Posterior communicating artery aneurysm outcome
Complete recovery of oculomotor nerve palsy with Posterior communicating artery aneurysm is more commonly associated with surgical clipping than with endovascular coiling. Also, the degree of pre-operative oculomotor nerve palsy and the treatment modality are significant factors that affect the complete recovery of oculomotor nerve palsy 1).
One in five patients with a posterior communicating artery aneurysm present with oculomotor nerve palsy with or without subarachnoid hemorrhage. Factors associated with a higher likelihood of recovery include time to treatment, partial third nerve deficit, and presence of subarachnoid hemorrhage. Both surgical and endovascular therapy offer a reasonable chance of recovery. Based on level 2 evidence, clipping appears to offer a higher chance of occulomotor nerve palsy recovery; however, coiling will remain as an option particularly in elderly patients or patients with significant comorbidity 2).
Clipping posterior communicating artery aneurysms was associated with a higher probability of complete recovery from oculomotor nerve palsy (ONP) than coiling. Degree of preoperative ONP also affected recovery. If patients can tolerate surgery, it should be considered the treatment of choice 3).
In the series of Feely et al. partial palsy at the time of surgery was followed by an early and rapid recovery. Nine of 10 patients who had complete palsy and had surgery within 8 days of the onset made a full recovery. 4).