Treatment of cerebral aneurysms: surgical clipping and coil embolization

Interv Neuroradiol. 2007 Mar 15;13 Suppl 1(Suppl 1):68-72. doi: 10.1177/15910199070130S109. Epub 2007 Jun 27.

Abstract

The present series provides a balanced overview of the treatment of aneurysms in surgical clipping and coil embolization. Between January 2004 and March 2006, 76 consecutive patients with cerebral aneurysms underwent endovascular embolization and/or surgical clipping. Of these, 42 patients suffered an aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), while the remaining 34 patients had nonruptured cerebral aneurysms. Of the 23 surgically treated patients, 17 (73.9%) achieved a favorable outcome. Of the 19 patients who underwent endovascular embolization, 12 (63.2%) achieved a favorable outcome. Three patients (15.8%) who underwent endovascular embolization needed to undergo re-treatments, while no re-treatment was needed in the surgically treated patients. Of the 34 nonruptured aneurysms, 12 (35.3%) were treated using surgical clipping, while 22 (64.7%) underwent endovascular embolization. The complication rates of the two treatment modalities demonstrated no significant difference. A combined microsurgical-endovascular team approach is thus considered to provide the most effective means to achieve favorable outcomes for patients with cerebral aneurysms.