Surgical treatment of unruptured aneurysms of the posterior circulation

1990 ◽  
Vol 73 (2) ◽  
pp. 165-173 ◽  
Author(s):  
Beverly J. Rice ◽  
Sydney J. Peerless ◽  
Charles G. Drake
Keyword(s):  
Surgical Treatment ◽  
Posterior Circulation ◽  
Alternative Methods ◽  
Surgical Morbidity ◽  
Systemic Complications ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Unruptured Aneurysms ◽  
Posterior Circulation Aneurysm ◽  
Vertebrobasilar Aneurysms ◽  
Fine Print

✓ With the ever-increasing number of intact aneurysms revealed by modern imaging, the options for their management are assuming great importance. While some knowledge has emerged as to their natural history and the results of surgical treatment of those in the anterior circulation, little information has been published concerning unruptured aneurysms arising from the posterior circulation. The authors report their experience since 1971 with 167 patients operated on for 179 unruptured vertebrobasilar aneurysms up to 25 mm in diameter. Overall, 160 aneurysms were treated by direct clip obliteration, while 19 were managed by alternative methods. Fifty-three patients (32%) had solitary aneurysms and the other 114 patients (68%) had multiple aneurysms or an associated arteriovenous malformation, which were commonly treated concurrently. Many of these coexisting vascular anomalies had ruptured in the recent or remote past, adding to the complexity of management and interpretation of specific surgical results related to the intact posterior circulation aneurysm. There were 78 documented postoperative complications including 23 systemic complications, seven postoperative hematomas, six brain injuries from retraction, five cases of aseptic meningitis, three instances of seizures, three wound infections, and three patients with hydrocephalus. Multiple complications occurred in 23 patients. Seventy-one of the patients with these untoward events recovered, without disability, with time or treatment. There were only six poor results and one death in the series, resulting in a 4.2% combined morbidity/mortality rate. However, since two of these poor outcomes and the single death were attributable to a coexisting aneurysm, the actual surgical morbidity related specifically to the posterior circulation aneurysm was only 2.4%. This experience suggests that non-giant, intact vertebrobasilar aneurysms can be obliterated surgically at a very low risk, and this treatment should eliminate the greater lifetime risk related to an unsecured aneurysm.

Predicting outcome following surgical treatment of unruptured intracranial aneurysms: a proposed grading system

1996 ◽  
Vol 84 (1) ◽  
pp. 49-54 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rohit K. Khanna ◽  
Ghaus M. Malik ◽  
Nuzhat Qureshi
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Surgical Treatment ◽  
Intracranial Aneurysms ◽  
Posterior Circulation ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Unruptured Aneurysms ◽  
Poor Outcome ◽  
Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysms ◽  
Predicting Outcome ◽  
Fine Print

✓ Surgical treatment of unruptured aneurysms is gaining increased support owing to the recently defined poor long-term natural history of these aneurysms. The benefit of treatment ultimately depends on the relative risk of subsequent aneurysm rupture in untreated patients versus the risk of surgery. To identify those patients at a higher risk from surgery, the authors reviewed the management of 172 patients with unruptured intracranial aneurysms treated at their institution. The size of the aneurysms ranged from 3 to 45 mm (mean 13.7 mm). Twenty-two patients (12.8%) had aneurysms in the posterior circulation, and 32 (18.6%) of these were giant aneurysms. Major morbidity occurred in 12 patients (6.9%) and five patients (2.9%) died. Multivariate logistic analysis of several risk factors revealed that aneurysm size and location had an independent correlation with surgical outcome and that patient age approached statistical significance. Patients presenting with ischemic cerebrovascular disease, in particular, did not have a higher risk of a poor outcome. A simple classification for predicting patients at high risk from surgical morbidity and mortality is proposed. Preoperative grading is based on the size and location of the aneurysm and patient's age. The lowest grade is given to young patients with small anterior circulation aneurysms, and the highest grade includes elderly patients with complex giant posterior circulation aneurysms. A retrospective analysis of this classification demonstrated a strong correlation with postoperative outcome. The incidence of poor outcome progressively increased with a higher grade, ranging from 0% in Grade 0 to 66.6% in Grade VI. An analysis of this classification on 50 consecutive surgically treated patients with unruptured aneurysms not included in the analysis also validated the predictive value of this system. Along with predicting outcome, this classification should provide a standardized format for comparison of results from different clinical centers as well as different therapeutic techniques (surgical vs. endovascular) without omission of significant risk factors found to influence outcome.

