Effectiveness of microsurgery for intracranial aneurysms

1973 ◽  
Vol 39 (6) ◽  
pp. 690-693 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sidney A. Hollin ◽  
Robert E. Decker

✓ The authors report postoperative angiographic results in a series of 50 patients who had undergone microsurgery for intracranial aneurysms. The aneurysmal body and fundus were obliterated in every case. The neck was visualized postoperatively in three cases, or 6%; in one of these, later follow-up angiography demonstrated subsequent total aneurysm occlusion. No postoperative rebleeding occurred. The incidence of postoperative occlusion of the parent vessel was small, with complete occlusion in only one case and partial branch occlusion in another. These results confirm the impression that a high degree of accuracy in clip placement is possible with microsurgical technique. Routine postoperative angiography does not appear to be necessary if the surgeon has become skilled in the use of the microscope for aneurysm surgery.

1999 ◽  
Vol 90 (4) ◽  
pp. 656-663 ◽  
Author(s):  
James V. Byrne ◽  
Min-Joo Sohn ◽  
Andrew J. Molyneux

Object. During a 5-year period 317 patients presenting with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage were successfully treated by coil embolization within 30 days of hemorrhage. The authors followed patients to assess the stability of aneurysm occlusion and its longer-term efficacy in protecting patients against rebleeding.Methods. Patients were followed for 6 to 65 months (median 22.3 months) by clinical review, angiography performed at 6 months posttreatment, and annual questionnaires. Stable angiographic occlusion was evident in 86.4% of small and 85.2% of large aneurysms with recurrent filling in 38 (14.7%) of 259 aneurysms. Rebleeding was caused by aneurysm recurrence in four patients (between 11 and 35 months posttreatment) and by rupture of a coincidental untreated aneurysm in one patient. Annual rebleeding rates were 0.8% in the 1st year, 0.6% in the 2nd year, and 2.4% in the 3rd year after aneurysm embolization, with no rebleeding in subsequent years. Rebleeding occurred in three (7.9%) of 38 recurrent aneurysms and in one (0.4%) of 221 aneurysms that appeared stable on angiography.Conclusions. Periodic follow-up angiography after coil embolization is recommended to identify aneurysm recurrence and those patients at a high risk of late rebleeding.


1989 ◽  
Vol 70 (4) ◽  
pp. 556-560 ◽  
Author(s):  
Teresa Lin ◽  
Allan J. Fox ◽  
Charles G. Drake

✓ It is recognized that incomplet treatment of an aneurysm may result in recurrent hemorrhage with serious or fatal consequences. For this reason, patients treated at the authors' institution in whom a large portion of the aneurysm neck or sac remained after application of a clip or ligature have been subjected to reoperation. However, 1- to 2-mm residual necks seen in postoperative angiography have been thought to pose little risk. Some cases of aneurysms recurring from a narrow residual neck after clipping have been reported, and a few instances of recurrent aneurysm have been described after apparently complete occlusion of the neck (as observed angiographically or in the surgeon's judgment). In recent years, a surprising number of cases have been presented in which this seemingly unimportant remnant of the neck dilated over a long period to become a dangerous aneurysm. This finding stresses the importance of complete aneurysm occlusion and of postoperative angiography for the recognition of a residual aneurysm neck. This should be important not only in aneurysm clipping but also in the endovascular treatment of intracranial aneurysms with detachable balloons.


2000 ◽  
Vol 93 (supplement_3) ◽  
pp. 96-101 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jong Hee Chang ◽  
Jin Woo Chang ◽  
Yong Gou Park ◽  
Sang Sup Chung

Object. The authors sought to evaluate the effects of gamma knife radiosurgery (GKS) on cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) and the factors associated with complete occlusion. Methods. A total of 301 radiosurgical procedures for 277 cerebral AVMs were performed between December 1988 and December 1999. Two hundred seventy-eight lesions in 254 patients who were treated with GKS from May 1992 to December 1999 were analyzed. Several clinical and radiological parameters were evaluated. Conclusions. The total obliteration rate for the cases with an adequate radiological follow up of more than 2 years was 78.9%. In multivariate analysis, maximum diameter, angiographically delineated shape of the AVM nidus, and the number of draining veins significantly influenced the result of radiosurgery. In addition, margin radiation dose, Spetzler—Martin grade, and the flow pattern of the AVM nidus also had some influence on the outcome. In addition to the size, topography, and radiosurgical parameters of AVMs, it would seem to be necessary to consider the angioarchitectural and hemodynamic aspects to select proper candidates for radiosurgery.


