Endovascular Approaches to Intracranial Aneurysms

Intracranial aneurysms are abnormal dilations of cerebral arteries, and they have the potential for devastating clinical outcomes if they rupture. Their management focuses on exclusion from the normal cerebral arterial circulation through surgical or endovascular approaches. Several surgical and endovascular treatment approaches exist. Over the past three decades, significant developments in endovascular technologies and techniques, including stent- or balloon-assisted coiling, flow diversion, and neck reconstruction, have advanced the field to become the primary means of intracranial aneurysm treatment. To expand the adoption of endovascular treatment of complex intracranial aneurysms, surgeons must obtain a firm understanding of the core principles of endovascular aneurysm intervention and utilize a series of fundamental tenets to create safe and effective constructs.