Simple coiling using single or multiple catheters without balloons or stents in middle cerebral artery bifurcation aneurysms

We evaluated the outcomes of middle cerebral artery bifurcation (MCAB) aneurysms treated with simple coiling using single or multiple catheters without stents or balloons.

This study included 100 patients with 103 MCAB aneurysms who underwent a simple coiling procedure without the adjuvant use of stents or balloons. The angiographic clinical outcomes and recurrence of these aneurysms were evaluated.

Of the 103 aneurysms, 102 (99.0 %) aneurysms were successfully treated with simple coiling. One patient died from the consequences of a procedural aneurysm rupture. The treatment-associated permanent morbidity and mortality rates were 0 and 1.0 %, respectively. Post-coiling angiograms showed 28 complete occlusions (27.2 %), 60 neck remnants (58.3 %), and 14 partial occlusions (13.6 %). A follow-up angiography (median duration, 30 months; range, 3–73 months) was performed in 80 lesions. Recanalisation was found in 28 lesions (35.0 %), of which 6 were complete occlusions, 18 were neck remnants, and 4 were partial occlusions, as determined by post-coiling angiograms. Among these lesions, 14 major recurrences were retreated with coiling (n = 12) and clipping (n = 2) without complications. Age (odds ratio [OR], 0.93; 95 % confidence interval [CI], −0.11 to −0.01; p = 0.03), the presence of a rupture (OR, 3.89; 95 % CI, 0.12 to 2.60; p = 0.03), and a wide aneurysm neck (OR, 6.40; 95 % CI, 0.57 to 3.14; p = 0.005) were significantly associated with the aneurysm recurrence, as determined by multivariable analyses.

Our study suggests that simple coiling of MCAB aneurysms is feasible and safe; however, it has limitations in durability, particularly in ruptured or wide-necked aneurysms and in young patients.