Objective. To compare the embolization effects of intracranial aneurysms with mechanical detachable spirals （MDS） and with Guglielmi detachable coils （GDC）.Methods. One hundred and twenty cases with 125 intracranial aneurysms were embolized in Beijing Hospital from March 1995 to July 1999. Sixty - six aneurysms in 64 cases were embolized with MDS

51 in 48 with GDC

and 8 in 8 with both MDS and GDC. Clinical data including sex

age

subarachnoid hemorrhage （SAH）

Hunt & Hess grading

diameter and neck width of aneurysms

number and length of coils used per aneurysm

occlusive ratio

and complications were compared between MDS and GDC groups.Results. MDS and GDC groups were comparable （t-test or x2 -test

all P value > 0. 10） in terms of age

sex

diameter of aneurysms [ （8. 46 ± 3. 42） mm vs. （7. 38 ± 3. 45） mm]

neck width [ （3. 49 ± 1. 50） mm vs. （3. 26 ± 1. 52） mm]

coils number[ （4. 65 ± 3. 01） vs. （4. 24 ± 2. 65） ] and their length[ （460. 2 ± 398. 5） mm vs. （422. 9 ±387. 1） mm] used per aneurysm

occlusive ratio in aneurysms embolized ≥80% [ （95. 00% ± 6. 32% ） vs. （94. 19% ± 7. 63% ） ]

mortality and permanent complications （7. 8% vs. 4. 2% ）.Conclusions. MDS and GDC are all materials for embolization of intracranial aneurysms. MDS is less expensive

but more difficult to control and of propensity to complications while GDC is more compliant

easier to be used

safer

and have many alternative types for use as well as more extensive indications.