Treatment Strategy for Cerebral Aneurysms Based on the Evidence of the Efficacy of GDC Embolization

Abstract

The authors reviewed 531 patients with cerebral aneurysms treated with Guglielmi detachable coils (GDCs) over 5 years to clarify both the advantages and disadvantages of embolization based on the evidence of complications by aneurysm profile. There were 52 technical complications, 25 of which resulted in unfavorable patient outcomes. Intraoperative rupture, the most serious complication exacerbating the patient's condition, occurred in 19 patients, 4 of whom expired. All of these aneurysms were very small and were mostly located in the AcomA and PICA portions. Thirteen patients encountered thromboembolic complications, 6 of whom were elderly with acute ruptured aneurysms at MCA and the tip of BA. For large or giant aneurysms manifesting the mass effect, particularly those in the ICA-C2 portion compressing the optic nerve, the saccular packing did little to ameliorate the symptoms, and subsequent surgical or endovascular trapping was needed.

Therefore, saccular embolization of endovascularly difficult, very small AcomA aneurysms and large C2 aneurysm with visual symptoms should be used sparingly based on a risk-benefit assessment.