title: Stent-assisted coiling and balloon-assisted coiling in the management of intracranial aneurysms: A systematic review & meta-analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Stent-assisted coiling and balloon-assisted coiling are well-established minimally invasive techniques for treatment of intracranial aneurysms. The aim of this study was to use meta-analysis methods to compare clinical outcomes of aneurysms treated with stent-assisted coiling versus balloon-assisted coiling.
  
  
  METHODS
  We searched for two-arm prospective studies and retrospective studies that compared the clinical outcomes in patients that received stent-assisted or balloon-assisted aneurysm treatment. Database search was performed through May 2015. Odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were used to compare the clinical outcomes in patients that underwent either stent-assisted or balloon-assisted coiling for intracranial aneurysms management.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Complete occlusion rates at the end of the coiling procedure were similar between patients that received stent-assisted and balloon-assisted aneurysm treatment (OR=0.763, 95% CI=0.47 to 1.23, P=0.270). However, complete occlusion rates were higher with stent-assisted coiling at 6months or later after the procedure (OR=1.82, 95% CI=1.21 to 2.74). The overall complication rates and retreatment rates in patients with recurrence were similar between stent-assisted and balloon-assisted aneurysm treatments.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Stent-assisted coiling achieved better complete occlusion rates of aneurysms at 6months or later after the procedure compared to balloon-assisted coiling, without being associated with a higher risk of intraprocedural complications and retreatment.
authors.affiliation: The Second Department of Neurosurgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan province, China. Electronic address: neurosurgeonwf@aliyun.com.
authors.forename: Fei
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: The Second Department of Neurosurgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan province, China.
authors.forename: Xun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: The Second Department of Neurosurgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan province, China.
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: The Second Department of Neurosurgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan province, China.
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bai
authors.affiliation: The Second Department of Neurosurgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan province, China.
authors.forename: Huan-Zhi
authors.initials: HZ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: The Second Department of Neurosurgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan province, China.
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: The Second Department of Neurosurgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan province, China.
authors.forename: Hua-Lin
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Yu
mesh_terms: D021721:Balloon Occlusion / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D019468:Disease Management; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D002532:Intracranial Aneurysm / Q000628:therapy*; D015607:Stents
keywords: Aneurysm; Balloon-assisted coiling; Stent-assisted coiling