scholarly journals Unruptured intracranial aneurysms: natural history and management decisions

2004 ◽  
Vol 17 (5) ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leodante B. da Costa ◽  
Thorsteinn Gunnarsson ◽  
M. Christopher Wallace
Keyword(s):  
Neurological Deficit ◽  
Intracranial Aneurysms ◽  
Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage ◽  
International Study ◽  
Special Importance ◽  
Surgical Morbidity ◽  
Mortality And Morbidity ◽  
Unruptured Aneurysms ◽  
Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysms ◽  
Risk Of Rupture

Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) carries a grim prognosis, with high mortality and morbidity rates. The mortality rate in the first 30 days postrupture is estimated to be in the range of 40 to 50%, and almost half of the survivors will be left with a neurological deficit. Unlike patients with aneurysmal SAH, those with unruptured intracranial aneurysms usually experience no neurological deficit, and their treatment is prophylactic, aiming to reduce the risk of future bleeding and its consequences. The risk of rupture therefore assumes special importance when making decisions regarding which patient or aneurysm to treat. In previous reports the risk of bleeding for unruptured aneurysms has been stated as approximately 2% per year. The retrospective part of the International Study of Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysms (ISUIA) reported very low annual bleeding rates (0.05–1%) and high surgical morbidity and mortality rates (8–18%), prompting discussion in which the benefits of prophylactic treatment in the majority of these lesions were questioned. Prospective data from the second part of the ISUIA recently included rupture rates ranging from 0 to 10% per year. The aim of this paper was to review the evidence that is currently available for neurosurgeons to use when making decisions regarding patients who would benefit from treatment of an unruptured intracranial aneurysm.

scholarly journals The natural history of unruptured intracranial aneurysms

2004 ◽  
Vol 17 (5) ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Mocco ◽  
Ricardo J. Komotar ◽  
Sean D. Lavine ◽  
Philip M. Meyers ◽  
E. Sander Connolly ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Natural History ◽  
Intracranial Aneurysms ◽  
Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage ◽  
International Study ◽  
General Rule ◽  
Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysm ◽  
Risk Of Bleeding ◽  
Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysms ◽  
Risk Of Rupture ◽  
History Of

Since the publication of preliminary results from the International Study of Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysms in 1998 there has been a great deal of debate concerning the natural history of these lesions and their attendant risk of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. Therefore, the authors reviewed a selected number of crucial studies concerning this topic to determine the best evidence-based estimate of a rupture rate for these lesions. Based on this analysis, the yearly risk of bleeding for an unruptured intracranial aneurysm is estimated to be approximately 1% for aneurysms 7 to 10 mm in diameter. This risk of rupture increases with aneurysm size and it likewise diminishes as the size of the lesion decreases. This general rule serves as a reasonable interpretation of the results reported in the current body of literature.

scholarly journals Increased rupture risk in small intracranial aneurysms associated with methamphetamine use

2020 ◽  
pp. 159101992095953
Author(s):  
Dylan Noblett ◽  
Lotfi Hacein-Bey ◽  
Ben Waldau ◽  
Jordan Ziegler ◽  
Brian Dahlin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Intracranial Aneurysms ◽  
Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage ◽  
Significant Risk ◽  
Retrospective Chart Review ◽  
Anterior Circulation ◽  
Unruptured Aneurysms ◽  
Methamphetamine Use ◽  
Aneurysm Size ◽  
Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysms ◽  
History Of

Background Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is the most common cause of nontraumatic SAH. Current guidelines generally recommend observation for unruptured intracranial aneurysms smaller than 7 mm, for those are considered at low risk for spontaneous rupture according to available scoring systems. Objective We observed a tendency for SAH in small intracranial aneurysms in patients who are methamphetamine users. A retrospective, single center study to characterize the size and location of ruptured and unruptured intracranial aneurysms in methamphetamine users was performed. Materials and methods Clinical characteristics and patient data were collected via retrospective chart review of patients with intracranial aneurysms and a history of methamphetamine use with a specific focus on aneurysm size and location. Results A total of 62 patients were identified with at least one intracranial aneurysm and a history of methamphetamine use, yielding 73 intracranial aneurysms (n = 73). The mean largest diameter of unruptured aneurysms (n = 44) was 5.1 mm (median 4.5, SD 2.5 mm), smaller than for ruptured aneurysms (n = 29) with a mean diameter of 6.3 mm (median 5.5, SD 2.5 mm). Aneurysms measuring less than 7 mm presented with SAH in 36.5%. With regard to location, 28% (n = 42) of anterior circulation aneurysms less than 7 mm presented with rupture, in contrast to 70% (n = 10) of posterior circulation aneurysms which were found to be ruptured. Conclusions Methamphetamine use may be considered a significant risk factor for aneurysmal SAH at a smaller aneurysm size than for other patients. These patients may benefit from a lower threshold for intervention and/or aggressive imaging and clinical follow-up.

