Treatment of cerebral aneurysms: Surgical, endovascular or combined intervention

A retrospective study of 437 cases of cerebral aneurysms over a 4 year period is reported. Surgical clipping was performed in 322 cases (254 ruptured and 68 incidental aneurysms) and endovascular embolization was done in 50 cases (26 ruptured and 24 incidental aneurysms). No intervention (either surgical or endovascular) was performed in 65 patients. In the direct surgical treatment group, mortality was 1.5% in incidental and 9.8% in ruptured aneurysms and good recovery was seen in 98.5% and 74.8% cases respectively. In the endovascular intervention group, results were poor due to the severity of their neurological grading and older age. Mortality was 42.3% in ruptured and 4.2% in incidental aneurysms. Six out of 26 ruptured and 11 out 24 incidental aneurysm patients had complications in the endovascular treatment group. We have discussed the results and indications for both modes of treatment in our study.