Outcomes of Early Endovascular Versus Surgical Treatment of Ruptured Cerebral Aneurysms

Abstract
Background and Purpose—This prospective study was conducted to compare the outcomes of surgical clipping and endovascular treatment in acute (<72 hours) aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Methods—One hundred nine consecutive patients were randomly assigned to either surgical (n=57) or endovascular (n=52) treatment. Clinical and neuropsychological outcome was assessed at 3 and 12 months after treatment; MRI of the brain was performed at 12 months. Follow-up angiography was scheduled after clipping and 3 and 12 months after endovascular treatment. Results—One year postoperatively, 43/41 (surgical/endovascular) patients had good or moderate recovery, 5/4 had severe disability or were in a vegetative state, and 9/7 had died (NS) according to intention to treat. Patients with good clinical recovery did not differ in their neuropsychological test scores. Symptomatic vasospasm (OR 2.47; 95% CI 1.45 to 4.19; P<0.001), poorer Hunt and Hess grade (OR 2.50; 95% CI 1.31 to 4.75; P=0.005), need for permanent sh...