Embolization of Non-Ruptured Aneurysms

Options for treatment of intracranial aneurysms have expanded with the advent of the Guglielmi Detachable Cod (GDC) eight years ago. We have reviewed 435 cases of intracranial aneurysms treated at UCSF by endovascular means using the GDC system. Of these, 55% represent anterior circulation aneurysms, and 45% are located in the posterior circulation. Additionally, 55% of the aneurysms presented with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) and 45% were unruptured. Factors which hindered optimal coiling include the following: wide aneurysm neck in relation to the overall aneurysm size, mural thrombus, giant aneurysm, arteries originating from the aneurysm sac, and middle cerebral location. After initial experience was gained, we tended to avoid these aneurysms especially in the non-ruptured group. This may be especially important in light of new epidemiological data suggesting that the natural history of unruptured aneurysms is significantly lower than previously thought. New technical developments which may reduce the risk of treating unruptured aneurysms include the two-dimensional coil, the three-dimensional coil, the balloon-assist technique for wide-necked aneurysms, and combined stent-coil procedures.