Transient neurological deficits secondary to saccular vertebrobasilar aneurysms

1984 ◽  
Vol 60 (2) ◽  
pp. 410-413 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abe Steinberger ◽  
S. Ramaiah Ganti ◽  
James G. McMurtry ◽  
Sadek K. Hilal
Keyword(s):  
Posterior Circulation ◽  
Neurological Deficits ◽  
Transient Ischemic Attacks ◽  
Anterior Circulation ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Vertebrobasilar Artery ◽  
Posterior Circulation Aneurysm ◽  
Vertebrobasilar Aneurysms ◽  
Possible Cause ◽  
Fine Print

✓ Aneurysms have rarely been implicated as a possible cause of transient neurological deficits, and most reports of this phenomenon describe aneurysms in the anterior circulation. There is only one previous report of a saccular posterior circulation aneurysm associated with transient ischemic attacks. The authors document two cases of giant saccular vertebrobasilar artery aneurysms associated with transient neurological deficits.

Surgical treatment of multiple aneurysms and of incidentally-discovered unruptured aneurysms

1971 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 291-295 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter D. Moyes
Keyword(s):  
Surgical Treatment ◽  
Intracranial Hemorrhage ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Unruptured Aneurysms ◽  
Multiple Aneurysms ◽  
Spontaneous Intracranial Hemorrhage ◽  
Fine Print

✓ Review of a series of 460 patients with spontaneous intracranial hemorrhage showed that 241 had demonstrable aneurysms and 38 had multiple aneurysms. The importance of demonstrating the entire circulation following ligation of one aneurysm is emphasized. Treatment of the 38 patients with multiple aneurysms is described. Ligation of unruptured aneurysms that are incidentally discovered is advocated in patients who are Grade 1 on the Botterell scale and who are well informed as to the risks.

Cerebral arterial aneurysm formation and rupture in 20,767 elderly patients: hypertension and other risk factors

1995 ◽  
Vol 83 (5) ◽  
pp. 812-819 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher L. Taylor ◽  
Zhong Yuan ◽  
Warren R. Selman ◽  
Robert A. Ratcheson ◽  
Alfred A. Rimm
Keyword(s):  
Surgical Treatment ◽  
Elderly Patients ◽  
Cerebral Aneurysm ◽  
Primary Diagnosis ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Unruptured Aneurysms ◽  
Aneurysm Formation ◽  
Unruptured Cerebral Aneurysm ◽  
Significant Protective Effect ◽  
Fine Print

✓ Cerebral arterial aneurysms are common in the general population and their rupture is a catastrophic event. Considerable uncertainty remains concerning the conditions that predispose individuals to aneurysm formation or rupture. The role of systemic hypertension in aneurysm formation and rupture has been especially controversial. Demographic variables have rarely been addressed because of the small sample sizes in previous studies. The authors describe the demographics and prevalence of hypertension in 20,767 Medicare patients with an unruptured aneurysm and compare these to a random sample of the hospitalized Medicare population. The prevalence of hypertension in patients with unruptured aneurysms was 43.2% compared with 34.4% in the random sample. Patients who survived their initial hospitalization were separated into two groups: those with an unruptured cerebral aneurysm as the primary diagnosis and those with an unruptured cerebral aneurysm as a secondary diagnosis. Follow-up data for 18,119 patients were examined to determine the risk of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) associated with age, gender, race, hypertension, insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, and surgical treatment. For patients with an unruptured cerebral aneurysm as the primary diagnosis, hypertension was found to be a significant risk factor for future SAH (risk ratio: 1.46, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.01–2.11), whereas surgical treatment (risk ratio: 0.29, 95% CI: 0.09–0.97) had a significant protective effect. Advancing age had a small but significant protective effect in both groups. Elderly patients identified with unruptured aneurysms are more likely to have coexisting hypertension than the general hospitalized population. In elderly patients hospitalized with an unruptured cerebral aneurysm as their primary diagnosis, hypertension is a risk factor for subsequent SAH, whereas surgical treatment is a protective factor against SAH.

