A comparison between endovascular and surgical management of basilar artery apex aneurysms

1999 ◽  
Vol 90 (5) ◽  
pp. 868-874 ◽  
Author(s):  
David P. Gruber ◽  
Gary A. Zimmerman ◽  
Thomas A. Tomsick ◽  
Harry R. van Loveren ◽  
Michael J. Link ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Endovascular Treatment ◽  
Surgical Management ◽  
Basilar Artery ◽  
Acute Stage ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Long Term Follow Up ◽  
Detachable Coils ◽  
History Of ◽  
Surgical Group ◽  
Fine Print

Object. The goal of this retrospective study was to evaluate endovascular treatment by means of Guglielmi detachable coils (GDCs) compared with surgical management for basilar artery (BA) apex aneurysms.Methods. Forty-one patients presented with saccular BA apex aneurysms with angiographically definable necks that were judged suitable for either treatment. Of 20 patients who underwent surgery and 21 who underwent GDC embolization, 15 (75%) and 11 (52%), respectively, were treated in the acute phase after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Twenty-four (92%) of the 26 patients presenting with an SAH had a Hunt and Hess Grade III or better. Fifteen patients with unruptured or ruptured aneurysms more than 14 days post-SAH were treated electively. Patients in the endovascular and surgical treatment groups had aneurysms with comparable dimensions and configurations. Overall, 15 (75%) of the surgical patients and 20 (95%) of the patients in whom GDC embolization was performed had a good outcome (Glasgow Outcome Scale score of 4 or 5). Among those patients treated in the acute stage post-SAH, 11 (73%) of the surgical group and 10 (91%) of the endovascular group did well. Fourteen patients treated electively (93%) had good outcomes. There were two deaths (10%) in the surgical group and none in the endovascular group. Patients treated surgically were hospitalized twice as long and incurred twice the expenses of patients who underwent endovascular treatment (p < 0.001).Conclusions. Endovascular GDC embolization of select BA apex aneurysms may be a competitive alternative to direct surgical clipping. Long-term follow up is needed to better define the natural history of the endovascularly treated aneurysm and to further evaluate the accuracy of these preliminary results.

Treatment of basilar artery bifurcation aneurysms by using Guglielmi detachable coils: a 6-year experience

1999 ◽  
Vol 90 (5) ◽  
pp. 843-852 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gerhard Bavinzski ◽  
Monika Killer ◽  
Andreas Gruber ◽  
Andrea Reinprecht ◽  
Cordell E. Gross ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Basilar Artery ◽  
Thrombotic Complication ◽  
Guglielmi Detachable Coils ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Unruptured Aneurysms ◽  
Poor Grade ◽  
Long Term Follow Up ◽  
Detachable Coils ◽  
Fine Print

Object. The authors retrospectively analyzed the results of their 6-year experience in the treatment of basilar artery (BA) bifurcation aneurysms by using Guglielmi detachable coils (GDCs).Methods. This analysis involved 45 BA tip aneurysms in 16 men and 29 women who ranged in age from 23 to 78 years (mean 50 years). Seventy-five percent of the aneurysms had ruptured and 25% remained unruptured. Of the group whose aneurysms hemorrhaged, 14 patients were Hunt and Hess Grade I or II and 20 were Hunt and Hess Grades III to V; 32 patients were treated within 2 weeks of their subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Initially, treatment with GDCs was limited to poor-grade high-risk patients who refused surgery or patients in whom surgery proved unsuccessful. Later in the study, good-grade patients with narrow-necked aneurysms were also treated using GDCs.The length of clinical follow up ranged from 1 to 72 months (average 27.4 months) in the 37 surviving patients. In 33 of the 45 aneurysms treated with coil placement, good to excellent results were achieved. There were 12 poor results (27%) including one in a patient from the non-SAH group who suffered a thrombotic complication due to an underlying vasculitis. Eight deaths were recorded in this group of 45 patients. One of these deaths was caused by a complication related to anesthesia, one by unknown causes, and six resulted from complications of the disease. One patient rebled on the 2nd day after the endovascular procedure. The mortality and permanent morbidity rates directly related to the intervention were 2.2% and 4.4%, respectively.Angiographic studies obtained immediately postintervention demonstrated 99 to 100% occlusion in 30 (67%) of the aneurysms; nine (20%) were more than 90% occluded; and six (13%) were less than 90% occluded by the GDCs. Follow-up angiograms were obtained in 31 patients between 2 and 72 months after coil placement. Nineteen (61%) of the follow-up angiograms revealed stable results (that is, no change from initial treatment). Twelve of the 31 showed coil compaction, but only eight of these lesions could accept additional coils.In large aneurysms recanalization was seen in 57%, and some of the larger lesions required as many as four embolizations (mean 1.7) to achieve optimal occlusion. When small-necked aneurysms were analyzed as a subset, a stable angiographic result was seen in 92%.Conclusions. Use of GDCs led to excellent clinical and angiographic results in the majority of patients with BA tip aneurysms included in this limited follow-up study. Rebleeding was encountered in one of the 34 previously ruptured BA aneurysms treated with GDCs, and no hemorrhages have been documented in the 11 unruptured aneurysms treated with GDCs in this series. Long-term follow-up studies are necessary before it is possible to compare adequately the treatment of aneurysms with coil placement to the gold standard of aneurysm clipping.

