Extruded platinum coils from recurrent previously coiled intracranial aneurysms discovered at the time of microsurgical clip ligation. A report of three cases.

CE of brain aneurysms is safer with better outcomes than microsurgical clip ligation. However, the higher recurrence rate may nullify the acute benefits of coiling. Reported here are three patients who underwent surgery to treat their recurrent, previously coiled aneurysm. Intraoperatively, coils were seen extruding from the recurrent regions of each aneurysm and adherent to the surrounding neurovascular structures. These interesting findings question the premise that observation of a recurrent aneurysm is safe.