Use of fenestrated aneurysm clips in microvascular decompression surgery

2007 ◽  
Vol 106 (5) ◽  
pp. 929-931 ◽  
Author(s):  
Najmedden Attabib ◽  
Anthony M. Kaufmann

✓The standard techniques of microvascular decompression (MVD) surgery in which implant materials such as shredded Teflon felt are used may be inadequate in some complex cases. The authors evaluated the use of fenestrated aneurysm clips to maintain transposition of culprit vessels in patients with trigeminal neuralgia (TN) and hemifacial spasm (HFS). The authors conducted a retrospective review of MVD operations in which the culprit vessel was transposed and then maintained in position with a fenestrated aneurysm clip secured in position by suturing it to the dura mater. Among a consecutive series of more than 450 MVD surgeries, the fenestrated aneurysm clip sling was used in eight of the last 100 cases: six for HFS and two for TN. The follow-up period ranged from 1 to 13 months, and complete symptom resolution was noted in seven of the eight patients. No patient exhibited evidence of any surgical complications. This approach can be safely performed in complicated MVD cases such as reoperations and transpositions of long ectatic arteries. To the best of the authors' knowledge this is the first report in which the use of fenestrated aneurysm clips in MVD surgery is described.

2016 ◽  
Vol 124 (1) ◽  
pp. 90-95 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark Gregory Bigder ◽  
Anthony M. Kaufmann

OBJECT Microvascular decompression (MVD) surgery for hemifacial spasm (HFS) is potentially curative. The findings at repeat MVD in patients with persistent or recurrent HFS were analyzed with the aim to identify factors that may improve surgical outcomes. METHODS Intraoperative findings were determined from review of dictated operative reports and operative diagrams for patients who underwent repeat MVD after prior surgery elsewhere. Clinical follow-up was obtained from the hospital and clinic records, as well as telephone questionnaires. RESULTS Among 845 patients who underwent MVD performed by the senior author, 12 had been referred after prior MVD for HFS performed elsewhere. Following repeat MVD, all patients improved and complete spasm resolution was described by 11 of 12 patients after a mean follow-up of 91 ± 55 months (range 28–193). Complications were limited to 1 patient with aggravation of preexisting hearing loss and mild facial weakness and 1 patient with aseptic meningitis without sequelae. Significant factors that may have contributed to the failure of the first surgery included retromastoid craniectomies that did not extend laterally to the sigmoid sinus or inferiorly to the posterior fossa floor in 11 of 12 patients and a prior surgical approach that focused on the cisternal portion of the facial nerve in 9 of 12 patients. In all cases, significant persistent neurovascular compression (NVC) was evident and alleviated more proximally on the facial root exit zone (fREZ). CONCLUSIONS Most HFS patients will achieve spasm relief with thorough alleviation of NVC of the fREZ, which extends from the pontomedullary sulcus root exit point to the Obersteiner-Redlich transition zone.


2009 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. E10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raymond F. Sekula ◽  
Sanjay Bhatia ◽  
Andrew M. Frederickson ◽  
Peter J. Jannetta ◽  
Matthew R. Quigley ◽  
...  

Object In this paper, the authors' goal was to determine the utility of monitoring the abnormal muscle response (AMR) or “lateral spread” during microvascular decompression surgery for hemifacial spasm. Methods The authors' experience with AMR as well as the data available in the English-language literature regarding resolution or persistence of AMR and the resolution or persistence of hemifacial spasm at follow-up was pooled and subjected to a meta-analysis. Results The pooled OR revealed by the meta-analysis was 4.2 (95% CI 2.7–6.7). The chance of a cure if the AMR was abolished during surgery was 4.2 times greater than if the lateral spread persisted. Conclusions The AMR should be monitored routinely in the operating room, and surgical decision-making in the operating room should be augmented by the AMR.


2018 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
pp. E2 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hiroki Toda ◽  
Koichi Iwasaki ◽  
Naoya Yoshimoto ◽  
Yoshihito Miki ◽  
Hirokuni Hashikata ◽  
...  

OBJECTIVEIn microvascular decompression surgery for trigeminal neuralgia and hemifacial spasm, the bridging veins are dissected to provide the surgical corridors, and the veins of the brainstem may be mobilized in cases of venous compression. Strategy and technique in dissecting these veins may affect the surgical outcome. The authors investigated solutions for minimizing venous complications and reviewed the outcome for venous decompression.METHODSThe authors retrospectively reviewed their surgical series of microvascular decompression for trigeminal neuralgia and hemifacial spasm in patients treated between 2005 and 2017. Surgical strategies included preservation of the superior petrosal vein and its tributaries, thorough dissection of the arachnoid sleeve that enveloped these veins, cutting of the inferior petrosal vein over the lower cranial nerves, and mobilization or cutting of the veins of the brainstem that compressed the nerve roots. The authors summarized the patient characteristics, operative findings, and postoperative outcomes according to the vascular compression types as follows: artery alone, artery and vein, and vein alone. They analyzed the data using chi-square and 1-way ANOVA tests.RESULTSThe cohort was composed of 121 patients with trigeminal neuralgia and 205 patients with hemifacial spasm. The superior petrosal vein and its tributaries were preserved with no serious complications in all patients with trigeminal neuralgia. Venous compression alone and arterial and venous compressions were observed in 4% and 22%, respectively, of the patients with trigeminal neuralgia, and in 1% and 2%, respectively, of those with hemifacial spasm (p < 0.0001). In patients with trigeminal neuralgia, 35% of those with artery and venous compressions and 80% of those with venous compression alone had atypical neuralgia (p = 0.015). The surgical cure and recurrence rates of trigeminal neuralgias with venous compression were 60% and 20%, respectively, and with arterial and venous compressions the rates were 92% and 12%, respectively (p < 0.0001, p = 0.04). In patients with hemifacial spasm who had arterial and venous compressions, their recurrence rate was 60%, and that was significantly higher compared to other compression types (p = 0.0008).CONCLUSIONSDissection of the arachnoid sleeve that envelops the superior petrosal vein may help to reduce venous complications in surgery for trigeminal neuralgia. Venous compression may correlate with worse prognosis even with thorough decompression, in both trigeminal neuralgia and hemifacial spasm.


Neurosurgery ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 66 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Seunghoon Lee ◽  
Kwan Park

Abstract INTRODUCTION Microvascular decompression (MVD) is the most effective and curative treatment option for neurovascular compression syndrome and it is increasingly performed around the world. This study aimed to identify and describe the most technically difficult cases, which were the patients with penetrating offending vessel through the facial nerve, from our experiences and to give surgical tips for the successful MVD. METHODS Surgical records and intraoperative video of hemifacial spasm patients with penetrating offending vessels were reviewed. Interposition of Teflon felt between nerve and vessel was pursued, and neurectomy was avoided as much as possible. RESULTS Five patients with hemifacial spasm were identified as having a penetrating offending vessel through the facial nerve during the last 5 yr of MVD surgery in our institution. Four AICAs and one PICA were the causative vessels. Partial neurectomy was required in 1 patient. During the median follow-up of 6 mo (range, 1-26), all patients were spasm-free. No patients including the one with partial neurectomy were involved in facial palsy or hearing loss. CONCLUSION MVD in HFS patients with penetrating offending vessel through the facial nerve is the most surgically challenging and demands a high surgical skill. Interposition with Teflon felt is effective and neurectomy should be avoided. Intraoperative monitoring of free-running EMG and abnormal muscle response are helpful to decide the extent of surgery.


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