Keywords
coiling - aneurysm - endovascular
Introduction
Endovascular coiling has emerged as the preferred treatment for intracranial aneurysms
(IAs) in many countries, particularly following the landmark findings of the International
Subarachnoid Aneurysm Trial (ISAT).[1] This pivotal study demonstrated that endovascular coiling, compared with surgical
clipping, reduced the absolute risk of death or dependency by 7.4% at 1 year. Furthermore,
coiling was associated with significantly better functional outcomes, with fewer patients
experiencing mortality or dependency. These findings firmly established coiling as
the standard treatment for ruptured aneurysms in many clinical settings, driving the
widespread adoption of endovascular techniques for aneurysm management.
Since the Food and Drug Administration approval of Guglielmi detachable coils in 1995,
endovascular treatment for IAs has advanced rapidly.[2] Innovations in catheter and guidewire technology, coupled with the refinement of
digital angiography, have significantly improved the precision and safety of these
procedures. Once considered an alternative or adjunct to surgical intervention for
treating complex or inaccessible lesions, endovascular coiling is now the frontline
treatment for a broad range of aneurysms. It is particularly advantageous for patients
with medical comorbidities, poor clinical grades, or aneurysms with favorable characteristics,
such as narrow necks, high fundus-to-neck ratios, posterior circulation locations,
and multiple aneurysms.[3]
Establishing neurointervention services in a Tier-2 city within a publicly funded
hospital posed several challenges. These included a shortage of trained technicians
to operate the biplane Digital Subtraction Angiography (DSA) laboratory, limited availability
of nursing staff experienced in stroke care and cath laboratory procedures, and significant
difficulties in setting up a reliable supply chain for neurointervention hardware.
These challenges have been discussed in detail in our previous publication on developing
neurointervention services at our center based on our initial experience.[4]
There is often a significant delay in patient referrals from peripheral centers, primarily
due to a lack of awareness about appropriate treatment options. This has led to delays
in timely management. However, with sustained efforts and targeted awareness campaigns,
we have begun receiving referrals more promptly.
In this study, we present our experience with the endovascular management of IAs at
a publicly funded hospital in Central India. Our primary objectives were to provide
a detailed analysis of the demographic and clinical profiles of patients with IAs
in our cohort, including aneurysm subtypes, locations, and sizes. Additionally, we
aimed to evaluate the success rates of various endovascular treatment modalities and
document complications encountered in routine clinical practice. By conducting this
real-world analysis, we aim to contribute valuable insights into the effectiveness
and challenges of endovascular treatment for managing IAs, particularly in resource-constrained
settings.
Materials and Methods
This retrospective study included patients who underwent endovascular treatment for
IAs at the Neuroradiology Department of our institute between March 2021 and December
2023. Demographic, clinical, and imaging data were collected and analyzed retrospectively.
The study protocol was reviewed and approved by the local ethics committee.
Data related to aneurysms, including size, shape, neck size, aspect ratio, rupture
status, and location, were meticulously documented. For ruptured aneurysms, the severity
of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) was assessed using the modified Fisher grade, while
the World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies (WFNS) grading scale was used to evaluate
clinical status at presentation. Any incidents of re-rupture following the initial
rupture were recorded, along with the presence or absence of co-existing aneurysms.
Endovascular procedures were performed under general anesthesia. Following catheterization
of the vertebral or internal carotid artery, a contrast agent was injected to establish
a navigational roadmap. Using a coiling microcatheter and appropriate guidewires,
the aneurysm was cannulated. The treatment approach—whether simple coiling, balloon-assisted
coiling, stent-assisted coiling, flow diverter placement, or braided stent monotherapy—was
selected based on the aneurysm's size, morphology, and location. The number of coils
and/or stents deployed was tailored to the specific characteristics of each aneurysm.
Patient outcomes at discharge were classified using the modified Rankin Scale (mRS)
as follows: good outcome (mRS 0–2), poor outcome (mRS 3–5), or death. Procedure-related
complications were thoroughly recorded. For ruptured aneurysms, particular attention
was given to the occurrence of vasospasm and hydrocephalus during the hospital stay.
Follow-up angiographic outcomes were evaluated using the Modified Raymond–Roy Classification
(MRRC) grading scale to assess the degree of aneurysm occlusion. Long-term functional
outcomes were measured by mRS scores during follow-up. Linear regression analysis
was conducted to identify factors associated with clinical outcomes.
