Cognitive functions before and 1 year after surgical and endovascular treatment in patients with unruptured intracranial aneurysms

Abstract

Background and purpose. This prospective study investigated whether surgery or endovascular treatment for unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIAs) affects cognitive functions. Methods. Four neuropsychological variables from an Auditory Verbal Learning Test (overall capacity of verbal memory and delayed recall) and a Trail Making Test (psychomotor speed and cognitive flexibility) were investigated before and 1 year after treatment for UIAs in 65 patients < 61 years of age. This cohort consists of 15 men and 50 women aged 15–60 (mean age 44.9) years. Results. Group-rate analysis showed a non-significant increase in post-treatment scores in the four neuropsychological variables. In addition, no significant differences were found between the surgical clipping (SC) and endovascular coiling (EC) group. Event-rate analysis demonstrated that two patients from the EC and one from the SC group developed cognitive impairment after treatment. Conclusions. Surgical and endovascular repair for UIAs do not impair cognition in patients without postoperative restrictions in lifestyle.

Keywords::

• cognitive functions
• unruptured intracranial aneurysms
• clipping
• coiling

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by grant IGA 9640-4.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the article.