Efficacy and Safety of Dual Microcatheter Interventional Embolization for Intracranial Aneurysms: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

OBJECTIVE

To comprehensively evaluate the clinical effectiveness and safety of dual microcatheter (DMC) embolization for intracranial aneurysms (IAs) through a single-group rate meta-analysis and provide evidence-based medical evidence for clinical decision-making.

METHODS

A systematic search was conducted in databases including PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science for studies on DMC interventional embolization for IAs published until March 11, 2025. The quality of included studies was assessed using the Methodological Index for Non-Randomized Studies scale. Meta-analyses were performed via RevMan5.4, and the log odds method was used for single-group rate meta-analysis.

RESULTS

Six studies involving 309 patients were included. Meta-analysis results showed that DMC interventional embolization was significantly associated with a higher aneurysm occlusion rate (odds ratio [OR] = 6.41; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.24, 12.69), a higher surgical success rate (OR = 20.62; 95% CI: 6.34, 67.04), a lower reoperation rate (OR = 0.11; 95% CI: 0.07, 0.17), a lower surgery-related mortality rate (OR = 0.02; 95% CI: 0.01, 0.05), and a lower incidence of surgery-related complications (OR = 0.04; 95% CI: 0.01, 0.13).

CONCLUSIONS

DMC embolization appears to be an effective and safe treatment option for IAs. However, due to the significant heterogeneity among them, more high-quality, large-scale, and prospective studies are required in the future.