Surgical management of unruptured aneurysms: prognostic indicators

BACKGROUND: The treatment of unruptured aneurysms (UA) remains controversial. Therefore, it has become necessary to define various prognostic indicators in the surgical treatment of unruptured aneurysms not associated with previously ruptured aneurysms. METHODS: During a 6-year period, 78 unruptured aneurysms were managed. The results of management were retrospectively reviewed to define the prognostic indicators. RESULTS: There were 104 patients with unruptured aneurysms who underwent surgical treatment. Seventy-five patients without previous subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) were selected for data analysis. Eighty-seven percent of the aneurysms were on the anterior circulation. The most common location was the middle cerebral artery (MCA) followed by the posterior communicating artery (PCom), ophthalmic artery, and anterior communicating artery (ACom). Six percent were found on the basilar artery. The mean size of aneurysms was 12.5 mm (range = 3-30 mm, SD = 7.4). At surgery, rupture of the aneurysm was encountered in eight cases with temporary control of the parent vessel being required in 31 procedures. In four cases, intraoperative angiography warranted clip reapplication. The Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) was used as an outcome measure. Surgical treatment resulted in good outcome (GOS 1) in 87% and 10.7% had fair outcome; 2.3% were in GOS 3 (severe disability) at 6 month follow-up. There was no mortality. Logistic regression identified significant relationships between GOS and intraoperative rupture (p < 0.0002), rupture and size (p < 0.003), and size and age (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Large size aneurysms were associated with intraoperative rupture, which had a strong correlation with poor outcome. Increased age showed a linear relationship with the size of the aneurysm. Overall results of treatment for UA are gratifying. There was no mortality. Early diagnosis and surgical extirpation of UA may reduce both intraoperative difficulties as well as poor outcome probability.