title: Endovascular treatment of ruptured posterior circulation aneurysms using electrolytically detachable coils.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 55905, USA.
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Nichols
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: K R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Thielen
authors.forename: F B
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Atkinson
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Piepgras
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017542:Aneurysm, Ruptured / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D002533:Cerebral Angiography; D004572:Electrolysis; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic / Q000295:instrumentation*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D002532:Intracranial Aneurysm / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016019:Survival Analysis; D017211:Treatment Failure; D016896:Treatment Outcome