Selective endovascular treatment of 71 intracranial aneurysms with platinum coils.

Seventy-one intracranial aneurysms were treated by endovascular techniques, with the placement of minicoils inside the aneurysmal sac. Most aneurysms were manifest by hemorrhage (67 cases), and 43 of these were treated within the first 3 days after presentation. At the 1-year follow-up examination, the outcome was scored as good in 84.5% of cases, but the morbidity and mortality rates were 4.2% and 11.3%, respectively. Twenty-nine aneurysms in the anterior circulation and 42 in the posterior circulation were treated. In this series, 23 patients were classified as Hunt and Hess neurological Grade I, 27 as Grade II, 12 as Grade III, nine as Grade IV, and none as Grade V. Thirty-three aneurysms were less than 10 mm in diameter, 28 were 10 to 25 mm, and 10 were larger than 25 mm. The preliminary results from this study appear to justify the emergency treatment of aneurysms by this approach. Aneurysms in the posterior circulation are particularly well suited for this type of surgery.