Comparison of outcomes between a ruptured and unruptured intracranial aneurysm: results from an Indonesian cohort study

Purpose: A ruptured intracranial aneurysm has a high mortality rate. Moreover, many of its surviving patients have to live with severe disabilities. Therefore, surgical or endovascular treatment is recommended in some patients with a known aneurysm and a high risk of rupture. However, many patients are reluctant to undergo treatment, fearing its complications. This study aimed to evaluate the treatment outcomes and safety in patients with a ruptured and unruptured intracranial aneurysm.
Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the records of patients treated for intracranial aneurysms in our hospital between 2017 to 2021. Our primary outcome was discharge functional outcome. We also evaluated cerebral infarction, stay duration, and mortality. We used bivariate and multivariate analysis.
Results: 85 patients were included in this study. 69 (77.5%) patients were treated after rupture. Most patients were treated with clipping (78.8%). Patients with a ruptured aneurysm significantly had a higher risk of poor discharge functional outcome (OR 5.708 [1.061 – 30.712]; p 0.042). Six patients with a ruptured aneurysm died. Patients with a ruptured aneurysm also spent more time at the hospital. There was no mortality or complication in patients with an unruptured aneurysm.
Conclusion: Patients treated before their aneurysms ruptured had better outcomes with no complications. Therefore, treatment should be considered for high-risk patients.