2001 ◽  
Vol 94 (3) ◽  
pp. 427-432 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pedro Lylyk ◽  
José E. Cohen ◽  
Rosana Ceratto ◽  
Angel Ferrario ◽  
Carlos Miranda

Object. With the recent development and refinement of endovascular stents, the significant potential for these devices in the treatment of wide-necked dissecting and fusiform aneurysms has become apparent. In this article the authors report on the use of stents and coils to treat dissecting and fusiform vertebral artery (VA) aneurysms. Methods. Eight consecutive patients harboring eight dissecting aneurysms and one fusiform aneurysm of the VA were succesfully treated using a procedure in which the authors inserted an intravascular stent and secondary endosaccular coils when needed. In all but one patient complete aneurysm occlusion was achieved, and in all cases there was no neurological complication. Follow-up angiography examinations were performed in all patients (mean duration of follow-up angiography review 13.1 months, range 3–42 months). The patients remained stable throughout the clinical follow-up period (mean 14.1 months, range 4–42 months). No rebleeding was recorded. Conclusions. At present this combined approach represents a reliable and safe alternative for the treatment of VA dissecting aneurysms, especially in patients who cannot tolerate occlusion tests.


1989 ◽  
Vol 71 (4) ◽  
pp. 512-519 ◽  
Author(s):  
Randall T. Higashida ◽  
Van V. Halbach ◽  
Leslie D. Cahan ◽  
Grant B. Hieshima ◽  
Yoshifumi Konishi

✓ Treatment of complex and surgically difficult intracranial aneurysms of the posterior circulation is now being performed with intravascular detachable balloon embolization techniques. The procedure is carried out under local anesthesia from a transfemoral arterial approach, which allows continuous neurological monitoring. Under fluoroscopic guidance, the balloon is propelled by blood flow through the intracranial circulation and, in most cases, can be guided directly into the aneurysm, thus preserving the parent vessel. If an aneurysm neck is not present, test occlusion of the parent vessel is performed and, if tolerated, the balloon is detached. Twenty-six aneurysms in 25 patients have been treated by this technique. The aneurysms have involved the distal vertebral artery (five cases), the mid-basilar artery (six cases), the distal basilar artery (11 cases), and the posterior cerebral artery (four cases). The aneurysms varied in size and included three small (< 12 mm), 15 large (12 to 25 mm), and eight giant (> 25 mm). Fifteen patients (60%) presented with hemorrhage and 10 patients (40%) with mass effect. In 17 cases (65%) direct balloon embolization of the aneurysm was achieved with preservation of the parent artery. In nine cases (35%), because of aneurysm location and size, occlusion of the parent vessel was performed. Complications from therapy included three cases of transient cerebral ischemia which resolved, three cases of stroke, and five deaths due to immediate or delayed aneurysm rupture. The follow-up period has ranged from 2 months to 43 months (mean 22.5 months). In cases where posterior circulation aneurysms have been difficult to treat by conventional neurosurgical techniques, intravascular detachable balloon embolization may offer an alternative therapeutic option.


2003 ◽  
Vol 99 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-30 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick P. Han ◽  
Felipe C. Albuquerque ◽  
Francisco A. Ponce ◽  
Christopher I. Mackay ◽  
Joseph M. Zabramski ◽  
...  

Object. Intracranial stent placement combined with coil embolization is an emerging procedure for the treatment of intracranial aneurysms. The authors report their results using intracranial stents for the treatment of intracranial aneurysms. Methods. A prospectively maintained database was reviewed to identify all patients with intracranial aneurysms that were treated with intracranial stents. Ten lesions, including eight broad-based aneurysms and two dissecting aneurysms, were treated in 10 patients. Four lesions were located in the cavernous segment of the internal carotid artery, two at the vertebrobasilar junction, two at the basilar trunk, one at the basilar apex, and one in the intracranial vertebral artery. Attempts were made to place stents in 13 patients, but in three the stents could not be delivered. Altogether, intracranial stents were placed in 10 patients for 10 lesions. Results that were determined to be satisfactory angiographically were achieved in all 10 lesions. Two patients suffered permanent neurological deterioration related to stent placement. In two patients, the aneurysm recurred after stent-assisted coil embolization. In one case of recurrence a second attempt at coil embolization was successful, whereas in the second case of recurrence parent vessel occlusion was required and well tolerated. Conclusions. Intracranial stents can be a useful addition to coil embolization by providing mechanical, hemodynamic, and visual benefits in the treatment of complex, broad-based aneurysms.


Neurosurgery ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 64 (5) ◽  
pp. E865-E875 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ronie L. Piske ◽  
Luis H. Kanashiro ◽  
Eric Paschoal ◽  
Celso Agner ◽  
Sergio S. Lima ◽  
...  