scholarly journals Endovascular Treatment of Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysms

2011 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 420-424 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. Yue
Keyword(s):  
Endovascular Treatment ◽  
Intracranial Aneurysms ◽  
Mass Effect ◽  
Mortality And Morbidity ◽  
Unruptured Aneurysms ◽  
Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysms ◽  
Mean Size ◽  
Large And Giant Aneurysms ◽  
Brain Stem Ischemia

We report the clinical and angiographic results of endovascular treatment of unruptured intracranial aneurysms. Over a three-year period, 80 unruptured aneurysms in 74 patients were electively treated with endovascular management. One aneurysm was diagnosed during investigations for a second ruptured aneurysm, 54 aneurysms were incidentally discovered, 18 aneurysms presented with symptoms of mass effect and seven aneurysms presented with symptoms of brain stem ischemia. Mean size of the 80 unruptured aneurysms was 12.5±8.0 mm (range, 2–39 mm). Thirty-six aneurysms (45%) were small (<10 mm), 38 aneurysms (47.5%) were large (10–25 mm), and six aneurysms (7.5%) were giant (25–39 mm). Forty-eight wide-necked aneurysms (60%) were coiled with the aid of a supporting device. The mortality rate was 1.25%, and the overall morbidity was 1.25%. Of these, one of the patients suffered a stroke, leading to severe disability (1.25%). In one patient, the aneurysm ruptured during treatment, resulting in death. Initial aneurysm occlusion was complete (100%) in 76.25% aneurysms, nearly complete (90%–98%) in 10% aneurysms and incomplete (60%–85%) in 13.75% aneurysms. Follow-up angiography was available in 67 patients with 73 treated aneurysms (91.25%) from one to 36 months (mean 9.3 months); partial reopening occurred in 7.5%, mainly large and giant aneurysms (5.5%). Additional coiling was performed in four aneurysms. There were no complications in additional treatments. At 14.1-month clinical follow-up (range, 2 to 36 months), mRS score was 0 in 78.75% patients, 1 in 10% patients, 2 in 8.75% and 3 in 1.25%. There was no aneurysmal rupture during the follow-up period. Endovascular treatment of unruptured intracranial aneurysms has low procedural mortality and morbidity rates.

Surgical management of unruptured intracranial aneurysms

1994 ◽  
Vol 80 (3) ◽  
pp. 440-446 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert A. Solomon ◽  
Matthew E. Fink ◽  
John Pile-Spellman
Keyword(s):  
Surgical Management ◽  
Intracranial Aneurysms ◽  
Clinical Decision Making ◽  
Mass Effect ◽  
Endovascular Embolization ◽  
Surgical Morbidity ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Unruptured Aneurysms ◽  
Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysms ◽  
Fine Print

✓ The surgical management of patients with unruptured intracranial aneurysms continues to be controversial. The criteria for withholding treatment or choosing between endovascular embolization and conventional microsurgery are not well delineated. The present study analyzes the morbidity and mortality that can be expected with modern surgical management of unruptured aneurysms, and therefore serves as a point of reference for clinical decision-making in this group of patients. A total of 202 consecutive operations for attempted clipping of unruptured intracranial aneurysms are reported. Subarachnoid hemorrhage from another aneurysm was the most common presentation (55 cases). Thirty-seven patients presented with headache, 36 with mass effect from the aneurysm, and 19 with embolic events; 11 aneurysms were associated with an arteriovenous malformation, 10 caused seizures, and 34 were incidental findings. Excellent or good outcome was achieved in 100% of patients with aneurysms less than 10 mm in diameter, 95% with aneurysms 11 to 25 mm, and 79% with aneurysms greater than 25 mm. Except for giant basilar aneurysms, size (and not location) of the aneurysm was the key predictor of risk for surgical morbidity. These data may be useful when discussing with patients the risk:benefit ratio of choosing between conservative management, endovascular embolization, and microsurgical clipping.

