Embolization of ruptured intracranial aneurysms with detachable coils: case series

We present a series of patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) from ruptured intracranial aneurysms who were treated with endovascular embolization by detachable coils. There were 108 patients with SAH treated with endovascular coiling. The efficacy of the endovascular coiling was estimated by initial postembolization angiography and by digital subtraction angiography after 6 months, using the following categories: complete occlusion of an aneurysm (98%-100%), nearcomplete occlusion (90%-98%), and incomplete occlusion (< 90%). In 42 (39%) patients the endovascular coiling was performed during the fi rst 72 h after SAH, and 48 (44%) patients had aneurysms < 10 mm in diameter. The most frequent location of ruptured aneurysms was the internal carotid artery (39 patients, 36%). Initially, complete occlusion of the aneurysm was achieved in 87 patients (81%), near-complete in 12 patients (11%), and incomplete in 9 patients (8%). After 6 months, complete occlusion of the aneurysm remained in 84 patients, nearcomplete in 12 patients, and incomplete in 6 patients; 6 patients were lost to follow-up. Endovascular coiling of ruptured intracranial aneurysms is an effi cient procedure that should be performed as soon as possible after detection of an SAH.