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Review
. 2021 Dec 17;13(12):e20478.
doi: 10.7759/cureus.20478. eCollection 2021 Dec.

Surgical Clipping Versus Endovascular Coiling in the Management of Intracranial Aneurysms

Rishab Belavadi  1 , Sri Vallabh Reddy Gudigopuram  2 , Ciri C Raguthu  3 , Harini Gajjela  2 , Iljena Kela  4 , Chandra L Kakarala  5 , Mohammad Hassan  6 , Ibrahim Sange  7   8
Affiliations
Review

Surgical Clipping Versus Endovascular Coiling in the Management of Intracranial Aneurysms

Rishab Belavadi et al. Cureus. .

Abstract

Intracranial aneurysms are pathological dilatations of intracranial arteries and prevail in around 3.2% of the general population. The worst outcome of an aneurysm is its rupture. Its prevention and management can be accomplished by two broad modalities: surgical clipping and endovascular coiling. This review has explored each of these approaches individually and has then directly compared them to provide a good understanding of their respective advantages and disadvantages over one another. Clipping is associated with a higher rate of occlusion of the aneurysm and lower rates of residual and recurrent aneurysms, whereas coiling is associated with lower morbidity and mortality and a better postoperative course. The risks and benefits of each of these procedures must be thoroughly examined in each case. This article has stressed the need to consider all contributing patient, procedure-related, surgeon-related, and hospital factors before arriving at a final decision to manage a specific case.

Keywords: clipping; coiling; endovascular coiling; intracranial aneurysm; neurosurgery; surgical clipping; vascular surgery.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Bar graph comparing the age-wise morbidity and mortality rates between clipping and coiling.
The bar graph is based on the results of Brinjikji et al. [78].
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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