size of aneurysms, time interval between initial/last endovascular procedure and surgery, surgical indications, and microsurgical technique. We performed subgroup analyses to compare direct clipping versus coil removal and clipping versus parent vessel occlusion, early (<4 weeks post-coiling) versus late surgery and anterior versus posterior circulation.

RESULTS

Twenty-six studies with 466 patients and 471 intracranial aneurysms were included. All of the studies were retrospective and non-comparative case-series. Patients undergoing direct clipping had lower perioperative morbidity (5.0 %, 95 % CI = 2.6-7.4 %) when compared to those undergoing coil removal and clipping (11.1 %, 95 % CI = 5.3-17.0 %) or parent vessel occlusion (13.1 %, 95 % CI = 4.6-21.6 %) (p = 0.05). Patients receiving early surgery (<4 weeks post-coiling) had significantly lower rates of good neurological outcome (77.1 %, 95 % CI = 69.3-84.8 %) when compared to those undergoing late surgery (92.1 %, 95 % CI = 89.0-95.2 %) (p < 0.01). There were higher rates of long-term neurological morbidity in the posterior circulation group (23.1 vs. 4.7 %, p < 0.01) as well as long-term neurological mortality (4.4 vs. 2.8 %, p < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Our meta-analysis suggests that surgical treatment is safe and effective. Our data indicate that aneurysms that are amenable to direct clipping have superior outcomes. Late surgery was also associated with better clinical outcomes. Surgery of recurrent posterior circulation aneurysms was associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality. Given the characteristics of the included studies, the quality of evidence of this meta-analysis is limited.

Microsurgical Treatment of Previously Coiled Intracranial Aneurysms: Systematic Review of the Literature

OBJECTIVE

To assess indications, complications, clinical outcomes, and technical nuances of microsurgical treatment of previously coiled intracranial aneurysms.

METHODS

A systematic review of the literature was performed using PubMed/MEDLINE and EMBASE databases from January 1990 to December 2013. English-language articles reporting on microsurgical treatment of previously coiled intracranial aneurysms were included. Articles that involved embolization materials other than coils were excluded. Data on aneurysm characteristics, indications for surgery, techniques, complications, angiographic obliteration rates, and clinical outcomes were collected.

RESULTS

The literature review identified 29 articles reporting on microsurgical clipping of 375 previously coiled aneurysms. Of the aneurysms, 68% were small (<10 mm). Indications for clipping included the presence of a neck remnant (48%) and new aneurysmal growth (45%). Rebleeding before clipping was reported in 6% of cases. Coil extraction was performed in 13% of cases. The median time from initial coiling to clipping was 7 months. The angiographic cure rate was 93%, with morbidity and mortality of 9.8% and 3.6%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Microsurgical clipping of previously coiled aneurysms can result in high obliteration rates with relatively low morbidity and mortality in select cases. Considerations for microsurgical strategies include the presence of sufficient aneurysmal tissue for clip placement and the potential need for temporary occlusion or flow arrest. Coil extraction is not needed in most cases.

Microsurgical clipping of previously coiled intracranial aneurysms

OBJECTIVE

Endovascular coiling techniques for the treatment of intracranial aneurysms have rapidly developed as an alternative option to surgical clipping. A distinct problem after endovascular coiling is the management of a residual aneurysm neck due to incomplete filling, compaction of coils or regrowth of the aneurysm. Treatment options in this situation include surgical clipping, re-coiling, stent implantation or observation.

METHODS

From June 2006 to August 2011, 15 patients underwent surgical clipping of residual or recurrent aneurysms after previous endovascular treatment. The mean age of the patients was 50.6 years (range, 27-85 years). The mean interval between coiling and clipping was 76.5 weeks (range, 0-288 weeks).

RESULTS

Thirteen patients revealed a regrowth of coiled aneurysms, and in 5 patients compaction of coils was present. Coil extrusion was observed in 9 patients intraoperatively. In case of coil obstruction at the aneurysmal neck during surgery, coils were partially or completely removed. In all cases complete occlusion of the aneurysms was surgically achieved.

CONCLUSION

Coiled aneuryms with incomplete occlusion, coil compaction or regrowth of the aneurysmal neck can be successfully treated with microsurgical clipping. Coil extrusion was more often observed intraoperatively than expected. Complete occlusion of the aneurysm can be performed safely, even if loops of coils protrude into the aneurysmal neck. In these cases intraoperative removal of the coils enables secure closure of the aneurysm with a surgical clip.

