Treatment of ruptured saccular intracranial aneurysms by microsurgery and electrolytically detachable coils: Evaluation of outcome and long-term follow-up

Recurrent and incompletely treated aneurysms

Endovascular treatment of intracranial aneurysms has become an established technique that can provide stable permanent occlusion in over 85 % of the cases. Even those aneurysms considered untreatable by endovascular means can now often be managed by the use of adjunctive measures, e.g., balloon protection devices, intracranial stents, and semipermeable stents, i.e., "flow diverters." In those cases, in which relevant aneurysm recurrences are documented upon angiographic follow-up, both endovascular and surgical techniques can be employed. In rare cases, combined treatment strategies including parent artery occlusion under bypass protection can be performed. At our center, the majority of relevant aneurysm recurrences after initial coil embolization are managed by a second endovascular procedure. In some cases, e.g., aneurysm recurrences not feasible for endovascular re-treatment, documented aneurysmal growth, bleeding from a previously embolized aneurysm, and acute hemorrhagic or ischemic complications during endovascular procedures, surgical management may be necessary. This report briefly outlines the most frequent treatment scenarios.

Management of Residual and Recurrent Aneurysms After Initial Endovascular Treatment

Background:

Coil instability possibly translating into higher delayed rebleeding rates remains a concern in the endovascular management of cerebral aneurysms.

Objective:

To report on 127 patients with endovascular aneurysmal remnants who underwent re-treatment over an 18 year period.

Methods:

Patients presenting with aneurysm residuals >20% of the original lesion, unstable neck remnants, aneurysmal regrowth, or new aneurysmal daughter sacs were treated by an individualized approach, using both endovascular and surgical techniques.

Results:

Seventy-five aneurysmal remnants (59.1%) were treated by further re-embolization. Standard coil embolization was used in 65 cases, stent-protected coiling in 9 cases, and balloon remodeled coiling in 1 case, respectively. Fifty-two (40.9%) aneurysmal remnants were treated surgically. Standard microsurgical clipping was used in 44 patients, parent artery occlusion or trapping under bypass protection in 5 cases, deliberate clipping of the basilar artery trunk in 2 cases, and aneurysm wrapping in one case, respectively. Mechanisms of aneurysm recurrence were coil compaction in 93 cases and regrowth in 34 cases. A single reembolization was sufficient to occlude 78.7% of recurrences from coil compaction, but only 14.3% of recurrences from aneurysm regrowth.

Conclusion:

The individualized approach resulted in complete occlusion of 114 aneurysms (89.7%), with neck remnants and residual aneurysms detectable in 11 (8.7%) and 2 (1.6%) cases, respectively. Treatment morbidity was 11.9%, without significant differences between surgical (15.6%) and endovascular (9.3%) patients (P = .09). Recurrences from coil compaction were safely treated by re-embolization, whereas recurrences from aneurysmal regrowth may best be managed surgically when technically feasible.

[Surgical management of posterior communicating artery aneurysms based on computed tomographic angiography with three-dimensional reconstruction and without preoperative angiography]

OBJECTIVE

To demonstrate the usefulness of three-dimensional computed tomographic angiography (CT-3D-angiography) in the microsurgical management of aneurysms of the posterior communicating artery (PComA).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A series of 27 patients with aneurysms of the PComA diagnosed by means of CT-3D-angiography and without preoperative angiography (group A) were compared with a series of 34 cases diagnosed by cerebral angiography. The findings of the CT-3D-angiography, angiography, microsurgical exploration and clinical data were evaluated.

RESULTS

A total of 75 aneurysms were diagnosed preoperatively in 66 patients and 3 additional lesions were found postoperatively in group A. The sensitivity of the CT-3D-angiography was 91.7% for diagnosis of any aneurysm with an specifity of 100%, being the snsibility of angiography a 100% and its specifity 94.9%. Mortality rate was 4.5% without differences between groups regarding clinical results or complications. Both the preoperative timing and hospitalization time were shorter in group A.

CONCLUSION

The study of patients with acute subarachnoid hemorrhage with CT-3D-angiography allows a reliable diagnosis of PComA aneurysms. Moreover, provides usefull information for the microsurgical clipping. When compared with angiography in the diagnosis of PComA aneurysms, CT-3D-angiography allows to improve some health indicators with similar clinical results and complications.

Endovascular aneurysm treatment: a proven therapy

Endovascular treatment of aneurysms is an evolving technique. Endovascular techniques for the treatment of aneurysms have been available for 10 years. During this time, we have seen major advances and improvements in our ability to embolize aneurysms via an endoluminal approach. We have continued to modify our techniques and selection of patients who would most benefit from this approach. This article summarizes the current literature and attempts to develop a management strategy toward improving patient outcome by optimizing the choice between endovascular and surgical treatment modalities.