Coiling for Ruptured Aneurysms in the Vasospasm Period: Safety and Efficacy Based on a Propensity Score Analysis

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of interventional radiology (IVR) for aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) later than 3 days after onset. METHODS: A total of 71 patients between 2012 and 2017 who underwent endovascular coiling were divided into two groups according to the timing of treatment: Group E (treated within 3 days after onset) and group D (treated between 4 and 14 days after onset), and the outcomes between two groups were compared. A case-matched study was conducted to minimize the selection bias lying in this cohort. RESULTS: There were 56 (78.9%) and 15 (21.1%) patients in groups E and D, respectively. In group D, all patients arrived at the hospital later than 3 days after onset. The rates of patients with WFNS grade 1, 2, 3 and the presence of vasospasm upon the access route to the targeted aneurysm at the time of IVR were significantly higher in group D than in group E (93.3% vs 60.7%; p = 0.027, 33.3% vs 3.6%; p = 0.0037, respectively). There were no significant differences in the rate of intraprocedural complications, symptomatic vasospasm, delayed cerebral infarction due to vasospasm, retreatment, or modified Rankin Scale (mRS) at discharge. After propensity score matching, there were no significant differences in the outcomes between two groups. CONCLUSION: Prompt coiling for patients with ruptured aneurysms who arrived later than 3 days after onset can be safely performed, even if they had vasospasm upon the access route.