Consecutive Endovascular Treatment of 20 Ruptured Very Small (<3 mm) Anterior Communicating Artery Aneurysms.
BACKGROUND
Small aneurysms located at the anterior communicating artery carry significant procedural challenges due to a complex anatomy. Recent advances in endovascular technologies have expanded the use of coil embolization for small aneurysm treatment. However, limited reports describe their safety and efficacy profiles in very small anterior communicating artery aneurysms.


OBJECTIVE
We sought to review and report the immediate and long-term clinical as well as radiographic outcomes of consecutive patients with ruptured very small anterior communicating artery aneurysms treated with current endovascular coil embolization techniques.


METHODS
A prospectively maintained single-institution neuroendovascular database was accessed to identify consecutive cases of very small (<3 mm) ruptured anterior communicating artery aneurysms treated endovascularly between 2006 and 2013.


RESULTS
A total of 20 patients with ruptured very small (<3 mm) anterior communicating artery aneurysms were consecutively treated with coil embolization. The average maximum diameter was 2.66 ± 0.41 mm. Complete aneurysm occlusion was achieved for 17 (85%) aneurysms and near-complete aneurysm occlusion for 3 (15%) aneurysms. Intraoperative perforation was seen in 2 (10%) patients without any clinical worsening or need for an external ventricular drain. A thromboembolic event occurred in 1 (5 %) patient without clinical worsening or radiologic infarct. Median clinical follow-up was 12 (±14.1) months and median imaging follow-up was 12 (±18.4) months.


CONCLUSIONS
This report describes the largest series of consecutive endovascular treatments of ruptured very small anterior communicating artery aneurysms. These findings suggest that coil embolization of very small aneurysms in this location can be performed with acceptable rates of complications and recanalization.
Departments of Neurology, Medical College of Wisconsin and Froedtert Hospital, Milwaukee, Wis., USA.
Kaiz S
KS
Asif
Departments of Neurology, Medical College of Wisconsin and Froedtert Hospital, Milwaukee, Wis., USA.
Ahsan
A
Sattar
Departments of Neurology, Medical College of Wisconsin and Froedtert Hospital, Milwaukee, Wis., USA; Departments of Neurosurgery, Medical College of Wisconsin and Froedtert Hospital, Milwaukee, Wis., USA.
Marc A
MA
Lazzaro
Departments of Neurology, Medical College of Wisconsin and Froedtert Hospital, Milwaukee, Wis., USA; Departments of Neurosurgery, Medical College of Wisconsin and Froedtert Hospital, Milwaukee, Wis., USA; Departments of Radiology, Medical College of Wisconsin and Froedtert Hospital, Milwaukee, Wis., USA.
Brian-Fred
BF
Fitzsimmons
Departments of Neurology, Medical College of Wisconsin and Froedtert Hospital, Milwaukee, Wis., USA; Departments of Neurosurgery, Medical College of Wisconsin and Froedtert Hospital, Milwaukee, Wis., USA; Departments of Radiology, Medical College of Wisconsin and Froedtert Hospital, Milwaukee, Wis., USA.
John R
JR
Lynch
Departments of Neurology, Medical College of Wisconsin and Froedtert Hospital, Milwaukee, Wis., USA; Neuroscience and Stroke Center, Mercy Health St Vz Medical Center, Toledo, Ohio, USA.
Osama O
OO
Zaidat
Aneurysm; Anterior communicating artery; Coiling; Endovascular treatment; Ruptured anterior communicating artery aneurysms