Bifurcation geometry and the presence of cerebral artery aneurysms

2004 ◽  
Vol 101 (1) ◽  
pp. 108-113 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tor Ingebrigtsen ◽  
Michael K. Morgan ◽  
Ken Faulder ◽  
Linda Ingebrigtsen ◽  
Trygve Sparr ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cerebral Artery ◽  
Geometric Model ◽  
Cerebral Arteries ◽  
Multivariate Logistic Regression Analysis ◽  
Circle Of Willis ◽  
Parent Vessel ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Optimality Principles ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Fine Print

Object. The angles of arterial bifurcations are governed by principles of work minimization (optimality principle). This determines the relationship between the angle of a bifurcation and the radii of the vessels. Nevertheless, the model is predicated on an absence of significant communication between these branches. The circle of Willis changes this relationship because the vessels proximal to the ring of vessels have additional factors that determine work minimization compared with more distal branches. This must have an impact on understanding of the relationship between shear stress and aneurysm formation. The authors hypothesized that normal bifurcations of cerebral arteries beyond the circle of Willis would follow optimality principles of minimum work and that the presence of aneurysms would be associated with deviations from optimum bifurcation geometry. Nevertheless, the vessels participating in (or immediately proximal to) the circle of Willis may not follow the geometric model as it is generally applied and this must also be investigated. Methods. One hundred seven bifurcations of the middle cerebral artery (MCA), distal internal carotid artery (ICA), and basilar artery (BA) were studied in 55 patients. The authors analyzed three-dimensional reconstructions of digital subtraction angiography images with respect to vessel radii and bifurcation angles. The junction exponent (that is, a calculated measure of the division of flow at the bifurcation) and the difference between the predicted optimal and observed branch angles were used as measures of deviation from the geometry thought best to minimize work. The mean junction exponent for MCA bifurcations was 2.9 ± 1.2 (mean ± standard deviation [SD]), which is close to the theoretical optimum of 3, but it was significantly smaller (p < 0.001; 1.7 ± 0.8, mean ± SD) for distal ICA bifurcations. In a multilevel multivariate logistic regression analysis, only the observed branch angles were significant independent predictors for the presence of an aneurysm. The odds ratio (OR) (95% confidence interval) for the presence of an aneurysm was 3.46 (1.02–11.74) between the lowest and highest tertile of the observed angle between the parent vessel and the largest branch. The corresponding OR for the smallest branch was 48.06 (9.7–238.2). Conclusions. The bifurcation beyond the circle of Willis (that is, the MCA) closely approximated optimality principles, whereas the bifurcations within the circle of Willis (that is, the distal ICA and BA) did not. This indicates that the confluence of hemodynamic forces plays an important role in the distribution of work at bifurcations within the circle of Willis. In addition, the observed branch angles were predictors for the presence of aneurysms.

Surgical manipulation of primate cerebral arteries in established vasospasm

1991 ◽  
Vol 75 (3) ◽  
pp. 425-432 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Max Findlay ◽  
R. Loch Macdonald ◽  
Bryce K. A. Weir ◽  
Michael G. A. Grace
Keyword(s):  
Cerebral Ischemia ◽  
Middle Cerebral Artery ◽  
Cerebral Artery ◽  
Cerebral Arteries ◽  
Circle Of Willis ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
The Right ◽  
Surgical Manipulation ◽  
Fine Print

✓ It is generally believed that surgery in the face of angiographic vasospasm is dangerous due to an increased incidence of postoperative cerebral ischemia. One theory is that arterial narrowing is exacerbated by surgical manipulation of vasospastic vessels during aneurysm dissection and clipping. This theory was tested in a primate model of cerebral vasospasm and the results reported. Six monkeys underwent baseline cerebral angiography, followed by induction of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) on both sides of the circle of Willis. An equal amount of fresh autologous blood clot was placed around each internal carotid, anterior cerebral, and middle cerebral artery. Six days later, angiography was repeated and the right craniectomy was reopened for clot evacuation and surgical manipulation of the right cerebral arteries, including placement of a temporary aneurysm clip on the right middle cerebral artery. The left cerebral arteries were not exposed or manipulated, and served as controls. Twenty-four hours later angiography was repeated, then the animals were killed. Equal and significant vasospasm (> 40% reduction in vessel caliber compared to baseline, p < 0.05) was seen in the middle cerebral arteries on both sides of the circle of Willis in all animals 6 and 7 days after SAH. There was no significant change in the severity of vasospasm on Day 7 compared with Day 6 in the right cerebral arteries. Increased risk of postoperative cerebral ischemia for surgery in the peak vasospasm period may be due to mechanisms other than increased arterial narrowing precipitated by surgical manipulation.

