Clinical and Angiographic Outcomes of Endovascular Treatment for Ruptured Posterior Circulation Cerebral Aneurysms.

AIM: To report the angiographic and clinical results achieved in endovascular treatment of ruptured posterior circulation cerebral aneurysms over a 3-year period. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 45 patients was performed between June 2008 and June 2011. Clinical follow-up was achieved in all patients, with a mean duration of 17 months. Angiographic follow-up was obtained in 88.9% of cases, with a mean duration of 7.2 months. RESULTS: A clinical improvement, or stable outcome was achieved in all patients. There was one case of re-bleeding as a periprocedural complication 2 days after incomplete stent-assisted coiling of a vertebral artery aneurysm. There was no death in our patients. In 40 of the 45 patients (88.9%), angiographic follow-up was obtained at a mean of 7.2 months (range, 1 to 24 months). Recurrences in 5 patients (12.5%) at 2 days, 3, 6, 8, and 13 months required re-treatment. CONCLUSION: Endovascular embolization is an attractive option for ruptured posterior circulation aneurysms with stable long-term outcome. This study confirmed that endovascular treatment is associated with low mobidity and mortality. However, re-canalization may be observed up to 2 years after the initial obliteration. Long-term follow-up with angiography is needed.