Newswise — SAN FRANCISCO (April 9, 2014) —Neurosurgeons continue to weigh the respective benefits of two popular treatment modalities for patients experiencing subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH): endovascular coiling and neurosurgical clipping. In a recent study, The Barrow Ruptured Analysis Trial: Six-Year Results, a research team led by Robert F. Spetzler, MD, FAANS, compared the safety and efficacy of the two modalities.

Dr. Spetzler presented the team’s findings today during the 82nd Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS).

In this longitudinal study, researchers reviewed the outcomes of more than 470 aneurysm patients, nearly evenly divided between those whose procedure involved coiling or clipping. Generally, the team found no significant difference in outcomes between the two cohorts. However, researchers saw complete obliteration of the aneurysm in 96 percent of patients who had had clipping and in 48 percent of patients who had had coiling.

Dr. Spetzler commented: “The results demonstrated that we have two excellent ways of treating aneurysms and that for anterior circulation aneurysms surgical clipping has a better obliteration rate and lower recurrence rate than coiling. There is no difference in risk between the two treatment strategies.”

The study’s co-authors include Cameron McDougall, MD, FAANS; Joe Zabramski, MD, FAANS; Felipe Albuquerque, MD, FAANS; Peter Nakaji, MD, FAANS; Nancy Hills, PhD; and Robert Wallace, MD.

Disclosure: The author reported the following disclosures prior to the 82nd AANS Annual Scientific Meeting: Zeiss; Codman; Stryker; Boston Scientific; DicomGrid; EmergeMD; NeuroVasx, Inc.; Synergetics; Stereotaxis; RSB Spine; iCo Therapeutics; Katalyst/Kogent.

Media Representatives: The 2014 AANS Annual Meeting Press Kit includes releases on highlighted scientific research, AANS officer and award winners, National Neurosurgery Awareness Week, and other relevant information about this year’s program. Those releases also will be posted under the Media area on the 2014 AANS Annual Scientific Meeting website (http://www.aans.org/Annual Meeting/2014/Main/Media.aspx). If you would have interest in a topic related to neurosurgery or would like to interview a neurosurgeon — either onsite or via telephone — during this year’s event, please contact John Iwanski, AANS Director of Integrated Marketing and Website Communications, via the onsite press room at 415.978.3603 or e-mail him at [email protected].

About the 2014 AANS Annual Scientific Meeting: Attended by neurosurgeons, neurosurgical residents, medical students, neuroscience nurses, clinical specialists, physician assistants, allied health professionals and other medical professionals, the AANS Annual Scientific Meeting is the largest gathering of neurosurgeons in the nation, with an emphasis on the field’s latest research and technological advances. A record-breaking 1,321 scientific abstracts were presented for review at the 2014 AANS Annual Scientific Meeting, and the scientific presentations given at this year’s event represent cutting-edge examples of the incredible developments taking place within the field of neurosurgery. Additional information about the AANS Annual Scientific Meeting and the Meeting Program can be found at http://www.aans.org/Annual Meeting/2014/Main/Home.aspx.

Founded in 1931 as the Harvey Cushing Society, the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) is a scientific and educational association with nearly 8,600 members worldwide. The AANS is dedicated to advancing the specialty of neurological surgery in order to provide the highest quality of neurosurgical care to the public. All active members of the AANS are certified by the American Board of Neurological Surgery, the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons (Neurosurgery) of Canada or the Mexican Council of Neurological Surgery, AC. Neurological surgery is the medical specialty concerned with the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of disorders that affect the entire nervous system including the spinal column, spinal cord, brain and peripheral nerves. For more information, visit www.AANS.org.

###