Investigation of the endovascularly treated and untreated unruptured vertebrobasilar artery aneurysms

Abstract Background and purpose The present study aimed to investigate the endovascular indication with close monitoring of both endovascularly treated and untreated unruptured vertebrobasilar aneurysms. Materials and methods In the past 2 years, 36 patients [7 women and 29 men with a mean age of 48.5 years (range, 13–75 years)] who had 40 unruptured vertebrobasilar artery aneurysms were reviewed. The decision of the endovascular treatment was not randomized. In both endovascularly untreated and treated patients, overall mortality and morbidity corresponding to Glasgow outcome scale (GOS) score III or worse was counted as unruptured aneurysm related event. The ratio of event free was compared between endovascularly treated and untreated patients using Log-rank test. In a univariate analysis, poor outcome was predicted by endovascularly untreated. Results Thirty-six patients were followed with a mean period of 10.7 months (range, 0.7 months–21 months). In untreated cases, new neurological deficits caused by the aneurysm were noted in 2 cases. The annual deterioration rate of the untreated cases was 9.1%. In endovascularly treated cases, there was no mortality and morbidity. There was no SAH in all cases during follow-up period. When ratio of event free was compared, significant advantage of endovascular treatment was noted ( X2 = 4.429, P = 0.035). Conclusions The present results indicated that endovascular treatment has a benefit for the unruptured vertebrobasilar artery aneurysms.