Exposure of the anterior part of the circle of Willis in the dog

1974 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 107-112
Author(s):  
Shigeaki Hori ◽  
Williamina A. Himwich
Keyword(s):  
Anterior Part ◽  
Cerebral Arteries ◽  
Circle Of Willis ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Anatomical Characteristics ◽  
Fine Print

✓ A technique for exposing the vessels in the anterior part of the circle of Willis in the dog is described. Some of the physiological and anatomical characteristics of the anterior communicating and the anterior cerebral arteries are discussed.

Endovascular occlusion of intracranial vessels for curative treatment of unclippable aneurysms: report of 16 cases

1991 ◽  
Vol 75 (5) ◽  
pp. 694-701 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan E. Hodes ◽  
Armand Aymard ◽  
Y. Pierre Gobin ◽  
Daniel Rüfenacht ◽  
Siegfried Bien ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Blood Flow ◽  
Cerebral Blood Flow ◽  
Cerebral Artery ◽  
Basilar Artery ◽  
Posterior Inferior Cerebellar Artery ◽  
Artery Aneurysm ◽  
Neurological Deficits ◽  
Parent Vessel ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Fine Print

✓ Among 121 intracerebral aneurysms presenting at one institution between 1984 and 1989, 16 were treated by endovascular means. All 16 lesions were intradural and intracranial, and had failed either surgical or endovascular attempts at selective exclusion with parent vessel preservation. The lesions included four giant middle cerebral artery (MCA) aneurysms, one giant anterior communicating artery aneurysm, six giant posterior cerebral artery aneurysms, one posterior inferior cerebellar artery aneurysm, one giant mid-basilar artery aneurysm, two giant fusiform basilar artery aneurysms, and one dissecting vertebral artery aneurysm. One of the 16 patients failed an MCA test occlusion and was approached surgically after attempted endovascular selective occlusion. Treatment involved pretreatment evaluation of cerebral blood flow followed by a preliminary parent vessel test occlusion under neuroleptic analgesia with vigilant neurological monitoring. If the test occlusion was tolerated, it was immediately followed by permanent occlusion of the parent vessel with either detachable or nondetachable balloon or coils. The follow-up period ranged from 1 to 8 years. Excellent outcomes were obtained in 12 cases with complete angiographic obliteration of the aneurysm and no new neurological deficits and/or improvement of the pre-embolization symptoms. Four patients died: two related to the procedure, one secondary to rupture of another untreated aneurysm, and the fourth from a postoperative MCA thrombosis after having failed endovascular test occlusion. The angiographic, clinical, and cerebral blood flow criteria for occlusion tolerance are discussed.

Bilateral innervation of the cerebral arteries by the superior cervical ganglion in cats

1980 ◽  
Vol 53 (1) ◽  
pp. 88-91 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jesús Marín ◽  
Mercedes Salaices ◽  
Fernando Rivilla ◽  
Javier Burgos ◽  
Emilio J. Marco
Keyword(s):  
Cerebral Artery ◽  
Superior Cervical Ganglion ◽  
Anterior Cerebral Artery ◽  
Contractile Response ◽  
Cerebral Arteries ◽  
The Other ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Cervical Ganglion ◽  
The Right ◽  
Fine Print

✓ The effect of removal of the left superior cervical ganglion on the contractile response to norepinephrine (NE) and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT, serotonin) was studied in isolated segments of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) and posterior communicating artery (PCoA) of the cat. Fifteen days after the excision, each dose of NE elicited a potentiated response in both the MCA and the PCoA, whichever side they originated. By contrast, 5-HT induced enhanced vasoconstriction at each dose only in the MCA and PCoA from the left side. When segments of MCA and PCoA from the right side were challenged against 5-HT, a significantly increased response was found only at the first three doses. On the other hand, the NE content of pools made of MCA, PCoA, and anterior cerebral artery from each side was reduced to the same level on both sides after ganglion removal. These results indicate that the excised superior cervical ganglion innervated the MCA and PCoA from both sides of the circle of Willis.

