title: Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysms: Surgery Still Safe as a Treatment Option.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Despite a number of studies on the treatment of unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIA), the optimal method still remains unclear.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to demonstrate that UIA clipping is a safe procedure and can be a good alternative for patients not qualified for endovascular procedures and who have refused conservative management.
  
  
  METHODS
  Results were gathered from a sample of 104 patients with UIA treated in our facility over a 9-year period starting January 2005. The data from a medical database was collected, followed by a long-term assessment of the functional outcomes using the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) and of quality of life (QoL) using a SF-36 questionnaire and comparing it to a Polish population reference.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall postoperative morbidity was 5.7% and the mortality rate was 0%. The mean follow-up period was 6.5 years. A favorable outcome (mRS 0-2) was achieved in all the patients. Ninety-eight patients achieved an mRS score of 0, 2 patients an mRS score of 1, and 4 patients an mRS score of 2. All patients lived at home. Sixty-nine point two percent were fully employed, 27.0% were retired because of age, and only 3.8% relied on government help due to postoperative disability. The QoL index was similar to that of the standard Polish population.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In unruptured cerebral aneurysms, clipping is a safe procedure that provides good outcomes and an unaffected quality of life. It remains a good option especially for patients with MCA aneurysms that are not appropriate for endovascular management.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Wroclaw Medical University, Poland.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Koźba-Gosztyła
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Wroclaw Medical University, Poland.
authors.forename: Bogdan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Czapiga
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Wroclaw Medical University, Poland.
authors.forename: Włodzimierz
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Jarmundowicz
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Wroclaw Medical University, Poland.
authors.forename: Łukasz
authors.initials: Ł
authors.lastname: Tomiałowicz
mesh_terms: D017542:Aneurysm, Ruptured / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D002532:Intracranial Aneurysm / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011044:Poland; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology; D011788:Quality of Life; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: clipping; functional outcome; quality of life; unruptured intracranial aneurysm