Endovascular treatment with Guglielmi detachable coils for basilar artery trunk aneurysms: clinical experience with 41 aneurysms in 39 patients

2001 ◽  
Vol 95 (4) ◽  
pp. 624-632 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ken Uda ◽  
Yuichi Murayama ◽  
Y. Pierre Gobin ◽  
Gary R. Duckwiler ◽  
Fernando Viñuela
Keyword(s):  
Endovascular Treatment ◽  
Clinical Experience ◽  
Basilar Artery ◽  
Parent Artery ◽  
Guglielmi Detachable Coils ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Cerebellar Artery ◽  
Detachable Coils ◽  
Fine Print

Object. The authors present a retrospective analysis of their clinical experience in the endovascular treatment of basilar artery (BA) trunk aneurysms with Guglielmi detachable coils (GDCs). Methods. Between April 1990 and June 1999, 41 BA trunk aneurysms were treated in 39 patients by inserting GDCs. Twenty-seven patients presented with subarachnoid hemorrhage, six had intracranial mass effect, and in six patients the aneurysms were found incidentally. Eighteen lesions were BA trunk aneurysms, 13 were BA—superior cerebellar artery aneurysms, four were BA—anterior inferior cerebellar artery aneurysms, and six were vertebrobasilar junction aneurysms. Thirty-five patients (89.7%) had excellent or good clinical outcomes; procedural morbidity and mortality rates were 2.6% each. Thirty-six aneurysms were selectively occluded while preserving the parent artery, and in five cases the parent artery was occluded along with the aneurysm. Immediate angiographic studies revealed complete or nearly complete occlusion in 35 aneurysms (85.4%). Follow-up angiograms were obtained in 29 patients with 31 aneurysms; the mean follow-up period was 17 months. No recanalization was observed in the eight completely occluded aneurysms. In 19 lesions with small neck remnants, seven (36.8%) had further thrombosis, three (15.8%) remained anatomically unchanged, and nine (47.3%) had recanalization caused by coil compaction. In one patient (2.6%) the aneurysm rebled 8 years after the initial embolization. Conclusions. In this clinical series the authors show that the GDC placement procedure is valuable in the therapeutic management of BA trunk aneurysms. The endovascular catheterization of these lesions tends to be relatively simple, in contrast with more complex neurosurgical approaches. Endosaccular obliteration of these aneurysms also decreases the possibility of unwanted occlusion of perforating arteries to the brainstem.

Upper basilar artery aneurysms: oculomotor outcomes in 163 cases

2005 ◽  
Vol 102 (3) ◽  
pp. 482-488 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hisham Al-Khayat ◽  
Haitham Al-Khayat ◽  
Jonathan White ◽  
David Manner ◽  
Duke Samson
Keyword(s):  
Basilar Artery ◽  
Nerve Palsy ◽  
Arterial Occlusion ◽  
Oculomotor Nerve ◽  
Oculomotor Nerve Palsy ◽  
Stepwise Logistic Regression ◽  
Categorical Data Analysis ◽  
Content Type ◽  
History Of ◽  
Fine Print

