Endovascular embolization of ruptured cerebral aneurysms in patients older than 70 years

The decision to manage ruptured cerebral aneurysms (RCAs) aggressively in elderly patients remains difficult because of inherent procedural risks and patient comorbidities. The purpose of this study was to report our experiences with and outcomes of endovascular embolization of RCAs in patients older than 70 years. We studied 25 patients older than 70 years with RCAs treated by endovascular embolization. There were 10 men and 15 women with a mean age of 77 years. Subarachnoid haemorrhages of grades 1–3 were found in 24 patients, and one patient had grade 4 subarachnoid haemorrhage. Twenty-two RCAs were located in the anterior circulation, and three were in the posterior circulation. Seventeen RCAs were wide-necked aneurysms and five had to undergo stent-assisted coil embolization. Endovascular embolization was technically successful for all RCAs. Total angiographic obliteration of RCAs was achieved in eight (32%) cases, whereas the other 17 RCAs were subtotally or partially occluded. Procedure-related death or severe disability occurred in two patients (8%). There was no rebleeding in any patient on follow-up. Endovascular embolization of RCAs has been proven to be both safe and effective in elderly patients, and should be performed in patients for whom surgical clipping would be difficult.