Coiling for paraclinoid aneurysms: time to make way for flow diverters?

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Paraclinoid aneurysms represent challenging lesions for which endovascular techniques have gained widespread application in their treatment. A new endovascular strategy, flow diversion, is gaining importance in the treatment of these aneurysms. Before embracing flow diversion in larger numbers of patients with paraclinoid aneurysms, it is important to know the safety and efficacy of "traditional" endovascular methods for these aneurysms. We review complications and outcomes of patients with unruptured paraclinoid aneurysms treated with coils, with or without balloon and stent assistance, over the past 12 years at our institution. MATERIALS AND METHODS A retrospective review of 118 patients with 126 unruptured paraclinoid aneurysms, treated between 1999 and 2010, was performed. Clinical records, endovascular reports, angiographic results, and clinical outcomes were reviewed and analyzed. RESULTS Fifty-nine percent of aneurysms were carotid-ophthalmic, 27% were hypophyseal, 9% were posterior carotid wall, 3% were carotid cave, and 2% were transitional. Twenty-one percent of aneurysms were symptomatic, and 3% were recurrent aneurysms after previous treatment. Fifty (40%) were treated with balloon assistance and 18 (14%) with stent assistance. Technical complications causing permanent morbidity occurred in 1 patient (0.8%), while early clinical complications causing transient morbidity occurred in 5 (4%) patients. Complete occlusion was achieved in 40% of aneurysms immediately after treatment and in 66 (62%) aneurysms during follow-up (mean 31.9 ± 28.4 months). Recurrences occurred in 18 patients (17%) and 10 (9%) patients were retreated. Clinical outcome was good in 95% and poor in 5% of the 107 patients with follow-up (mean 37.0 ± 33.7 months). Only in 1 patient was poor outcome related to the endovascular procedure. Transient ischemic attacks occurred in 4% of patients. No cases of rebleeding were observed during follow-up. CONCLUSIONS Modern endovascular coil treatment of unruptured paraclinoid aneurysms appears safe, with satisfactory, although not ideal, rates of complete occlusion. The introduction of flow diverters will probably increase the rate of complete angiographic occlusion, but this must be achieved with low complication rates.