Abstract OBJECTIVE We report our results using Onyx HD-500 (Micro Therapeutics, Inc., Irvine, CA) in the endovascular treatment of wide-neck intracranial aneurysms, which have a high rate of incomplete occlusion and recanalization with platinum coils. METHODS Sixty-nine patients with 84 aneurysms were treated. Most of the aneurysms were located in the anterior circulation (80 of 84 aneurysms), were unruptured (74 of 84 aneurysms), and were incidental. Ten presented with subarachnoid hemorrhage, and 15 were symptomatic. All aneurysms had wide necks (neck &gt;4 mm and/or dome-to-neck ratio &lt;1.5). Fifty aneurysms were small (&lt;12 mm), 30 were large (12 to &lt;25 mm) and 4 were giant. Angiographic follow-up was available for 65 of the 84 aneurysms at 6 months, for 31 of the 84 aneurysms at 18 months, and for 5 of the 84 aneurysms at 36 months. RESULTS Complete aneurysm occlusion was seen in 65.5% of aneurysms on immediate control, in 84.6% at 6 months, and in 90.3% at 18 months. The rates of complete occlusion were 74%, 95.1%, and 95.2% for small aneurysms and 53.3%, 70%, and 80% for large aneurysms at the same follow-up periods. Progression from incomplete to complete occlusion was seen in 68.2% of all aneurysms, with a higher percentage in small aneurysms (90.9%). Aneurysm recanalization was observed in 3 patients (4.6%), with retreatment in 2 patients (3.3%). Procedural mortality was 2.9%. Overall morbidity was 7.2%. CONCLUSION Onyx embolization of intracranial wide-neck aneurysms is safe and effective. Morbidity and mortality rates are similar to those of other current endovascular techniques. Larger samples and longer follow-up periods are necessary.


1983 ◽  
Vol 59 (3) ◽  
pp. 471-478 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip Cogen ◽  
Bennett M. Stein

✓ Few neurosurgeons have stressed the occurrence, manifestations, and resectability of intramedullary spinal arteriovenous malformations (AVM's). In six of 17 patients in the authors' series of operable spinal AVM's, the lesions had major intramedullary components. Three of these six patients presented with subarachnoid hemorrhage, and all had catastrophic neurological deficits which gradually improved. The hemorrhages appeared to originate from large venous varices lying adjacent to the intramedullary portion of the AVM. The mechanism explaining the sudden neurological deficit in the other three patients was presumed to be thrombosis within the venous varices associated with their AVM's. The reliability of the various radiographic procedures in identifying the intramedullary components of these AVM's is discussed. These malformations may be removed totally with a high degree of safety using microsurgical techniques. The postoperative course in this series of patients was gratifying in terms of improvement of neurological deficits. Postoperative angiography was not performed on all of these patients. However, the follow-up period averaged 5 years.


1990 ◽  
Vol 72 (6) ◽  
pp. 864-865 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kjeld Dons Eriksen ◽  
Torben Bøge-Rasmussen ◽  
Christian Kruse-Larsen

✓ Damage to the olfactory nerve during frontotemporal approach to the basal cisternal region has not previously been investigated in a quantified manner. In this retrospective study of 25 patients operated on for ruptured intracranial aneurysms via the frontotemporal route, 22 patients suffered postoperatively from anosmia ipsilateral to the side of surgery. This complication most often goes unrecognized by the patient as well as the physician, and attention should be drawn to it because of its widespread occurrence. This investigation demonstrates a high incidence of anosmia (24 (88.9%) of 27 surgical sides) occurring ipsilateral to the frontotemporal approach in aneurysm surgery. Recovery after traumatic anosmia has been recorded up to 5 years after injury.1 Nevertheless, the authors believe that the damage is permanent when lasting 35 months or longer.


2003 ◽  
Vol 98 (2) ◽  
pp. 421-425 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tony P. Smith ◽  
Michael J. Alexander ◽  
David S. Enterline

✓ Three patients with carotid artery (CA) pseudoaneurysms were treated using four polyethylene terephthalate endografts (Wallgraft endoprostheses). Two patients received a single graft and one patient with bilateral pseudoaneurysms received two grafts. Complete occlusion of the pseudoaneurysm with patency of the arterial lumen was achieved following endograft placement in all patients. The clinical follow-up interval ranged from 12 to 18 months and included angiography or ultrasonography studies or both. One patient experienced neurological symptoms, and in-graft stenosis ranging from 50 to 100% occurred in three of the four grafts. Although the Wallgraft endoprosthesis produced good initial results for the treatment of cervical CA pseudoaneurysms, as demonstrated on radiography, it was associated with a high rate of stenosis or occlusion in all three patients.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document