Object. The purpose of this study was to identify factors predictive of postoperative oculomotor nerve palsy among patients who undergo surgery for distal basilar artery (BA) aneurysms. The data can be used to estimate preoperative risk in this population. The natural history of oculomotor nerve palsy in patients with good outcomes is also defined. Methods. The cases of 163 patients with distal BA aneurysms, who were treated surgically between 1996 and 2002, were retrospectively studied to identify factors contributing to oculomotor nerve palsy. After the data had been collected, stepwise logistic regression procedures were used to determine the predictive effects of each variable on the development of oculomotor nerve palsy and to create a scoring system. Factors that interfered with resolution of oculomotor dysfunction in patients with good outcomes were also studied. Postoperative oculomotor nerve palsy occurred in 86 patients (52.8%) with distal BA aneurysms. The following factors were associated with postoperative oculomotor dysfunction, as determined by a categorical data analysis: 1) younger patient age (p < 0.001); 2) poor admission Hunt and Hess grade (p < 0.001); 3) use of temporary arterial occlusion (p < 0.001); 4) poor Glasgow Outcome Scale score (p < 0.001); and 5) the presence of a BA apex aneurysm that projected posteriorly (p < 0.001). For patients with good outcomes, postoperative oculomotor nerve palsy resolved completely within 3 months in 31 patients (52%) and within 6 months in 47 patients (80%). The projection of the BA aneurysm was associated with incomplete oculomotor recovery at 6 months postoperatively (p = 0.019). Conclusions. The results of this study can help identify patients with a high risk for the development of oculomotor nerve palsy. This may help neurosurgeons in preoperative planning and discussions.

Endovascular treatment of ruptured posterior circulation aneurysms using electrolytically detachable coils

1997 ◽  
Vol 87 (3) ◽  
pp. 374-380 ◽  
Author(s):  
Douglas A. Nichols ◽  
Robert D. Brown ◽  
Kent R. Thielen ◽  
Fredric B. Meyer ◽  
John L. D. Atkinson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Endovascular Treatment ◽  
Balloon Occlusion ◽  
Additional Treatment ◽  
Posterior Circulation ◽  
Parent Artery ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Detachable Coils ◽  
Posterior Circulation Aneurysms ◽  
Fine Print

✓ The authors report their experience using electrolytically detachable coils for the treatment of ruptured posterior circulation aneurysms. Twenty-six patients with 28 posterior circulation aneurysms were treated. All patients were referred for endovascular treatment by experienced vascular neurosurgeons. Patients underwent follow-up angiography immediately after treatment, 1 to 6 weeks posttreatment, and 6 months posttreatment. Six-month follow-up angiograms obtained in 19 patients with 20 aneurysms demonstrated that 18 (90%) of the 20 aneurysms were 99 to 100% occluded, one aneurysm (5%) was approximately 90% occluded, and one aneurysm (5%) was approximately 75% occluded. The patient with the aneurysm that was approximately 75% occluded needed additional treatment, consisting of parent artery balloon occlusion, and was considered a treatment failure (3.8% of patients). There was one treatment-associated mortality (3.8%) but no treatment-associated serious neurological or nonneurological morbidity in the patient group. There was no recurrent aneurysm rupture during treatment or during the mean 27-month follow-up period. Endovascular treatment of ruptured posterior circulation aneurysms with electrolytically detachable coils can be accomplished with low morbidity and mortality rates. The primary goal of treatment—preventing recurrent aneurysm—can be achieved over the short term. Endovascular coil occlusion will play an important role in the treatment of ruptured posterior circulation aneurysms, particularly if long-term efficacy in preventing recurrent aneurysm hemorrhage can be documented.

Surgical management of unruptured asymptomatic aneurysms

1977 ◽  
Vol 46 (6) ◽  
pp. 731-734 ◽  
Author(s):  
Duke S. Samson ◽  
Richard M. Hodosh ◽  
W. Kemp Clark
Keyword(s):  
Surgical Technique ◽  
Natural History ◽  
Surgical Management ◽  
Population Characteristics ◽  
Aneurysm Surgery ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Mortality And Morbidity ◽  
History Of ◽  
Fine Print ◽  
Significant Mortality

✓ The natural history of unruptured asymptomatic aneurysms is unclear. Because of this uncertainty regarding risk of ultimate enlargement and/or hemorrhage, and in view of the significant mortality and morbidity traditionally involved in aneurysm surgery, clinicians have varied in their advocacy of surgical management of such lesions. Forty-nine consecutive patients harboring 52 such aneurysms were treated surgically over a 57-month period. There were no surgical deaths and morbidity was within acceptable limits. Patient population characteristics and surgical technique are discussed.

