Validation of effectiveness of keyhole clipping in nonfrail elderly patients with unruptured intracranial aneurysms

Abstract

OBJECTIVE Advanced age is known to be associated with a poor prognosis after surgical clipping of unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIAs). Keyhole clipping techniques have been introduced for less invasive treatment of UIAs. In this study, the authors compared the complications and clinical and radiological outcomes after keyhole clipping between nonfrail elderly patients (≥ 70 years) and nonelderly patients. METHODS Keyhole clipping (either supraorbital or pterional) was performed to treat 260 cases of relatively small (≤ 10 mm) anterior circulation UIAs. There were 62 cases in the nonfrail elderly group (mean age 72.9 ± 2.6 years [± SD]) and 198 cases in the nonelderly group (mean age 59.5 ± 7.6 years). The authors evaluated mortality and morbidity (modified Rankin Scale score > 2 or Mini-Mental State Examination [MMSE] score < 24) at 3 months and 1 year after the operation, the general cognitive function by MMSE at 3 months and 1 year, anxiety and depression by the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D) at 3 months, and radiological abnormalities and recurrence at 1 year. RESULTS Basic characteristics including comorbidities, frailty, and BDI and HAM-D scores were not significantly different between the 2 groups, whereas the MMSE score was slightly but significantly lower in the elderly group. Aneurysm location, largest diameter, type of keyhole surgery, neck clipping rate, and hospitalization period were not significantly different between the 2 groups. The incidence of chronic subdural hematoma was not significantly higher in the elderly group than in the nonelderly group (8.1% vs 4.5%, p = 0.332); rates of other complications including stroke and epilepsy were not significantly different. Lacunar infarction occurred in 3.2% of the elderly group and 3.0% of the nonelderly group. No patient in the elderly group required re-treatment or demonstrated recurrence of clipped aneurysms. The MMSE score at 3 months significantly improved in the nonelderly group but did not change in the elderly group. The BDI and HAM-D scores at 3 months were significantly improved in both groups. No patient died in either group. The morbidity at 3 months and 1 year in the elderly group (1.6% and 4.8%, respectively) was not significantly different from that in the nonelderly group (2.0% and 1.5%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS Keyhole clipping for nonfrail elderly patients with relatively small anterior circulation UIAs did not significantly increase the complication, mortality, or morbidity rate; hospitalization period; or aneurysm recurrence compared with nonelderly patients, and it was associated with improvement in anxiety and depression. Keyhole clipping to treat UIAs in the nonfrail elderly is an effective and long-lasting treatment.

Clipping of unruptured cerebral aneurysms

“…Therefore, treatment options for cerebral aneurysms in elderly patients are widely discussed [2,6,9,11]. The number of elderly patients included is comparable to other published data [9,12,13]. Mori et al demonstrated that surgical outcomes in elderly patients were not significantly different from those in the nonelderly patients [9]; however, they limited their findings to aneurysms in the anterior circulation for relatively small aneurysms.…”

“…Incidences of surgical mortality and morbidity after microsurgical clipping of an intracerebral aneurysm have been reported between 0-5.2% and 5.6-26.8%, respectively, regardless of age, comorbidities and ruptured versus unruptured aneurysms [6][7][8][9]. Furthermore, the incidence of cerebral aneurysms and thus the incidence of subarachnoid hemorrhage caused by ruptured aneurysms increases with patient age [10].…”

Analysis of the surgical outcome of unruptured intracranial saccular aneurysms in octogenarians (80–89 Years)

“…They concluded that keyhole clipping for nonfrail elderly patients (≥70 years) with relatively small anterior circulation UCAs did not significantly increase the complication, mortality, or morbidity rate; hospitalization period; or aneurysm recurrence compared with nonelderly patients, and it was associated with improvement in anxiety and depression. [ 6 ]…”

Suprapraorbital “key-hole” Approach for Surgical Treatment of Middle Cerebral Artery Aneurysms

“…Figueiredo et al 5 demonstrated that the work area (area of exposure and working angle) in pterional mini-craniotomy is equivalent to classical access. Recent publications report the use of minimal accesses in cases of ruptured aneurysms, especially in cases of minor aneurysms and simple morphology 10,11 .…”