Factors associated with ICU stays after endovascular treatments for unruptured intracranial aneurysms: A review study

Background

For unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIAs), conservative management is often possible. However, when direct treatment is warranted, endovascular treatments (EVTs) provide an effective minimally invasive approach. These procedures still necessitate careful patient monitoring, frequently in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). The factors leading to ICU admission for these patients remains an area of debate.

Objective

This systematic review aims to highlight existing literature and identify gaps in understanding the factors contributing to ICU admission following EVTs for UIAs.

Methods

We utilized the Nested Knowledge Autolit semi-automated software to gather studies published before April 2024. We followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, and included studies that met predetermined population, intervention, control, and outcomes (PICO) criteria. Statistical analysis was performed using R software.

Results

We retrieved 181 studies and 9 met our inclusion criteria. There was significant variability across these studies on what factors they reported. Across included studies there were 8,189 patients, with 5,620 being placed in the ICU following EVTs for UIAs. Analysis revealed that anterior aneurysm location, aneurysm-related symptoms, and procedure length were significant factors associated with ICU admission. The overall ICU admission rate was approximately 24.61 per 100 patients.

Conclusion

This review underscores the need for further research to understand the factors we found associated with ICU admission following EVTs for UIAs. Additional studies are needed that use a standardized approach to collect data on patient demographics, aneurysm characteristics, procedural details, and postoperative outcomes. Such studies will allow for concrete recommendations to be made on ICU needs and prognostic calculators to be developed in order to support clinical decisions and lower healthcare costs.