Abstract 195: Assessing the Safety and Efficacy of Heparin in Ruptured Intracranial Aneurysms

Introduction Our study aims to retrospectively assess the safety of heparin during endovascular treatment of ruptured intracranial aneurysms. Methods A retrospective analysis of 56 patients who underwent endovascular aneurysmal repair for both ruptured and unruptured aneurysms was performed to examine outcomes. Results This series included 41 females (73.2%) and 15 males (26.8%) with a mean age of 55.9 ± 15.2 years treated with endovascular embolization of which there were 30 ruptured and 26 unruptured aneurysms. A total of 22 patients received an intraoperative heparin load before the procedure ranging from 3000‐7000 units. Therapeutic‐activated coagulation times were measured and maintained in all patients. Of the ruptured aneurysm cohort that received a heparin load (8/30, 26.7%), there was 1 thromboembolic complication intra‐procedurally, 1 thromboembolic complication post‐procedurally, and 1 hemorrhagic complication post‐procedurally. Of the unruptured aneurysm cohort (14/26, 31%) that received a heparin load, there was 1 thromboembolic intra‐procedurally and 0 hemorrhagic complications post‐procedurally. Conclusion This study suggests that heparin during endovascular treatment for ruptured intracranial aneurysms carries similar safety to those untreated with heparin pre‐procedurally warranting larger studies and further investigation.