Results
A total of 103 IAs were treated in 100 patients, aged 2 to 75 years. The cohort comprised
59 females and 41 males. [Table 1] shows distributions across age groups for females and males. Clinical presentation
and known co-morbidities are summarized in [Table 2].
Table 1
Distributions across age groups for females and males
Age group
|
Female
|
Male
|
0–20 years
|
1
|
1
|
20–40 years
|
4
|
8
|
40–60 years
|
35
|
26
|
60–80 years
|
19
|
6
|
>80 years
|
0
|
0
|
Total
|
59
|
41
|
Table 2
Clinical presentation and known comorbidities of patients
Presentation ruptured/unruptured
|
Symptoms
|
Frequency
|
Ruptured
|
Headache
|
92
|
Vomiting
|
32
|
Loss of consciousness at time of ictus
|
32
|
Epistaxis
|
1
|
Altered sensorium
|
26
|
Hemiparesis
|
11
|
Monoparesis
|
1
|
Aphasia
|
3
|
Seizures
|
3
|
Unruptured
|
Headache
|
3
|
Diplopia (giant cavernous ICA aneurysm)
|
1
|
Vision loss (giant supraclinoid ICA aneurysm compressing chiasma)
|
1
|
Ptosis (posterior communicating artery aneurysm)
|
1
|
Vertigo, quadriparesis (mass effect due to giant V4 segment aneurysm with brainstem
compression)
|
1
|
Seizures (associated insular AVM)
|
1
|
Incidental detection with another ruptured aneurysm (patient included in ruptured
presentation also)
|
1
|
Known comorbidities
|
Hypertension
|
35
|
Diabetes mellitus type 2
|
5
|
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
|
1
|
Hypothyroidism
|
1
|
Coronary artery disease
|
1
|
Retropositive status
|
1
|
Abbreviations: AVM, arteriovenous malformation; ICA, internal carotid artery.
Aneurysms were categorized by size as follows: tiny (<3 mm): 11; small (3–7 mm): 67;
medium (7–10 mm): 19; large (10–25 mm): 5; giant (>25 mm): 1.
Of the 103 aneurysms, 86 were located in the anterior circulation and 17 in the posterior
circulation. The anterior communicating artery was the most common site (n = 42/103; 42.7%). Aneurysm morphology included 94 saccular aneurysms, 7 dissecting
aneurysms, 1 blister aneurysm, and 1 fusiform aneurysm. Among saccular aneurysms,
73 had a narrow neck, while 21 had a wide neck. Aneurysm size and locations are summarized
in [Table 3].
Table 3
Size and location of aneurysms
Size of aneurysms
|
Number
|
Tiny (<3 mm)
|
11
|
Small (3–7 mm)
|
67
|
Medium (7–10 mm)
|
19
|
Large (10–25 mm)
|
5
|
Giant (>25 mm)
|
1
|
Total aneurysms
|
103
|
Location of aneurysm
|
Number
|
Anterior circulation
|
Anterior communicating artery
|
44
|
Middle cerebral artery bifurcation
|
3
|
M1 segment
|
3
|
Distal anterior cerebral artery
|
10
|
A1 segment of anterior cerebral artery
|
4
|
Posterior communicating artery
|
8
|
Supraclinoid internal carotid artery
|
5
|
Superior hypophyseal
|
1
|
Cavernous paraclinoid segment
|
4
|
Terminal ICA
|
2
|
Choroidal segment
|
1
|
Supraclinoid ICA pseudoaneurysm
|
1
|
Total anterior circulation
|
86
|
Posterior circulation
|
Posterior inferior cerebellar artery
|
3
|
Vertebral artery V4 segment
|
7
|
P1 segment of posterior cerebral artery
|
1
|
Basilar top
|
5
|
Superior cerebellar artery
|
1
|
Total posterior circulation
|
17
|
Total aneurysms
|
103
|
Abbreviation: ICA, internal carotid artery.
Ninety-two patients presented with SAH. In some cases, the exact rupture site could
not be determined due to the presence of multiple aneurysms in the same vessel or
on the ipsilateral side of dense SAH. There were two such patients (one with anterior
communicating aneurysm and anterior choroidal aneurysm, and another patient with two
aneurysms in A1 segment of anterior cerebral artery) and in both patients all these
aneurysms were coiled at the same time. Vessel-wall magnetic resonance imaging could
not be done as the vessel-wall imaging/black blood imaging sequence is not available
in our hospital. A total of 94 ruptured aneurysms and 9 unruptured aneurysms were
treated. The time from ictus to presentation ranged from 1 day to 1 month.
