Background and purpose: Use of Guglielmi detachable coils (GDCs) has proved to be a promising endovascular treatment for intracranial aneurysms. This study aimed to evaluate midterm clinical and radiologic outcomes of this treatment in Hong Kong Chinese patients, 68% of whom had small aneurysms (< or =5 mm).
Methods: We included 97 consecutive patients in whom GDCs were placed with curative intent. The patients presented with subarachnoid hemorrhage (n = 80) or mass effect (n = 17). The aneurysms measured 5 cm +/- 2.8 mm; 68% were < or =5 mm. All patients were followed up clinically for an average of 54.5 +/- 20.9 months and radiologically with sequential digital subtraction angiography at 6 and 18 months.
Results: Total occlusion of the aneurysm was successfully achieved in 71.1% of patients after the initial treatment and in 82.5% after subsequent treatments. The retreatment rate was 17.5%. Procedure-related complication and mortality rates were 11.3% and 0%, respectively. The overall mortality was 5%, including mortality due to treatment failure in 1%. Neurologic outcomes were excellent in 77% of patients. Improved neurologic status, unchanged status, and deteriorated status was noted in 61.5%, 22%, and 16.5% of patients, respectively, at the end of the follow-up period. Intrinsic differences existed between Chinese and Western patients regarding the size of the aneurysm at presentation, periprocedural complications, and progression patterns of anatomic outcomes.
Conclusion: Endovascular coiling with GDCs is a reasonably effective and safe treatment for intracranial aneurysms in this group of Hong Kong Chinese patients, with favorable clinical and radiologic outcomes.