ENDOVASCULAR TREATMENT OF PSEUDOANEURYSMS WITH ELECTROLYTICALLY DETACHABLE COILS

PURPOSE: We describe the clinical presentation, angiographic findings, and clinical outcome in a group of patients with pseudoaneurysms trea ted by a new endovascular technique using Guglielmi electrolytically d etachable platinum coils (GDCs), METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the angiographic and clinical findings in a series of 11 patients with pseudoaneurysms occurring in a variety of locations: seven in the cav ernous carotid artery, one in the petrous carotid artery, two in the a nterior cerebral artery, and one in the cervical vertebral artery. RES ULTS: All aneurysms were cured with GDC embolization, The only complic ation was a branch occlusion, which resolved with heparinization and p roduced no clinical sequelae, CONCLUSION: Pseudoaneurysms can be safel y and effectively treated by embolization with GDCs, Consideration nee ds to be given to the anatomic location of the pseudoaneurysm and the acuity of onset, Treatment efficacy may by improved if there are bony confines around the aneurysm or if therapy takes place in the subacute period, when the wall of the pseudoaneurysm has matured and stabilize d.