Among the 92 patients with ruptured aneurysms, WFNS grading and modified Fisher grade
of SAH at presentation are summarized in [Table 4]. Poor neurological grade at presentation (WFNS grades 4 and 5) were observed in
27.1% of patients (n = 25/92). Furthermore, fifty patients (n = 50, 54.3%) had Modified Fisher grade 4 SAH, indicating severe hemorrhage.
Table 4
WFNS grade and Modified Fisher Grade at presentation for patients presenting with
subarachnoid hemorrhage (n = 92)
Grade at presentation
|
Number
|
WFNS grade
|
WFNS grade 1
|
56
|
WFNS grade 2
|
6
|
WFNS grade 3
|
5
|
WFNS grade 4
|
21
|
WFNS grade 5
|
4
|
Modified Fisher grade
|
Modified Fisher grade 1
|
15
|
Modified Fisher grade 2
|
6
|
Modified Fisher grade 3
|
21
|
Modified Fisher grade 4
|
50
|
Abbreviation: WFNS, World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies.
Out of total 103 aneurysms in 100 patients, two aneurysms (unruptured) spontaneously
closed, and 6 patients died before any intervention. Total 92 patients underwent endovascular
procedure for 95 aneurysms and the following procedures were performed: simple coiling:
60 cases, balloon-assisted coiling: 18 cases, double micro-coiling: 4 cases, flow
diverter placement: 7 cases, braided stent monotherapy: 4 cases, and balloon occlusion
followed by vascular sacrifice: 2 cases. Examples of few procedures are given in [Fig. 1].
Fig. 1 (A–C) Simple coiling of left superior hypophyseal aneurysm. Left ICA injection AP view
shows left superior hypophyseal aneurysm. Panel (B) shows coil mass; (C) shows post-coiling subtracted image showing complete occlusion. (D–F) Balloon-assisted coiling of left ICA communicating segment aneurysm. (D) Left ICA
injection lateral view shows left ICA communicating segment aneurysm. Panel (E) shows coil mass with balloon inflation across neck of aneurysm; (F) shows post-coiling
subtracted image showing occlusion with minimal filling near neck of aneurysm (MRRC
grade IIIa). (G–I) Flow diverter stenting for left MCA M1 segment aneurysm. (G) Left ICA injection AP view shows left MCA M1 segment aneurysm. Panel (H) shows flow
diverter stent in situ. (I) Follow-up image 10 months following intervention, Intravenous
DynaCT image showing complete occlusion of aneurysm with patent flow diverter stent
in situ. AP, antero-posterior; ICA, internal carotid artery; MCA, middle cerebral
artery; MRRC, Modified Raymond–Roy Classification.
There were six deaths due to preintervention re-rupture of aneurysm. Seven patients
experienced aneurysm re-rupture before endovascular treatment, with intervals of 6
to 20 days after ictus. Of these, six patients died, and one survived with an mRS
score of 1.
For coiled aneurysms, postprocedure occlusion rates were: complete occlusion (RR1):
73.2% (n = 60), near-complete occlusion (RR2): 24.4% (n = 20), partial occlusion (RR3): 2.4% (n = 2).
Procedural complications included thromboembolic events: 6 cases, intraoperative aneurysm
rupture: 2 cases, and coil migration requiring craniotomy: 1 case. Hydrocephalus developed
in 15 patients, and angiographic vasospasm occurred in 48 patients. Vasospasm-related
infarcts were observed in four patients, and transient neurological deficits in two.
At discharge following endovascular intervention (n = 92), 81.5% (n = 75) achieved favorable outcomes (mRS 0–2), indicating functional independence.
Poor outcomes (mRS 3–5) were noted in 10 patients (10.8%), while 7 patients (7.6%)
died. Two patients with spontaneous aneurysm closure remained stable. Types of endovascular
procedures, outcome at discharge, and complications encountered are summarized in
[Table 5].
