Abstract
Purpose The purpose of the study was to investigate the safety and efficacy of endovascular
embolization of ruptured intracranial aneurysms within 72 hours of subarachnoid hemorrhage
(SAH).
Materials and Methods Patients with intracranial aneurysms treated with embolization were divided into
group A (n = 277), patients with ruptured aneurysms treated within 72 hours of SAH; group B
(n = 138), patients with ruptured aneurysms treated beyond 72 hours; and group C (n = 93), patients with unruptured aneurysms.
Results Embolization was successful in all but four patients (99.2%). The periprocedural
complication rate was 36.2% in group B, significantly (p < 0.05) greater than that in group A (24.5%) or group C (11.8%). The rebleeding rate
was 9.7% (6/62 patients) in groups A and B after embolization and only 0.3% (1/346
patients) in aneurysms with total or subtotal occlusion. Of these three groups of
patients, 69.7% in group A, 58.7% in group B, and 76.3% in group C achieved Glasgow
Outcome Scale (GOS) score of 5 or modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score of 0– to 1 at
discharge. A significant difference (p < 0.05) existed in the clinical outcome between the three groups. The percentages
of patients without deficits (GOS 5 or mRS 0–1) and slight disability (mRS 2) were
80.2% in group A, 81.2% in group B, and 96.7% in group C. The mortality rate was 4.3%
(12/277 patients) in group A and 7.2% (10/138 patients) in group B with no significant
(p = 0.21) difference. Follow-up was performed at 3 to 54 months (mean 23.2), and the
recanalization rate was 28.6% (32/112 patients) in group A, 22.4% (11/49 patients)
in group B, and 28.6% (16/56 patients) in group C, with no significant differences
(p = 0.15). Hydrocephalus occurred in 30.5% (39/128 patients) in group B, which was
significantly (p < 0.01) greater than that in group A (9.4%) or group C (2.2%).
Conclusion Early embolization of ruptured cerebral aneurysms within 72 hours of rupture is safe
and effective and can significantly decrease periprocedural complications compared
with management beyond 72 hours. Timely management of cisternal and ventricular blood
can reduce hydrocephalus incidence and improve prognosis.
Keywords
intracranial aneurysms - endovascular embolization - subarachnoid hemorrhage - complications
- effect