[Indications and surgical treatments for failed coiled aneurysms]

The possibility of treating intra-cranial aneurysms (ICA) through an endovascular approach is a great progress. But, as any technique, it has its own limitations. Multidisciplinary neurovascular teams are regularly confronted with ICA where embolization is a poor option or even failed (a residue of more than 5% at six months follow-up or after recanalization). Another potential failure is a coil extrusion into the parent vessel with thrombo-embolic risks. Our team and others in the world developed strategies to manage these complex cases. After a brief review of the literature, we describe our experience and present a modified Gurian classification. This classification allows a better identification of the various failed coiled aneurysms types and their potential surgical treatments.

Surgical indications and techniques for failed coiled aneurysms

For two decades, endovascular coiling has revolutionized the treatment of intracranial aneurysms. However, as with all techniques, it has limitations and endovascular radiologists and neurosurgeons are regularly confronted by what we call "failed" coiled aneurysms. Failed coiled aneurysms can occur in different situations: a) presence of a significant remnant at the end of an endovascular procedure; b) recanalization of an initially satisfactory occlusion; and c) coil extrusion deemed too thrombogenic or threatening the blood flow in the parent vessel. We and other teams around the world have developed strategies to manage these difficult cases. Here, we compare our own experience with other reports in the literature.

Techniques of reoperation for a giant regrown anterior communicating artery aneurysm harboring long-implanted clips and compacted coil mesh

A 57-year-old woman presented with a progressive deterioration of vision. She had previously undergone clipping for a ruptured small anterior communicating artery (Acom) aneurysm 7 years prior to admission and additional coiling for recurrence 2 years prior to admission. Angiography showed regrown out-pouching of the sac, which measured 27 x 18 mm. A decision was made to perform surgical treatment to alleviate the mass effect of the aneurysm. Unique techniques for revision of the scarred surgical corridor, removal of old clips, resection of the coiled mass, thrombectomy, and intra-aneurysmal endarterectomy were required to allow placement of the final clips. The patient recovered uneventfully, and her vision was satisfactorily restored.

Neurosurgical treatment for aneurysm remnants or recurrences after coil occlusion

OBJECTIVE

Neurosurgical management of residual aneurysms (RA) after coiling remains a challenging issue. We present a consecutive series of 21 patients who underwent microsurgical treatment of a previously coiled aneurysm.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed a consecutive series of 21 patients who underwent operations for an RA after coiling between 1997 and 2007. Postcoiling follow-up imaging included brain magnetic resonance angiography and digital subtraction angiography. The decision for surgical treatment was made when an RA was significant and unsuitable for re-embolization. Data related to the RA and to the surgical technique were analyzed. Postoperative outcome was evaluated with the Glasgow Outcome Scale.

RESULTS

Twenty aneurysms were initially ruptured. Twelve had undergone complete coil occlusion, whereas 6 had a residual neck, 2 had a residual lobule, and 1 had a residual sac. The aneurysms were in the anterior circulation in 18 cases and in the posterior circulation in 3 cases. Twenty RAs were excluded with the apposition of 1 clip beneath the coils, 2 required a temporary occlusion, 2 required extraction of the coils, and 1 presented with an operative rupture. All aneurysms, except 2 that had their residual neck wrapped, were completely occluded. The postoperative Glasgow Outcome Scale score was unchanged in 90% of patients, and 2 patients sustained a moderate disability.

CONCLUSION

Microsurgical treatment of RA after endovascular treatment is effective, provided that patients are selected appropriately. The surgical treatment of recanalized aneurysms after coiling is challenging but can result in a good outcome with low morbidity and no mortality.

Endovascular coil transfixing a cranial nerve five years after embolisation

After endovascular coiling, several authors have reported refilling of the aneurysm, appearance of a mass effect, coils protruding into the parent artery, migration of coils into parent artery or through aneurysm wall, and compression of the parent artery by coil impaction. This is the first report of an endovascular coil transfixing a cranial nerve. We present a 59 year old man who presented with a symptomatic bilobulated aneurysm of the right internal carotid artery. The aneurysm was embolised by endovascular coiling. Angiographic follow up showed occlusion of the aneurysm. Five years later, the patient complained of progressive diplopia with ptosis. Follow-up angiography showed renewed filling of the aneurysm at its neck. The aneurysm was clipped surgically. At operation, a coil mass effect was noted and one coil penetrated the fibres of the right oculomotor nerve.