Table 5
Types of endovascular procedures, outcome at discharge, and complications encountered
Grade at presentation
|
Number
|
Type of procedure
|
Simple coiling
|
60
|
Balloon-assisted coiling
|
18
|
Double microcatheter coiling
|
4
|
Flow diverter
|
7
|
Braided stent monotherapy
|
4
|
Balloon occlusion test followed by vascular sacrifice
|
2
|
Spontaneous closure
|
2
|
Conservative (death before any procedure could be performed)
|
6
|
Total aneurysms
|
103
|
Outcomes at discharge for 92 patients who underwent endovascular procedure
|
Favorable outcome mRS 0–2
|
75
|
Poor outcome mRS 3–5
|
10
|
Death mRS 6
|
7
|
Complications following endovascular procedure
|
Thromboembolic events
|
6
|
Intraoperative rupture
|
2
|
Coil migration requiring craniotomy
|
1
|
Complications due to subarachnoid hemorrhage
|
Hydrocephalus
|
15
|
Angiographic vasospasm
|
48
|
Vasospasm-related infarcts
|
4
|
Vasospasm-related transient neurological deficits
|
2
|
Abbreviation: modified Rankin Scale.
Linear regression analysis identified the following significant correlations: poor
outcomes associated with high WFNS grade SAH (p = 0.0007), presence of spasm (p = 0.0007), and thromboembolic events (p = 0.0011). Hydrocephalus correlated with poor WFNS grade (p = 0.0001) and posterior circulation aneurysms (p = 0.0381). Spasm was significantly linked to high Fisher grade SAH (p < 0.0001), poor WFNS grade SAH (p = 0.006), and wide-neck aneurysms (p = 0.0011). Linear regression analysis tables are summarized in [Tables 6] to [9].
Table 6
Linear regression analysis table for factors associated with poor patient outcomes
Variable
|
95% CI
|
p-Value
|
Significance
|
Neck size [wide]
|
−0.4224 to 0.06889
|
0.1558
|
Not significant
|
Aspect ratio
|
−0.1674 to 0.06322
|
0.3710
|
Not significant
|
WFNS grade [poor]
|
−0.5476 to −0.1520
|
0.0007
|
Significant[a]
|
Location [posterior]
|
−0.1463 to 0.3692
|
0.3915
|
Not significant
|
Fisher grade
|
−0.03584 to 0.1100
|
0.3142
|
Not significant
|
Size
|
−0.02989 to 0.2659
|
0.1161
|
Not significant
|
Spasm [yes]
|
−0.5096 to −0.1411
|
0.0007
|
Significant[a]
|
Hydrocephalus [yes]
|
−0.3903 to 0.05760
|
0.1431
|
Not significant
|
Thromboembolic event [yes]
|
−0.9253 to −0.2407
|
0.0011
|
Significant[a]
|
Abbreviations: CI, confidence interval; WFNS, World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies.
a Statistically significant.
Table 7
Linear regression analysis table for factors associated with development of hydrocephalus
Variable
|
95% CI
|
p-Value
|
Significance
|
Neck size [wide]
|
−0.4680 to 0.01273
|
0.0631
|
Not significant
|
Aspect ratio
|
−0.1629 to 0.06855
|
0.4195
|
Not significant
|
Location [posterior]
|
0.01501 to 0.5186
|
0.0381
|
Significant[a]
|
WFNS grade [poor]
|
0.2538 to 0.6021
|
<0.0001
|
Significant[a]
|
Fisher grade
|
−0.02988 to 0.1162
|
0.2429
|
Not significant
|
Size
|
−0.05186 to 0.2409
|
0.2024
|
Not significant
|
Thromboembolic event [yes]
|
−0.1765 to 0.4853
|
0.3558
|
Not significant
|
Spasm [yes]
|
−0.3161 to 0.04651
|
0.1429
|
Not significant
|
Abbreviations: CI, confidence interval; WFNS, World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies.
a Statistically significant.
Table 8
Linear regression analysis table for factors associated with development of vasospasm
Variable
|
95% CI
|
p-Value
|
Significance
|
Neck size [wide]
|
−0.7648 to −0.1986
|
0.0011
|
Significant[a]
|
Aspect ratio
|
−0.2457 to 0.03722
|
0.1463
|
Not significant
|
Location [posterior]
|
−0.2900 to 0.3491
|
0.8544
|
Not significant
|
WFNS grade [poor]
|
0.09817 to 0.5667
|
0.0060
|
Significant[a]
|
Fisher grade
|
0.1162 to 0.2750
|
<0.0001
|
Significant[a]
|
Size
|
−0.03754 to 0.3219
|
0.1193
|
Not significant
|
Hydrocephalus [yes]
|
−0.4815 to 0.07086
|
0.1429
|
Not significant
|
Thromboembolic event [yes]
|
−0.3379 to 0.4828
|
0.7261
|
Not significant
|
Abbreviations: CI, confidence interval; WFNS, World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies.
a Statistically significant.