A simple hemostatic method using a metal shield for injury of a major cerebral artery

1982 ◽  
Vol 57 (3) ◽  
pp. 323-327 ◽  
Author(s):  
Akira Yokoo ◽  
Kenichiro Sugita ◽  
Shigeaki Kobayashi ◽  
Koichi Matsuo
Keyword(s):  
Stainless Steel ◽  
Clinical Application ◽  
Cerebral Artery ◽  
Outer Surface ◽  
Cerebral Arteries ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Aneurysm Clip ◽  
Metal Shield ◽  
Injured Artery ◽  
Fine Print

✓ A new hemostatic method has been devised that uses a metal shield for treating accidentally injured major cerebral arteries. The metal shield is made of stainless steel, and has a small plate on its outer surface that allows it to be held in a regular aneurysm clip holder. Three different sizes of shield are available. The metal shield is applied to an injured artery with Oxycel and Biobond and held for a few minutes. Bleeding stops instantaneously. This is a simple and effective hemostatic method for an injured artery of small size. Experimental results and clinical application of this method are described.

Effect of clot removal on cerebral vasospasm

1990 ◽  
Vol 72 (2) ◽  
pp. 224-230 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tetsuji Inagawa ◽  
Mitsuo Yamamoto ◽  
Kazuko Kamiya
Keyword(s):  
Cerebral Vasospasm ◽  
Cerebral Artery ◽  
Pterional Approach ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Symptomatic Vasospasm ◽  
Clot Removal ◽  
Angiographic Vasospasm ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Fine Print

✓ The effect of clot removal on cerebral vasospasm was studied in 104 patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). The series included patients who fulfilled all of the following criteria: operation was performed by Day 3 after the ictus; the patient's preoperative clinical grade was between Grades I and IV; there was no rebleeding; computerized tomography (CT) showed only SAH; and carotid angiograms were performed by Day 2 and repeated between Days 7 and 9. Both the degree of SAH on CT and angiographic vasospasm were graded from 0 to III. The relationship of the SAH grade in the basal frontal interhemispheric fissure (IHF) to the presence of vasospasm at the A2 segments of the anterior cerebral artery and the relationship of the SAH grade in the sylvian stems to the presence of vasospasm at the M1 segments of the middle cerebral artery were analyzed. Correlation of preoperative and postoperative SAH grades with the angiographic vasospasm grades, with the incidence of symptomatic vasospasm, and with the low-density area on CT could be found in the A2 and M1 territories. Decrease of cisternal blood measured by CT after the operation did not relate directly to the reduction of vasospasm. When the SAH was Grade II or III in the basal frontal IHF, the angiographic vasospasm grades at the A2 were significantly lower in patients with surgery via the interhemispheric approach than in those with surgery via the pterional approach. Symptomatic vasospasm occurred in two of the eight cases operated on by the interhemispheric approach compared with 11 of the 22 cases approached via the pterional route. In patients with a pterional approach, there was no significant difference in severity of vasospasm in the M1 territory between the side of approach and the opposite side. No consistent relationship could be found between the time interval from SAH to operation and the severity of vasospasm. While clot removal may ameliorate cerebral vasospasm, its effect per se does not seem to be significant.

Loss of nitric oxide synthase immunoreactivity in cerebral vasospasm

1996 ◽  
Vol 84 (4) ◽  
pp. 648-654 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryszard M. Pluta ◽  
B. Gregory Thompson ◽  
Ted M. Dawson ◽  
Solomon H. Snyder ◽  
Robert J. Boock ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nitric Oxide ◽  
Nitric Oxide Synthase ◽  
Cerebral Vasospasm ◽  
Cerebral Artery ◽  
Cerebral Arteries ◽  
Nerve Fibers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Right ◽  
Oxide Synthase ◽  
Fine Print

✓ To determine the distribution of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in the primate cerebral artery nervi vasorum and to examine the potential role of NOS in cerebral vasospasm after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) in primates, the distribution of NOS immunoreactivity (NOS-IR) in the major cerebral arteries was examined immunohistochemically in cynomolgus monkeys by the use of whole, mounted preparations of the circle of Willis. In four normal monkeys, NOS-IR was localized to the endothelial and adventitial layers of the large cerebral arteries. On the abluminal side, NOS-IR staining was densely concentrated in perivascular nerve fibers (nervi vasorum) of the anterior circulation. Staining was less prominent in the posterior circulation. In six monkeys with vasospasm on Day 7 after placement of preclotted arterial blood to form an SAH around the right middle cerebral artery (MCA) (42% ± 8.3% decrease of MCA area, mean ± standard deviation), NOS-IR was virtually absent in nerve fibers around the spastic right MCA but was normal on the contralateral side. In five monkeys in which vasospasm resolved by Day 14 after SAH (36% ± 14% decrease of right MCA area on Day 7, and 5% ± 14% decrease on Day 14), NOS-IR was also absent in the right MCA adventitial nerve fibers and remained normal in the left MCA. Adventitial NOS-IR was also normal in cerebral vessels of a sham-operated, nonspastic monkey. These findings provide further evidence that nitric oxide (NO) functions as a neuronal transmitter to mediate vasodilation in primates and indicate a role for adventitial NO in the pathogenesis of cerebral vasospasm after SAH in humans.

