Results of Embolization Used as the First Treatment Choice in a Consecutive Nonselected Population of Ruptured Aneurysms: Clinical Results of the Clarity GDC Study

Abstract

The International Subarachnoid Aneurysm Trial (ISAT) showed that for ruptured aneurysms suitable for both techniques, coiling should be the first-choice treatment. Only a small proportion of patients (22%) with ruptured aneurysms were included in that trial. Operators were selected on their experience. One could then criticize the impact of the ISAT on clinical practice as a result of recruitment biases and operators' selection. To evaluate the morbidity and mortality of coiling when used as first-choice treatment in a consecutive population of patients with ruptured aneurysms treated by nonselected operators. Thirty-four operators from 19 French centers treated 405 patients with GDC coils from November 2006 to July 2007. The method of treatment was not prespecified. World Federation of Neurological Societies grade at admission was I/II in 65.7% and IV/V in 30.6% of patients. At the 3- to 6-month follow-up, 23.3% of patients were dependent or dead. Thromboembolic events and intraoperative rupture resulted in permanent deficit in 13 (3.2%) and 2 (0.5%), respectively, and death in 4 (1.0%) and 0. Early rebleeding occurred in 2 patients (0.5%) with 2 subsequent deaths. Permanent treatment morbidity and mortality were 3.7 % and 1.5 %, respectively. Clinical results of the multicenter prospective Clarity registry show that when coiling is performed as first-intention treatment in a consecutive series of nonselected ruptured aneurysms by nonselected operators, clinical results are similar to those of the ISAT.