Clinical and angiographic long-term follow-up of completely coiled intracranial aneurysms using endovascular technique: Clinical article

Object. The anatomical evolution and clinical outcome of completely coiled intracranial aneurysms after endovascular embolization have rarely been studied separately. From their prospective database, the authors reviewed follow-up angiography and clinical outcome of 87 patients whose aneurysms were designated as 100% obliterated on immediate postembolization angiography. Methods. Ninety-one aneurysms (56 ruptured and 35 unruptured) in 87 patients were included in this study. Clinical outcome was evaluated using the Glasgow Outcome Scale. Follow-up angiographic findings were assessed and categorized as 1 of the following: no recanalization, recanalization with a neck remnant, or recanalization with a body remnant. For statistical analysis, the recanalization rate was correlated with: clinical presentation; the largest aneurysm diameter, aneurysm neck size, and dome-to-neck ratio; aneurysm location; and use of special techniques such as usage of a surface modified coil, balloon remodeling technique, or stent. Results. At the latest clinical evaluation (mean 34.3 months), 81 (93.1%) of the 87 patients (91 aneurysms) had good clinical outcomes (Glasgow Outcome Scale Score 5). The procedure-related morbidity rate (permanent neurological deficit) was 2.3% (2 of 87), and there were no procedure-related deaths. On the latest follow-up angiography (mean 26.4 months), the recanalization rate was 26.4% (24 of 91 aneurysms): 16 (17.6%) with neck remnants and 8 (8.8%) with body remnants. The neck size of the recanalized aneurysms was statistically significantly larger than that of the nonrecanalized aneurysms (p = 0.006), and aneurysms with wide necks (≥ 4 mm) had a higher recanalization rate than those with a narrow neck (< 4 mm) (p = 0.002). There was no bleeding after endovascular treatment during the follow-up period. Conclusions. Completely coiled aneurysms after endovascular embolization demonstrated good clinical outcome, and there was no bleeding episode after endovascular treatment; however, there was a relatively high recanalization rate.