Impact of Surgical Clipping on Survival in Unruptured and Ruptured Cerebral Aneurysms

Open Access
Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Background and Purpose— The management of aneurysms is controversial because little is known about the impact of clipping on long-term outcome. This study was designed to evaluate long-term survival of patients with aneurysms undergoing clipping in a statewide population. Methods— We used a retrospective design using an administrative database to identify patients hospitalized with aneurysms (1987 to 2001). Time-to-event analysis was used to determine the risk of death from all causes and from neurological causes. Results— 4619 patients (mean age 54.7±15.3, 66.3% female) were hospitalized with cerebral aneurysms. Survival among patients with ruptures was significantly lower compared with patients with unruptured aneurysm ( P P P Conclusions— Short-term and long-term mortality after clipping of cerebral aneurysms is higher than previously reported. Patients with unruptured aneurysms who undergo clipping have improved survival compared with those who do not undergo clipping. This study supports the use of early intervention in the management of patients with unruptured aneurysms.