Diagnosis and treatment of intracranial aneurysm in pediatric patients

Objective To describe the clinical manifestations of the intracranial aneurysm and to evaluate the effect of embolization therapy with Guglielmi detachable coils (GDC) in pediatric patients. Methods Three patients with intracranial aneurysm were reported, all of them complicated with acute subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). The symptoms and signs were nonspecific and the diagnoses were made by digital subtracted angiography (DSA). According to Hunt and Hess grading: One patient was grade Ⅰ, one grade Ⅱ and one grade Ⅳ. Results All of them were treated by GDC, neither death nor complication occurred. Conclusion Though intracranial aneurysm was rare in childhood, it is important to consider the possibility of this disorder in searching for the cause of SAH. Endovascular treatment of intracranial aneurysms with GDC is also effective and safe in dealing with pediatric patients, but the long term efficacy awaits follow up study in the future. (Shanghai Med J, 2001,24∶92 94)