Endovascular treatment of intracranial artery aneurysms in the posterior cerebral circulation

The purpose of the study was to determine the safety and effectiveness of electrolytically detachable platinum coils in the endovascular treatment of ruptured and unruptured aneurysms in the posterior cerebral circulation. The aneurysms were occluded with electrolytically detachable platinum coils. Six patients with posterior cerebral circulation aneurysms were treated. Four patients suffered a subarachnoid hemorrhage, in two patients the aneurysms were detected incidentally, in one due to mass effect. In all six patients, the diameters of the aneurysms were less than 12 mm and were therefore classified as small aneurysms. Complete occlusion (100%) was achieved in 4 patients, the rate of occlusion in the other two patients was estimated at 75% in one case and at 90% in the other. The clinical outcome in five patients was excellent, without any additional neurological deficit. One patient died five weeks after the procedure due to respiratory complications. At the time of endovascular treatment, she had been graded clinically as grade 5 according to Hunt and Hesse. None of the patients experienced any recurrence of hemorrhage during the follow up period of 12 months. Endovascular occlusion of posterior cerebral artery aneurysms with detachable coil system is an effective alternative therapy to established surgical treatment and could become the treatment of choice. The method is minimally invasive and there is no need for skull trepanation.