Techniques and Outcomes of Gore-Tex Clip-Wrapping of Ruptured and Unruptured Cerebral Aneurysms

OBJECTIVE: Some aneurysms without a definable neck and associated parent vessel pathology are particularly difficult to treat and may require clipping with circumferential wrapping. We report the largest available contemporary series examining the techniques of Gore-Tex clip-wrapping of ruptured and unruptured intracranial aneurysms and patient outcomes. METHODS: The presentation, location, and shape of the aneurysm; wrapping technique; outcome at discharge and last follow-up; and any change in the aneurysm at last angiographic follow-up were reviewed retrospectively in 30 patients with Gore-Tex clip-wrapped aneurysms. RESULTS: Gore-Tex clip-wrapping was used in 8 patients with ruptured aneurysms and 22 patients with unruptured aneurysms. Aneurysms included 23 fusiform, 3 blister, and 4 otherwise complex, multilobed, or giant aneurysms. Of the 30 aneurysms, 63% were in the anterior circulation. The overall mean patient age was 52.5 years (range, 17-80 years). Postoperatively, there were no deaths or worsening of neurologic status and no parent vessel stenoses or strokes. The mean Glasgow Outcome Scale score at last follow-up was 4.7. The mean follow-up time was 42.3 months (median, 37.0 months; range, 3-96 months). There were 105.8 patient follow-up years. Aneurysms recurred in 2 patients with Gore-Tex clip-wrapping. No patients developed rehemorrhage. Overall risk of recurrence was 1.9% annually. CONCLUSIONS: Gore-Tex has excellent material properties for circumferential wrapping of aneurysms and parent arteries. It is inert and does not cause a tissue reaction or granuloma formation. Gore-Tex clip-wrapping can be used safely for microsurgical management of ruptured and unruptured cerebral aneurysms with acceptable recurrence and rehemorrhage rates.