Endovascular treatment of intracranial aneurysms: A single center experience

Abstract

Aims: Intracranial aneurysms (IA) are vascular anomalies that are mostly detected by life threatening complications such as intracerebral hematoma or subarachnoid hemorrhage. Recently endovascular treatments have become the major treatment modality. In this study, our objectives were to describe the clinical data of the patients with treated IAs, to evaluate the success rate of two treatment modalities [coil embolization and flow diverter stents (FDS)], and to document common complications. Methods: The patients who were admitted to our tertiary center and underwent endovascular treatment (with coil embolization/FDS) in the interventional radiology unit between December 2018 and October 2019 were enrolled. The clinical data of the patients including aneurysm size, subtype, location, treatment modality, and pre and post procedural complications were analyzed retrospectively. Results: Eighteen of 37 patients (48.6%) were male and 19 (51.3%) were female. The median age was 54 (minimum-maximum; 12-77) years. There was no predisposing factor in the clinical history except four patients. Regarding the aneurysm subtypes, 89% of IAs were saccular and 11% were fusiform. The most common localization was internal carotid artery (48%). Ten patients were admitted with ruptured aneurysm and twenty seven were asymptomatic and unruptured. Four patients died in the mean follow-up of nine months. Two patients had intervention-related complication (hemiparesis and hydrocephalus). Conclusions: IAs can be effectively treated with endovascular techniques since cure rates are high and complications rates are reasonably low. Coil, FDS or both can be used in selected cases of ruptured or unruptured aneurysms.