scholarly journals Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysms

2007 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 225-237 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Raymond ◽  
T. Nguyen ◽  
M. Chagnon ◽  
G. Gevry ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Randomized Trial ◽  
Intracranial Aneurysms ◽  
International Study ◽  
Preventive Treatment ◽  
Clinical Practices ◽  
Unruptured Aneurysms ◽  
Expert Opinions ◽  
Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysms ◽  
Objective Evidence ◽  
Treatment Risks

In the absence of level one evidence, the treatment of unruptured intracranial aneurysms is grounded on opinions. Results of the largest registry available, ISUIA (the International Study on Unruptured Intraacranial Aneurysms) suggest that surgical or endovascular treatments are rarely justified. Yet the unruptured aneurysm is the most frequent indication for treatment in many endovascular centres. In preparation for the initiation of a randomized trial, we aimed at a better knowledge of endovascular expert opinions on unruptured aneurysms. We administered a standard questionnaire to 175 endovascular experts gathered at the WFITN meeting in Val d'Isère in 2007. Four paradigm unruptured aneurysms were used to poll opinions on risks of treatment or observation, as well as on their willingness to treat, observe or propose to the patient participation in a randomized trial, using six questions for each aneurysm. Opinions varied widely among lesions and among participants. Most participants (92.5%) were consistent, as they would offer treatment only if their estimate of the ten-year risk of spontaneous hemorrhage would exceed risks of treatment. Estimates of the natural history were consistently higher than that reported by ISUIA. Conversely, treatment risks were underestimated compared to those reported in ISUIA, but within the range reported in a recent French registry (ATENA). Participants were more confident in their evaluation of treatment risks and in their skills at treating aneurysms than in their estimates of risks of rupture entailed by the presence of the lesion, the latter being anchored at or close to 1% /year. The gulf between expert opinions, clinical practices and available data from registries persist. Expert opinions are compatible with the primary hypothesis of a recently initiated randomized trial on unruptured aneurysms (TEAM), which is a benefit of endovascular treatment of 4% compared to observation over ten years. Only data from a randomized trial could provide convincing objective evidence in favour or against preventive treatment of unruptured intracranial aneurysms.

scholarly journals Intracranial Aneurysms: Does Size Really Matter?

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kashif Majeed ◽  
Srikanth R Boddu ◽  
Joseph Carnevale ◽  
Elif Ezgi Cenberlitas ◽  
Nicholas Williams ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Intracranial Aneurysms ◽  
International Study ◽  
Surgical Clipping ◽  
Aneurysmal Rupture ◽  
Ruptured Aneurysms ◽  
Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysms ◽  
Risk Of Rupture ◽  
Brainstem Stroke ◽  
Size Groups ◽  
The Mean

Abstract BACKGROUND To stratify the risk of aneurysmal rupture, size remains the primary criterion as proposed by 2 ISUIA (International Study of Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysms) trials that recommend the observation of ≤7 mm aneurysms because of their low propensity to rupture. These recommendations are controversial, given the severe outcomes following hemorrhage. OBJECTIVE To retrospectively assess whether size correlates with aneurysmal rupture, and to analyze outcomes of endovascular and microsurgical procedures. METHODS All aneurysms presenting between 2016 and 2019 were reviewed. Age, gender, comorbidities, ruptured status, modes of treatment, and their outcomes were noted. Regression analysis was performed to correlate size with rupture. The type of intervention was based on clinical and aneurysmal characteristics and the likelihood of obliteration. RESULTS Of the 668 aneurysms, 116 had ruptured. In size groups 0 to 6 mm,  7 to 12 mm,  13 to 18 mm,  18 to 24 mm, and giant, the ruptured aneurysms were 60.3%, 30.2%, 1.7%, 0.9%, and 6.9%, respectively. The majority (423) were managed endovascularly, of which 84 (19.9%) were ruptured. A total of 97 (14.5%) underwent clipping, of which 31 were ruptured. The mean modified Rankin Scale for both treated groups was zero. One death in each group and a single brainstem stroke in the coiled group were noted. A total of 139 were followed, of which none had ruptured. The mean modified Raymond-Roy classification for endovascular therapy was 1.1, with 380 completely occluded; 15 had a score of 2, and 28 of score 3. CONCLUSION The ruptured aneurysms were mostly smaller than reported previously. Surgical clipping was at equipoise with endovascular treatments. Further studies to correlate aneurysmal characteristics to the risk of rupture are needed.

