Source: DGNews  |  Posted 3 years ago

CINCINNATI, Ohio -- November 18, 2008 -- A very low risk of complication is associated with cerebral angiography following endovascular coiling treatment for brain aneurysms, according to a study published in the November issue of Neurosurgery.

Researchers found a complication rate of 0.43% in 2,243 patients who had undergone cerebral angiography 3 months or more following endovascular treatment of a brain aneurysm. Of the 12 complications that occurred, only 1 was both major and permanent.

"Our study shows that the use of routine testing with angiography following endovascular treatment of brain aneurysms carries a very low risk of complication," said lead investigator Andrew Ringer, MD, University of Cincinnati Neuroscience Institute and Mayfield Clinic, Cincinnati, Ohio.

"Because the risk is small, routine angiography should not be viewed as a deterrent to endovascular treatment of aneurysms."

Endovascular coiling was originally approved as a treatment for aneurysms that could not be surgically treated, but it has emerged as a first-line option for surgically accessible aneurysms as well.

"The downside to coiling is that while the risk is very low, it carries a higher rate of aneurysm recurrence than clipping," said Dr. Ringer. "As a result, maintaining a watchful eye on the coiled aneurysm, through diagnostic angiography, is imperative."

Dr. Ringer and colleagues reviewed data from patients who had undergone angiography surveillance of coiled aneurysms between January 2002 and December 2006.

Of 2,814 diagnostic angiograms performed, 12 resulted in complications including 1 (0.04%) permanent major morbidity, 2 (0.07%) temporary major morbidities, and 9 (0.32%) temporary minor morbidities; 6 of these were access site complications. No mortality or permanent minor morbidity was noted.

According to the authors, incorporating these initial findings with the rate and risk of recurrent treatment or the risk of haemorrhage after coiling will provide a more accurate estimate of the global long-term risk of aneurysm coiling.

SOURCE: University of Cincinnati