Endovascular treatment of ruptured tiny intracranial aneurysms

Endovascular treatment of ruptured tiny intracranial aneurysms (RTIA) is technically challenging. We retrospectively collected and analyzed the clinical data of 51 patients with RTIA who underwent attempted endovascular treatment at our institution between November 2000 and April 2009. Forty-nine patients were successfully treated by coiling alone (29 patients), stent-assisted coiling (11 patients) or stent placement alone (nine patients). Procedural complications occurred in five patients. One patient died from a severe initial hemorrhage and poor clinical condition. At the time of discharge, 44 patients (89.8%) had recovered in good condition (Glasgow Outcome Scale [GOS] score 5), two were moderately disabled (GOS score 4) and two were severely disabled (GOS score 3). Angiographic follow-up (mean follow-up time = 14 months) was available for 33 patients, and two were re-treated. None of the 46 patients who were clinically followed up (mean = 54.2 months) experienced re-bleeding. Our results suggest that RTIA is not uncommon and can be safely treated endovascularly.