Incidence of cerebral vasospasm after endovascular treatment of acutely ruptured aneurysms: report on 69 cases

1997 ◽  
Vol 87 (6) ◽  
pp. 830-835 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuichi Murayama ◽  
Tim Malisch ◽  
Guido Guglielmi ◽  
Michel E. Mawad ◽  
Fernando Viñuela ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Endovascular Treatment ◽  
Cerebral Vasospasm ◽  
Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage ◽  
Surgical Removal ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Ruptured Aneurysms ◽  
Symptomatic Vasospasm ◽  
Hypervolemic Hemodilution ◽  
Detachable Coils ◽  
Fine Print

✓ Cerebral vasospasm is the most common cause of morbidity and mortality in patients admitted to the hospital after suffering aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). The early surgical removal of subarachnoid clots and irrigation of the basal cisterns have been reported to reduce the incidence of vasospasm. In contrast to surgery, the endovascular treatment of aneurysms does not allow removal of subarachnoid clots. In this study the authors measured the incidence of symptomatic vasospasm after early endovascular treatment of acutely ruptured aneurysms with Guglielmi detachable coils (GDCs). Sixty-nine patients classified as Hunt and Hess Grades I to III underwent occlusion of intracranial aneurysms via GDCs within 72 hours of rupture. The amount of blood on the initial computerized tomography (CT) scan was classified by means of Fisher's scale. Symptomatic vasospasm was defined as the onset of neurological deterioration verified with angiographic or transcranial Doppler studies. Hypertensive, hypervolemic, hemodilution therapy, with or without intracranial angioplasty, was used to treat vasospasm after GDC placement. Symptomatic vasospasm occurred in 16 (23%) of 69 patients. The clinical grade at admission and the amount of blood on the initial CT were both associated with the incidence of subsequent vasospasm. At 6-month clinical follow-up examination, 12 of these 16 patients experienced a good recovery, two were moderately disabled, and two patients had died of vasospasm. In conclusion, the 23% incidence of symptomatic vasospasm in this series compares favorably with that found in conventional surgical series of patients with acute aneurysmal SAH. These results indicate that endovascular therapy does not have an unfavorable impact on cerebral vasospasm.

Endovascular treatment of basilar tip aneurysms using electrolytically detachable coils

1996 ◽  
Vol 84 (3) ◽  
pp. 393-399 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cameron G. McDougall ◽  
Van V. Halbach ◽  
Christopher F. Dowd ◽  
Randall T. Higashida ◽  
Donald W. Larsen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Initial Treatment ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Initial Treatment Period ◽  
Long Term Follow Up ◽  
Detachable Coils ◽  
Aneurysm Occlusion ◽  
Permanent Morbidity ◽  
Fine Print

✓ Preliminary experience using electrolytically detachable coils to treat basilar tip aneurysms in 33 patients is described. The most frequent presentation was subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) in 23 patients. All patients were referred after neurosurgical assessment and exclusion as candidates for surgical clipping of their aneurysms. At the time of initial treatment complete aneurysm occlusion was achieved in seven (21.2%) of 33 patients. In 17 of the patients (51.5%), greater than 90% but less than 100% aneurysm occlusion was achieved. Angiographic follow up (mean 11.7 months) was available in 19 patients. At follow-up angiography four (21%) of 19 aneurysms were 100% occluded and 12 (63.2%) of 19 were more than 90% but less than 100% occluded. The mean clinical follow-up time in treated patients surviving beyond the initial treatment period is 15 months. One patient suffered major permanent morbidity from thrombosis of the basilar tip region a few hours after coil placement. One patient treated following SAH experienced further hemorrhage 6 months later. No other patient suffered direct or indirect permanent morbidity as a consequence of this method of treatment. The authors believe that this technique is a reasonable alternative for patients who are not candidates for conventional surgical treatment or in whom such treatment has failed. This study's follow-up period is brief and greater experience with long-term follow-up study is mandatory.

Multimodal treatment of ruptured dissecting aneurysms of the vertebral artery during the acute stage

2003 ◽  
Vol 99 (6) ◽  
pp. 960-966 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jun-ichiro Hamada ◽  
Yutaka Kai ◽  
Motohiro Morioka ◽  
Shigetoshi Yano ◽  
Tatemi Todaka ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vertebral Artery ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
Posterior Inferior Cerebellar Artery ◽  
Acute Stage ◽  
The Other ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Lateral Medullary Syndrome ◽  
Detachable Coils ◽  
Dissecting Aneurysms ◽  
Fine Print