Table 9
Linear regression analysis table for factors associated with thromboembolic event
Variable
|
95% CI
|
p-Value
|
Significance
|
Neck size [narrow]
|
−0.2886 to 0.04201
|
0.1416
|
Not significant
|
Aspect ratio
|
−0.04377 to 0.1139
|
0.3784
|
Not significant
|
Location [posterior]
|
−0.2332 to 0.1191
|
0.5211
|
Not significant
|
WFNS grade [poor]
|
−0.2031 to 0.06713
|
0.3196
|
Not significant
|
Fisher grade
|
−0.04421 to 0.05628
|
0.8117
|
Not significant
|
Size
|
−0.09327 to 0.1085
|
0.8810
|
Not significant
|
Spasm [yes]
|
−0.1032 to 0.1474
|
0.7261
|
Not significant
|
Hydrocephalus [yes]
|
−0.08210 to 0.2257
|
0.3558
|
Not significant
|
Abbreviations: CI, confidence interval; WFNS, World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies.
At follow-up (3 months to 2 years) of 85 surviving patients: 91.7% (n = 78) had an mRS score of 0 to 2, one patient had mRS score of 4. Six patients died
due to causes including liver failure and myocardial infarction; the remaining deaths
had incomplete records. All four of these patients had poor mRS at discharge. At 2
years posttreatment, among 92 patients who underwent endovascular treatment of some
form, 84.7% (n = 78) of patients were functionally independent, and 14.1% (n = 13) had died.
Angiographic data for coiled aneurysms were available for 43 patients, which showed:
complete occlusion (RR1): 74.4% (n = 32), near-complete occlusion (MRRC grade 2): 4 patients, and partial occlusion
(MRRC 3A/3B): 3 patients (2 required repeat interventions). Spontaneous resolution
on follow-up angiography was noted in one patient. Among four patients with flow diverters,
three achieved occlusion (O'Kelly–Marotta [OKM] grade D), and one had a patent aneurysm
at follow-up (OKM grade A2).
Discussion
The ISAT established endovascular coiling as a superior alternative to surgical clipping
for ruptured aneurysms amenable to both treatment modalities. ISAT reported that 23.5%
of patients treated with endovascular coiling were dead or dependent at 1 year, compared
with 30.9% in the surgical group, yielding an absolute risk reduction of 7.4%.[1] Similarly, the Brain Aneurysm Treatment (BRAT) study demonstrated better outcomes
with coiling, with 23.2% of patients in the endovascular group experiencing poor outcomes
(mRS > 2), compared with 33.7% in the surgical group.[5]
A meta-analysis further confirmed these findings, showing that although coiling carries
a slightly higher risk of early rebleeding, it remains associated with better functional
outcomes compared with surgical clipping.[6] At our institution, the advent of neurointerventional facilities has allowed endovascular
coiling to become the first-line treatment for ruptured aneurysms. Surgical clipping
is reserved for patients requiring hematoma evacuation, those with complex middle
cerebral artery aneurysms, or wide-neck aneurysms where stent-assisted coiling may
not be economically feasible for all patients. Decision for type of endovascular modality
was based on aneurysm morphology with narrow neck aneurysm (<4 mm) and aspect ratio
>1.6 treated by simple coiling, and wide neck aneurysms treated by balloon/double
microcatheter-assisted coiling. Flow diverter was chosen for blister aneurysm, fusiform/dissecting
and giant aneurysms, and braided stent was chosen for dissecting aneurysm.
