Simple coiling using single or multiple catheters without balloons or stents in middle cerebral artery bifurcation aneurysms

INTRODUCTION: We evaluated the outcomes of middle cerebral artery bifurcation (MCAB) aneurysms treated with simple coiling using single or multiple catheters without stents or balloons. METHODS: This study included 100 patients with 103 MCAB aneurysms who underwent a simple coiling procedure without the adjuvant use of stents or balloons. The angiographic clinical outcomes and recurrence of these aneurysms were evaluated. RESULTS: Of the 103 aneurysms, 102 (99.0 %) aneurysms were successfully treated with simple coiling. One patient died from the consequences of a procedural aneurysm rupture. The treatment-associated permanent morbidity and mortality rates were 0 and 1.0 %, respectively. Post-coiling angiograms showed 28 complete occlusions (27.2 %), 60 neck remnants (58.3 %), and 14 partial occlusions (13.6 %). A follow-up angiography (median duration, 30 months; range, 3–73 months) was performed in 80 lesions. Recanalisation was found in 28 lesions (35.0 %), of which 6 were complete occlusions, 18 were neck remnants, and 4 were partial occlusions, as determined by post-coiling angiograms. Among these lesions, 14 major recurrences were retreated with coiling (n = 12) and clipping (n = 2) without complications. Age (odds ratio [OR], 0.93; 95 % confidence interval [CI], −0.11 to −0.01; p = 0.03), the presence of a rupture (OR, 3.89; 95 % CI, 0.12 to 2.60; p = 0.03), and a wide aneurysm neck (OR, 6.40; 95 % CI, 0.57 to 3.14; p = 0.005) were significantly associated with the aneurysm recurrence, as determined by multivariable analyses. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that simple coiling of MCAB aneurysms is feasible and safe; however, it has limitations in durability, particularly in ruptured or wide-necked aneurysms and in young patients.