New data on implementation of minimally invasive treatments for ruptured intracranial aneurysms

Two recent studies from the Zeenat Qureshi Stroke Research Center, in Minneapolis, MN, provide new data regarding implementation of minimally invasive treatments for ruptured intracranial aneurysms and impact on patient outcomes in U.S.

The first study, published in the Journal of Neurosurgery, evaluated the impact of increased use of minimally invasive treatment consisting of coil placement in the aneurysm through the endovascular route. The study evaluated the use of minimally invasive treatment in the U.S. among 70,637 and 77,352 admissions for ruptured intracranial aneurysms in 2000-2002 and 2004-2006, respectively. There was a significant increase in endovascular treatment, and in-hospital mortality for ruptured intracranial aneurysm admissions decreased from 27% to 24% in the latter time period. The study concluded that cost of hospitalization has increased and the mortality has decreased, presumably due to a larger proportion of patients receiving endovascular treatment.

The second study, published in Neurocritical Care, analyzed the prevalence of angioplasty procedures for cerebral vasospasm among 74,356 patients with ruptured intracranial aneurysms in the U.S. In-hospital mortality, discharge status, length of stay, and cost of hospitalization were compared between hospitals performing angioplasty with those not performing angioplasty, after adjusting for patient's age, utilization of endovascular aneurysm obliteration, and disease severity. The odds of a patient being discharged are better at hospitals performing angioplasty for cerebral vasospasm and those performing coil placements for aneurysm obliteration.