Angiographic outcomes revealed that 62% of aneurysms in our cohort achieved complete
occlusion, while 33% showed small neck remnants, which is similar to findings reported
in ISAT (66% complete occlusion, 26% neck remnant).[1] These findings highlight the potential for recurrence and the need for vigilant
follow-up and occasional retreatment. ISAT similarly reported a retreatment rate of
17.4% due to residual or recurrent aneurysms following coiling.[7]
Thromboembolic complications occurred in 6.5% of our patients, consistent with rates
reported in the literature (4.7–12.5%).[8]
[9]
[10]
[11]
[12]
[13] Factors contributing to thromboembolic events include large aneurysm size, wide
necks, and smoking.[9] Intraoperative rupture, a known risk during coiling procedures, was observed in
two cases in our cohort, falling within the reported range of 0.7 to 7.5%, depending
on aneurysm complexity and location.[8]
[9]
[14]
[15]
[16]
[17]
Cerebral vasospasm is a frequent and serious complication following SAH, affecting
up to 50% of patients, with angiographic spasm rate as high as 70%.[18]
[19] In our cohort, angiographic vasospasm was present in 52.1% of patients, aligning
with the literature. Vasospasm can be asymptomatic, but in 20 to 30% of cases, it
leads to significant neurological deficits, contributing to morbidity and mortality.[19] Risk factors include SAH severity, patient age, clinical grade, aneurysm size and
location, and the presence of intraventricular hemorrhage.[19] In our study, spasm was significantly linked to high Fisher grade SAH (p < 0.0001), poor WFNS grade SAH (p = 0.006), and wide-neck aneurysms (p = 0.0011).
Although delayed rebleeding rates are higher with coiling than clipping, especially
within the first year, long-term rebleeding risks remain low. At end of follow-up,
the cumulative risk of a rebleed from the target aneurysm was 0.0216 (95% confidence
interval: 0.0121–0.0383) for patients in the endovascular group and 0.0064 (0.0024–0.0173)
for patients in the neurosurgery group.[20] Thus, according to the literature, despite the higher early rebleeding risk, coiling
is associated with better long-term functional outcomes. We did not document any evidence
of rebleed post-procedure during the duration of follow-up. However, four patients
died on follow-up for whom cause of death is not known. All these patients had poor
mRS at discharge.
In our study, 84.7% of patients who underwent endovascular treatment achieved functional
independence (mRS 0–2) at discharge, aligning closely with outcomes reported in ISAT.[1] However, the mortality rate in our cohort was 14.1%, slightly higher than ISAT's
8% at 1 year. This difference may be explained by the higher proportion of poor-grade
SAH cases in our cohort (27.1%, compared with 12% in ISAT).[1]
Our findings are comparable to those from the BRAT study, which reported 87.2% of
patients in the endovascular group achieving independence at 1 year.[5] Encouragingly, 91.7% of surviving patients in our cohort maintained functional independence
at follow-up (3 months to 2 years), suggesting that long-term outcomes remain consistent
with larger, multicenter trials.
In addition to larger studies, our findings are also comparable to other single-center
experiences. For instance, Klompenhouwer et al reported outcomes from endovascular
management of 230 patients, with good outcomes (mRS 0–2) observed in 87.2% of surviving
patients.[21] Similarly, Gudelj et al documented favorable outcomes (mRS 0–1) in 79% of 33 treated
patients.[22] Elewa reported outcomes in 31 patients who underwent endovascular treatment, with
favorable outcomes (mRS 0–2) at discharge observed in 74.3% of cases, while 25.7%
had unfavorable outcomes (mRS 3–6).[23]
Our study has several limitations. Follow-up irregularities remain a challenge, with
angiographic follow-up data available for only 43 patients. Additionally, the dataset
is heterogeneous in terms of aneurysm location, size, morphology, rupture status,
and the type of endovascular treatment administered. Nonetheless, this analysis was
conducted using the entirety of the dataset currently available to us. Future studies
with larger, more homogeneous cohorts are warranted to enable more statistically robust
conclusions.
Conclusion
Our findings align with the results of landmark studies such as ISAT and BRAT, reaffirming
that endovascular coiling offers superior functional outcomes compared with surgical
clipping, despite an elevated risk of early rebleeding and occasional need for retreatment.
While the mortality rate in our cohort was slightly higher—likely attributable to
the greater proportion of poor-grade SAH cases—the majority of patients treated with
endovascular coiling achieved favorable outcomes, consistent with those reported in
larger, multicenter trials.
Challenges such as vasospasm, thromboembolic complications, and aneurysm recurrence
remain significant factors impacting patient outcomes. These underscore the importance
of close monitoring, individualized patient management, and the refinement of treatment
strategies.
As endovascular techniques continue to advance, further research is essential to enhance
procedural safety, reduce complications, and optimize long-term outcomes for patients
with ruptured IAs. A continued focus on innovation and evidence-based practice will
further solidify the role of endovascular coiling as the preferred treatment modality.