Object. The goal of this study was to implement an algorithm for and assess the multimodal (endovascular and microsurgical) treatment of patients with ruptured dissecting aneurysms of the vertebral artery (VA) during the acute stage. Methods. During a 4-year period, the authors treated 19 ruptured dissecting aneurysms of the VA during the acute stage, within 3 days after the hemorrhage. Factors guiding management decisions were tolerance of the test occlusion and the site of the dissection. The algorithm takes into account these factors to select among treatment options, that is, trapping of the VA with Guglielmi Detachable Coils (GDCs); trapping of the VA and revascularization of the posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA); trapping of the VA and VA—posterior cerebral artery (PCA) anastomosis; and trapping of the VA, VA—PCA anastomosis, and revascularization of the PICA. Of the 15 aneurysms without PICA involvement, 14 were treated by trapping of the VA with GDCs and one by trapping of the VA and a VA—PCA bypass. The other four aneurysms with PICA involvement were treated by VA trapping and PICA revascularization. There was no episode of recurrent hemorrhage or ischemia during the posttreatment follow-up period. Although lateral medullary syndrome developed as a permanent complication in one patient, a good recovery was made by the other 18 patients by 6 months after the ictus. Conclusions. The factors that determine the appropriate treatment for ruptured dissecting aneurysms of the VA are tolerance of a test occlusion and the site of dissection. Favorable patient outcomes can be achieved when this algorithm is used.

Intravascular stent and endovascular coil placement for a ruptured fusiform aneurysm of the basilar artery

1997 ◽  
Vol 87 (6) ◽  
pp. 944-949 ◽  
Author(s):  
Randall T. Higashida ◽  
Wade Smith ◽  
Daryl Gress ◽  
Ross Urwin ◽  
Christopher F. Dowd ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Basilar Artery ◽  
Stent Placement ◽  
The Body ◽  
Fusiform Aneurysm ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Neurological Improvement ◽  
Intravascular Stents ◽  
Detachable Coils ◽  
Intravascular Stent ◽  
Fine Print

✓ The authors demonstrate the technical feasibility of using intravascular stents in conjunction with electrolytically detachable coils (Guglielmi detachable coils [GDCs]) for treatment of fusiform, broad-based, acutely ruptured intracranial aneurysms and review the literature on endovascular approaches to ruptured aneurysms and cerebral stent placement. A 77-year-old man presented with an acute subarachnoid hemorrhage of the posterior fossa. A fusiform aneurysm with a broad-based neck measuring 12 mm and involving the distal vertebral artery (VA) and proximal third of the basilar artery (BA) was demonstrated on cerebral angiography. The aneurysm was judged to be inoperable. Six days later a repeated hemorrhage occurred. A 15-mm-long intravascular stent was placed across the base of the aneurysm in the BA and expanded to 4 mm to act as a bridging scaffold to create a neck. A microcatheter was then guided through the interstices of the stent into the body and dome of the aneurysm, and GDCs were deposited for occlusion. The arteriogram obtained after stent placement demonstrated occlusion of the main dome and body of the aneurysm. The coils were stably positioned and held in place by the stent across the distal VA and BA fusiform aneurysm. Excellent blood flow to the distal BA and posterior cerebral artery was maintained through the stent. There were no new brainstem ischemic events attributable to the procedure. No rebleeding from the aneurysm had occurred by the 10.5-month follow-up evaluation, and the patient has experienced significant neurological improvement. Certain types of intracranial fusiform aneurysms may now be treated by combining intravascular stent and GDC placement for aneurysm occlusion via an endovascular approach. This is the first known clinical application of this novel approach in a ruptured cerebral aneurysm.

Endovascular treatment of cerebral aneurysms following incomplete clipping

1997 ◽  
Vol 87 (2) ◽  
pp. 184-189 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kent R. Thielen ◽  
Douglas A. Nichols ◽  
Jimmy R. Fulgham ◽  
David G. Piepgras
Keyword(s):  
Endovascular Treatment ◽  
Cerebral Aneurysms ◽  
Surgical Clipping ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Coil Occlusion ◽  
Neurological Morbidity ◽  
Posterior Circulation Aneurysm ◽  
Detachable Coils ◽  
Fine Print

✓ The authors report their experience using electrolytically detachable coils for the treatment of residual cerebral aneurysms following incomplete surgical clipping. Eight patients were treated for six anterior and two posterior circulation aneurysm remnants. All patients were referred for endovascular treatment by experienced cerebrovascular neurosurgeons at the authors' institution. Patients underwent follow-up angiography immediately after endovascular treatment. In seven of the eight patients, additional follow-up angiographic studies were obtained at periods ranging from 7 weeks to 2 years posttreatment. The latest follow-up angiograms demonstrated that six of the eight aneurysm remnants were 100% occluded, with near-complete occlusion of the other two aneurysm remnants. There was no permanent neurological or non-neurological morbidity or mortality associated with the treatment. There was no incidence of aneurysm hemorrhage during or after treatment. Endovascular treatment of cerebral aneurysm remnants following prior surgical clipping can be accomplished with acceptable morbidity and mortality rates. Endovascular coil occlusion can play an important adjunctive role in the treatment of those aneurysms that have been incompletely obliterated by surgical clipping.

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