20 Years of the isat (international subarachnoid aneurysm trial) study. End of argument

20 years have past since the publication of the results of the International Subarachnoid Aneurysm Trial (ISAT), which changed the worldwide clinical practice of the treating of ruptured cerebral aneurysms. ISAT lasted almost 8 years until May 30, 2002, in many centers all around the world and included 2143 patients. This first prospective randomized multi-center study confirmed the superiority of endovascular treatment for ruptured cerebral aneurysms. Further, long term follow-up study of ISAT groups confirmed these results. Development of the endovascular method was possible due to pioneers in this field, including professor V.I. Shchehlov, founder of the SO «Scientific-Practical Center of Endovascular Neuroradiology NAMS of Ukraine», who made his first endovascular procedure using detachable latex balloons for the treatment of aneurysm on November 27, 1974 at the Kiev Institute of Neurosurgery. His contribution in development of endovascular neurosurgery was highly appreciated by the author of the ISAT study, Andrew Molyneux, during his lecture at the world congress of the European Society of Minimally Invasive Neurological Therapy.