Intracranial arterial spasm in the dog

1970 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 260-269 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert H. Wilkins ◽  
Philip Levitt
Keyword(s):  
Whole Blood ◽  
Cerebral Arteries ◽  
Canine Model ◽  
Circle Of Willis ◽  
Arterial Spasm ◽  
Arterial Tree ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Fine Print

✓ A chronic canine model for the investigation of intracranial arterial spasm was designed and used to study spasm produced by rapid and slow cisternal injections of fresh or heparinized autogenous whole blood, or serum from incubated autogenous blood. Spasm so produced begins within 10 minutes after the injection and lasts from several hours to days. It affects primarily the major arteries of the circle of Willis, especially the proximal anterior cerebral arteries, and it does not seem to involve the extradural arterial tree.

Cerebral revascularization using omental transplantation for childhood moyamoya disease

1993 ◽  
Vol 79 (2) ◽  
pp. 192-196 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jun Karasawa ◽  
Hajime Touho ◽  
Hideyuki Ohnishi ◽  
Susumu Miyamoto ◽  
Haruhiko Kikuchi
Keyword(s):  
Moyamoya Disease ◽  
Cerebral Artery ◽  
Anterior Cerebral Artery ◽  
Posterior Cerebral Artery ◽  
Cerebral Arteries ◽  
Neurological Deficits ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Collateral Vessels ◽  
Neurological State ◽  
Fine Print

✓ Between January, 1986, and October, 1990, 30 children with moyamoya disease, aged from 2 to 17 years, underwent omental transplantation to either the anterior or the posterior cerebral artery territory. The mean follow-up period was 3.8 years, ranging from 1.6 to 6.4 years. Seventeen patients had symptoms of monoparesis, paraparesis, and/or urinary incontinence and were treated using unilateral or bilateral omental transplantation to the anterior cerebral artery territory. Eleven patients had visual symptoms and were treated with unilateral or bilateral omental transplantation to the posterior cerebral artery territory. Two patients had symptoms associated with both the anterior and the posterior cerebral arteries, and were treated with dual omental transplantations. All 19 patients treated with omental transplantation to the anterior cerebral artery and 11 (84.6%) of the 13 treated with omental transplantation to the posterior cerebral artery showed improvement in their neurological state. Patients with more collateral vessels via the omentum had more rapid and complete improvement in their neurological state. Patients with severe preoperative neurological deficits associated with the posterior cerebral artery had persistence of their symptoms.

Cerebral dissecting aneurysm and intimal fibroelastic thickening of cerebral arteries

1982 ◽  
Vol 56 (4) ◽  
pp. 571-576 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomohiko Mizutani ◽  
Herbert I. Goldberg ◽  
Justin Parr ◽  
Clive Harper ◽  
Carson J. Thompson
Keyword(s):  
Middle Cerebral Artery ◽  
Cerebral Artery ◽  
Cerebral Arteries ◽  
Dissecting Aneurysm ◽  
The Other ◽  
Left Middle Cerebral Artery ◽  
Similar Distribution ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Left Middle ◽  
Fine Print

✓ A 19-year-old white man developed aphasia and right hemiplegia after several falls while waterskiing. Cerebral angiography displayed a ripple appearance and a “string of beads” sign along the left middle cerebral artery, with occlusion or stenosis of most of its branches. The patient died after 6 days, of transtentorial herniation due to massive left cerebral infarction. At necropsy, the infarct was found to be due to a subintimal dissecting aneurysm of the left middle cerebral artery. Multifocal areas of intimal fibroelastic thickening (IFT) were found not only at the site of dissection, but also in the other cerebral arteries, most prominent at the bifurcations of the vessels. A systematic study of cerebral arteries performed in six control cases revealed that IFT was present in a similar distribution to that seen in the patient described. However, the degree of IFT in this patient was greater than in the controls. Some individuals with excessive IFT may be more susceptible to cerebral dissecting aneurysm under a variety of stresses, especially trauma.

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