title: Pitfalls of GDC Embolisation of Intracranial Aneurysms.
abstract: We present a critical analysis of the cerebral aneurysm GDC embolisation technique and its numerous possible pitfalls with the experience of 448 aneurysms in 401 patients performed during a seven year period at UCLA's Division of Interventional Neuroradiology. A "pitfall" is defined as any hidden or not easily recognized danger or difficulty. We review pitfalls related to micro-catheterization, GDC coil delivery, complex vascular anatomy, post-embolisation management, and pre-existing patient's clinical condition. The possible associated technical and clinical complications include aneurysm rupture, parent artery occlusion, thrombo-embolic stroke, coil stretching/rupture, coil migration, incomplete embolisation or embolisation failure. Lastly we present a discussion of our experience and suggestions of how to avoid some of these pitfalls.
authors.affiliation: Division of Interventional Neuroradiology, University of California at Los Angeles; Los Angeles, California, USA.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mena
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Viñuela
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Duckwiler
authors.forename: Y P
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Gobin
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Murayama
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Guglielmi