Influence of coil thickness on packing, re-opening and retreatment of intracranial aneurysms: a comparative study between two types of coils.

Objectives: To compare packing, re-opening and retreatment of intracranial aneurysms treated with two types of coils with different wire thickness and different shapes.

Materials And Methods: Packing, defined as the ratio between volume of inserted coils and volume of aneurysm, was calculated for 235 aneurysms-120 treated with predominantly helical-shaped coils of 0.010-inch diameter wire (GDC 10) and 115 treated with predominantly complex shaped coils of 0.012-inch diameter wire (Cordis TruFill). Aneurysm packing, re-opening and retreatment during follow-up were compared for aneurysms treated with either type of coils.

Results: Mean packing was significantly higher (absolute value 6.8%, relative value 23.0%, p<0.0001) in aneurysms treated with Cordis TruFill coils compared with aneurysms coiled with GDC 10 coils. Six month follow-up angiography was available in 194 of 235 aneurysms. Re-opening occurred in 22 of 99 aneurysms (22.2%) treated with GDC 10 coils and in 15 of 95 aneurysms (15.8%) treated with Cordis TruFill coils. Retreatment was performed in 16 of 120 aneurysms (13.3%) treated with GDC 10 coils and in nine of 115 aneurysms (7.8%) treated with Cordis TruFill coils.

Conclusion: Coiling of intracranial aneurysms using complex shaped Cordis TruFill coils with a wire diameter of 0.012 inch results in significantly better packing compared with helical GDC 10 coils of 0.010-inch diameter wire. The retreatment rate was lower for aneurysms treated with Cordis TruFill coils compared with aneurysms treated with GDC 10 coils.