ENDOVASCULAR TREATMENT OF INTRACRANIAL ANEURYSMS - A MINIMALLY INVASIVE APPROACH WITH ADVANTAGES FOR ELDERLY PATIENTS

An endovascular approach, embolizing intracranial aneurysms with elect rolytically detachable coils, is a new minimally invasive treatment of aneurysms. Reviewing our experience with 13 patients aged 70 years or more, 12 patients were treated successfully. Over an average follow-u p period of 8 months, there was only one death which might be attribut ed to an intracranial aneurysm. This compares favourably with mortalit y rates approaching 50% for either conservative or traditional surgica l management of aneurysms presenting with subarachnoid haemorrhage in this age group. Coil embolization avoiding craniotomy, may offer parti cular advantages in managing intracranial aneurysms in the elderly pat ient.