scholarly journals Treatment of Asymptomatic Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysms

2001 ◽  
Vol 7 (1_suppl) ◽  
pp. 61-64
Author(s):  
S. Hirai ◽  
J. Ono ◽  
M. Odaki ◽  
T. Serizawa ◽  
M. Sato ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Decision Analysis ◽  
Conservative Management ◽  
Intracranial Aneurysms ◽  
Clinical Decision ◽  
Systemic Complications ◽  
Unruptured Aneurysms ◽  
Rupture Rate ◽  
Preventive Surgery ◽  
Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysms ◽  
Risk Of Rupture

The indication of preventive surgery for patients who harbor asymptomatic unruptured intracranial aneurysms remains controversial. To evaluate the benefit of this treatment, we investigated the management outcome in 128 patients with 157 unruptured aneurysms. Surgery was planned in patients 70 years old or younger without serious systemic complications. A total of 77 patients underwent surgery including four endovascular interventions, and conservative management was chosen in 51 patients. There was no mortality and 6.5% morbidity as postoperative results, and no complication was found after endovascular treatment. Among the patients in conservative management, four patients suffered from subsequent rupture during the total follow-up period of 148 person-years. The annual rupture rate was estimated at 2.7%. According to the clinical decision analysis based on our data, preventive surgery is beneficial for a Japanese 70 years old or younger. However, the expected utility decreases if the rupture rate is set at 0.5% or 0.05%, posing a doubt about the benefit of the surgery. Decision analysis provides an aid for logical and objective choice in the management of unruptured aneurysms. The actual risk of rupture has a major impact on decision making in therapeutic strategy.

scholarly journals Unruptured intracranial aneurysms and the assessment of rupture risk based on anatomical and morphological factors: sifting through the sands of data

2009 ◽  
Vol 26 (5) ◽  
pp. E2 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rohan R. Lall ◽  
Christopher S. Eddleman ◽  
Bernard R. Bendok ◽  
H. Hunt Batjer
Keyword(s):  
Subarachnoid Hemorrhage ◽  
Intracranial Aneurysms ◽  
Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage ◽  
Morphological Characteristics ◽  
Preventive Treatment ◽  
Rupture Risk ◽  
Catastrophic Event ◽  
Aneurysmal Rupture ◽  
Unruptured Aneurysms ◽  
Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysms

Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage continues to have high rates of morbidity and mortality for patients despite optimal medical and surgical management. Due to the fact that aneurysmal rupture can be such a catastrophic event, preventive treatment is desirable for high-risk lesions. Given the variability of the literature evaluating unruptured aneurysms regarding basic patient population, clinical practice, and aneurysm characteristics studied, such as size, location, aspect ratio, relationship to the surrounding vasculature, and the aneurysm hemodynamics, a metaanalysis is nearly impossible to perform. This review will instead focus on the various anatomical and morphological characteristics of aneurysms reported in the literature with an attempt to draw broad inferences and serve to highlight pressing questions for the future in our continued effort to improve clinical management of unruptured intracranial aneurysms.

Natural history and general management of unruptured intracranial aneurysms

2004 ◽  
Vol 17 (5) ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peng Roc Chen ◽  
Kai Frerichs ◽  
Robert Spetzler
Keyword(s):  
Natural History ◽  
Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage ◽  
Cerebral Aneurysms ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Unruptured Aneurysms ◽  
Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysms ◽  
Risk Of Rupture ◽  
History Of ◽  
Unruptured Cerebral Aneurysms ◽  
Noninvasive Neuroimaging

After an aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage, nearly half of the patients die and the half who survive suffer from irreversible cerebral damage. With increasing use of noninvasive neuroimaging techniques (for example, magnetic resonance and computerized tomography angiography), more unruptured cerebral aneurysms are found. To understand the prevalence of unruptured aneurysms in the general population, along with the risks of aneurysm formation, data on growth and rupture rates are crucial. The risk of rupture in aneurysms smaller than 10 mm is still not quite clear without a population-based prospective study. Nevertheless, a 0.5 to 2% annual risk may be a reasonable estimate. Growing aneurysms and those larger than 10 mm carry a higher rate of rupture. The management of an unruptured intracranial aneurysm should be based on a thorough understanding of the natural history of these lesions and careful evaluation of the morbidity and mortality levels associated with each treatment option.

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