Relation between aneurysm volume, packing, and compaction in 145 cerebral aneurysms treated with coils.

PURPOSE: To assess the relation between aneurysm volume, packing, and compaction in cerebral aneurysms treated with coils. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The volumes of 145 aneurysms that were treated with coils were calculated with biplanar angiographic images and a custom-designed method. Partially thrombosed aneurysms were excluded. Packing was defined as the ratio between the volume of the inserted coils and the volume of the aneurysm and was calculated for all 145 aneurysms. Results at 6-month follow-up angiography were dichotomized into presence or absence of compaction. RESULTS: Aneurysm volume, packing, and compaction at 6-month follow-up were closely related. Large aneurysm volume was associated with low packing and frequent compaction. High packing prevents compaction. If the aneurysm volume was packed for 24% or more with coils, compaction did not occur in aneurysms with a volume of less than 600 mm(3). In small aneurysms with volumes of less than 200 mm(3), compaction did not occur when packing was above 20%. CONCLUSION: The common practice of inserting as many coils as possible in cerebral aneurysms is sensible in trying to avoid compaction. In aneurysms with packing of 24% or more, no compaction occurred at 6-month angiographic follow-up. In aneurysms with a volume of more than 600 mm(3), high packing could not be achieved, which resulted in compaction in the majority of aneurysms.

Endovascular treatment of ruptured intracranial aneurysms with detachable coils: long-term clinical and serial angiographic results.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the stability of aneurysm occlusion over time, the need for additional treatments, and the long-term clinical outcome of patients, with emphasis on late recurrences of bleeding. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The records of 160 patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage who were treated with coils were retrospectively reviewed. Follow-up angiography was performed 6 and 18 months after coil placement, and the results were classified as complete, near complete, and incomplete occlusion. RESULTS: Six (4%) of the 160 patients experienced procedural mortality or dependency. After a mean follow-up of 36 months, 134 (84%) patients had a good outcome. Outcome was independent of aneurysm size and location and timing of treatment. Reopening of the aneurysm occurred exclusively during the first 6 months after coil placement, mainly in aneurysms larger than 15 mm. Between 6 and 18 months, no change in aneurysm occlusion was observed. Additional coil placement was performed in 15 (9%) patients. After this second coil placement, nine (7%) aneurysms were still incompletely occluded. Additional therapy was performed in eight (5%) patients. Two recurrences of bleeding were observed in two incompletely occluded large aneurysms. No recurrences of bleeding occurred in patients with completely or near completely occluded aneurysms. CONCLUSION: Coil placement is an effective and safe treatment strategy for patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. If aneurysm occlusion is sufficient at 6 months, the yield of further follow-up angiography is very low.

Coiling of very large or giant cerebral aneurysms: long-term clinical and serial angiographic results.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Initial complete occlusion of very large or giant aneurysms often cannot be accomplished, and most will partially reopen over time. This study was performed to assess the clinical and angiographic outcome of patients with very large or giant cerebral aneurysms treated with detachable coils. METHODS: During 6 years, 29 patients with 31 very large or giant (20-55-mm) cerebral aneurysms were initially treated with detachable coils. Nineteen patients presented with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), and eight patients had symptoms of mass effect. One patient had an incidental aneurysm, and one patient had an additional aneurysm. RESULTS: Twenty-three (79%) of 29 patients had a good clinical outcome at a median follow-up of 50 months. One of 19 patients presenting with SAH had repeat bleed (annual rebleeding rate, 1.45%). After initial coiling, seven of 31 aneurysms were incompletely occluded; this rate increased to 20 of 29 aneurysms at 6-month follow-up angiography. After 16 repeat coiling procedures in 13 aneurysms, 12 of 29 aneurysms in surviving patients were still incompletely occluded. After additional treatment other than coiling (parent-vessel occlusion and/or surgery) in eight aneurysms, three of 25 aneurysms in 24 surviving patients were incompletely occluded. Only 13 (42%) of 31 aneurysms had one coiling as a sole therapy. CONCLUSION: Coiling of very large or giant aneurysms can be considered. Long-term clinical outcomes were good in 79% of patients. The stability of the coil mesh over time was poor, requiring repeat coiling, surgery, and/or parent-vessel balloon occlusion in 58% of the aneurysms primarily treated with coils.

Coiling of ruptured pericallosal artery aneurysms.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the technical feasibility of treating ruptured pericallosal artery aneurysms with detachable coils and to evaluate the anatomic and clinical results. METHODS: Over a period of 27 months, 12 patients with a ruptured pericallosal artery aneurysm were treated with detachable coils. A retrospective review was performed to assess the clinical and angiographic results. The three men and nine women had a mean age of 46.6 years (range, 35-75 yr). Seven patients presented in Hunt and Hess Grade II, three in Grade III, and two in Grade IV. Six patients had a concomitant intracerebral hematoma, and four had at least one additional aneurysm. RESULTS: In all 12 patients, the pericallosal aneurysm could be reached with a microcatheter and the coils delivered. No procedure-related complications occurred. Angiography demonstrated that the initial occlusion was complete in 11 aneurysms and near-complete in 1. At follow-up angiography at 6 months, one aneurysm had become partially recanalized owing to coil compaction. At a mean clinical follow-up of 9.2 months, 11 patients had an excellent outcome and one patient had mild hemiparesis and aphasia. CONCLUSION: Coiling of ruptured pericallosal artery aneurysms can be considered an alternative to surgical clipping.