Surgical management of unruptured intracranial aneurysms

1994 ◽  
Vol 80 (3) ◽  
pp. 440-446 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert A. Solomon ◽  
Matthew E. Fink ◽  
John Pile-Spellman
Keyword(s):  
Surgical Management ◽  
Intracranial Aneurysms ◽  
Clinical Decision Making ◽  
Mass Effect ◽  
Endovascular Embolization ◽  
Surgical Morbidity ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Unruptured Aneurysms ◽  
Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysms ◽  
Fine Print

✓ The surgical management of patients with unruptured intracranial aneurysms continues to be controversial. The criteria for withholding treatment or choosing between endovascular embolization and conventional microsurgery are not well delineated. The present study analyzes the morbidity and mortality that can be expected with modern surgical management of unruptured aneurysms, and therefore serves as a point of reference for clinical decision-making in this group of patients. A total of 202 consecutive operations for attempted clipping of unruptured intracranial aneurysms are reported. Subarachnoid hemorrhage from another aneurysm was the most common presentation (55 cases). Thirty-seven patients presented with headache, 36 with mass effect from the aneurysm, and 19 with embolic events; 11 aneurysms were associated with an arteriovenous malformation, 10 caused seizures, and 34 were incidental findings. Excellent or good outcome was achieved in 100% of patients with aneurysms less than 10 mm in diameter, 95% with aneurysms 11 to 25 mm, and 79% with aneurysms greater than 25 mm. Except for giant basilar aneurysms, size (and not location) of the aneurysm was the key predictor of risk for surgical morbidity. These data may be useful when discussing with patients the risk:benefit ratio of choosing between conservative management, endovascular embolization, and microsurgical clipping.

Prognosis for patients with nonsurgically-treated aneurysms

1971 ◽  
Vol 35 (4) ◽  
pp. 438-443 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carl J. Graf
Keyword(s):  
Subarachnoid Hemorrhage ◽  
Surgical Treatment ◽  
Clinical Review ◽  
Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage ◽  
Nonsurgical Treatment ◽  
Autopsy Study ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Unruptured Aneurysms ◽  
Fine Print ◽  
Better Than

✓ The clinical review of this large series of patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage has revealed that the prognosis, with surgical or nonsurgical treatment, is related to several factors, but most significantly to the condition of the patient 1 day after hemorrhage. Autopsy study indicates that the prognosis for patients with unsuspected or “incidental” unruptured aneurysms is better than could be expected with surgical treatment.

Ruptured giant intracranial aneurysms. Part II. A retrospective analysis of timing and outcome of surgical treatment

1998 ◽  
Vol 88 (3) ◽  
pp. 430-435 ◽  
Author(s):  
David G. Piepgras ◽  
Vini G. Khurana ◽  
Jack P. Whisnant
Keyword(s):  
Surgical Treatment ◽  
Mortality Rate ◽  
Mayo Clinic ◽  
Intracranial Aneurysms ◽  
Posterior Circulation ◽  
Anterior Circulation ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Medical Centers ◽  
Giant Intracranial Aneurysms ◽  
Fine Print

Object. This retrospective study was made to determine the relationship between surgical timing and outcome in all patients with ruptured giant intracranial aneurysms undergoing surgical treatment at the Mayo Clinic between 1973 and 1996. Methods. The authors studied 109 patients, 102 of whom were referred from other medical centers. The ruptured giant aneurysms were 25 to 60 mm in diameter. One hundred five of the patients survived the rupturing of the aneurysm to undergo operation, with direct surgery possible in 84% of cases. Excluding delayed referrals, the average time to surgery after admission to the Mayo Clinic was approximately 4 to 5 days. Patients admitted earlier tended to be in poorer condition, often undergoing earlier operation. On average, surgical treatment was administered later for patients with ruptured aneurysms of the posterior circulation than for those with aneurysms in the anterior circulation. Temporary occlusion of the parent vessel was necessary in 67% of direct procedures, with an average occlusion time of 15 minutes. Among surgically treated patients, a favorable outcome was achieved in 72% harboring ruptured anterior circulation aneurysms and in 78% with ruptured posterior circulation lesions. Conclusions. The overall management mortality rate was 21.1%, and the mortality rate for surgical management was 8.6%. The authors believe that because of the technical difficulties and risk of rebleeding associated with ruptured giant intracranial aneurysms, timely referral to and well-planned treatment at medical centers specializing in management of these lesions are essential to effect a more favorable outcome.

