The role of endovascular treatment for pediatric aneurysms

Objectives: To review all cases of pediatric aneurysms, we treated and evaluated their characteristics. The objective of the study is to compare between surgical and endovascular approaches regarding treatment and outcome. Methods: All cases of pediatric intracranial aneurysms diagnosed and managed by our team in the last 12 years were prospectively collected in our vascular malformation data base and reviewed. Conclusion: Pediatric aneurysms differ in their features when compared to adult aneurysms. Over the last years, there has been a gradual shift from traditional surgical approaches towards endovascular treatment of pediatric aneurysms. In our experience, patients treated by endovascular means had a better outcome than when treated by surgery. Whenever possible, endovascular treatment for pediatric aneurysms is the recommended approach. This offers both constructive and deconstructive techniques. Improved understanding with respect to the etiology of pediatric aneurysms will be the next step that will likely lead us to even better treatment decisions.