Surgical treatment of cerebral metastases from lung cancer

1971 ◽  
Vol 35 (4) ◽  
pp. 416-420 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edwin E. MacGee
Keyword(s):  
Lung Cancer ◽  
Surgical Treatment ◽  
Operative Mortality ◽  
Cerebral Metastases ◽  
Cerebral Metastasis ◽  
Metastatic Lung Cancer ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Intracranial Surgery ◽  
Metastatic Lung ◽  
Fine Print

✓ Results in 27 cases of intracranial surgery for metastatic lung cancer are evaluated with regard to both the quality and duration of survival; 56% of the patients lived more than 1 year, with the longest survivor still living 32 months after operation. The operative mortality was 26%. These data suggest that intracranial surgery is worthwhile in patients with lung cancer when the cerebral metastasis is either solitary or single.

Stent-assisted angioplasty of intracranial vertebrobasilar atherosclerosis: an initial experience

2000 ◽  
Vol 92 (5) ◽  
pp. 771-778 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter A. Rasmussen ◽  
John Perl ◽  
John D. Barr ◽  
Georges Z. Markarian ◽  
Irene Katzan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alternative Therapy ◽  
Signs And Symptoms ◽  
Antiplatelet Agents ◽  
Posterior Circulation ◽  
Occlusive Disease ◽  
Stent Insertion ◽  
Initial Experience ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Vertebrobasilar Artery ◽  
Fine Print

Object. Patients with intracranial vertebrobasilar artery (VBA) atherosclerotic occlusive disease have few therapeutic options. Unfortunately, VBA transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) herald a lethal or devastating event within 5 years in 25 to 30% of patients. The authors report their initial experience with eight patients in whom medically refractory TIAs secondary to intracranial posterior circulation atherosclerotic occlusive lesions were treated with stent-assisted angioplasty.Methods. Eight patients (six men), ranging in age from 43 to 77 years, experienced signs and symptoms of VBA insufficiency despite combination therapy with warfarin and antiplatelet agents. Angiographic studies revealed severe distal vertebral (four patients), proximal basilar (one patient), or proximal and midbasilar stenoses (three patients). Aspirin and clopidogrel were administered for 3 days before primary angioplasty and stent placement, and this regimen was maintained by the patients on discharge. Patients underwent heparinization during the procedure and were given a bolus and 12-hour infusion of abciximab. A neurologist specializing in stroke evaluated all patients before and after the procedure.The VBAs in all patients were successfully revascularized with 7 to 28% residual stenosis. Six patients experienced no neurological complications. One patient died the evening of the procedure due to a massive subarachnoid hemorrhage. Two patients had groin hematomas, one developed congestive heart failure, and one had transient encephalopathy. All surviving patients are asymptomatic up to 8 months postoperatively.Conclusions. Although primary intracranial VBA angioplasty with stent insertion is technically feasible, complications associated with the procedure can be life threatening. As experience is gained with this procedure, it may be offered routinely as an alternative therapy to patients with medically refractory posterior circulation occlusive disease that may develop into catastrophic VBA insufficiency.

Crouzon's disease (craniofacial dysostosis)

1972 ◽  
Vol 37 (4) ◽  
pp. 434-441 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jack Kushner ◽  
Eben Alexander ◽  
Courtland H. Davis ◽  
David L. Kelly ◽  
Annetta Horwitz Kushner
Keyword(s):  
Surgical Treatment ◽  
Original Description ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Craniofacial Dysostosis ◽  
Fine Print

✓ This article discusses the nature and treatment of Crouzon's disease and reproduces a translation of part of Crouzon's original description. Six typical patients with this disease are presented, and the reasons for surgical treatment emphasized.

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