Internal Carotid Artery Paraclinoid Aneurysm Surgery based on the Microsurgical Anatomy(<SPECIAL ISSUES>Veins of the Skull Base (1): Cavernous Sinus)

Abstract Objective: Improved understanding of the microsurgical anatomy of the cranial base region has made surgery in and through the cavernous sinus safer. However, continuous venous oozing that occurs during cavernous sinus surgery can cause significant blood loss and poor visualization. We describe a technique that will help minimize cavernous sinus bleeding and improve the safety of the surgical steps. Methods: The lateral wall of the cavernous sinus is exposed. Cavernous sinus access windows between the V1 and V2 branches of the trigeminal nerve and posterior to the clinoidal internal carotid artery are used to inject fibrin glue into the different cavernous sinus compartments. Postoperative follow-up cerebral angiography in basilar apex aneurysms clipped using the transcavernous approach were evaluated for cavernous sinus patency during the venous phase. Results: Fibrin glue injection between V1 and V2 obliterated the lateral cavernous sinus compartment. Fibrin glue injection posterior to the clinoidal segment of the internal carotid artery obliterated the medial compartment of the cavernous sinus. These steps were used in 217 surgical procedures (95 benign and 9 malignant neoplastic lesions; 113 aneurysms). There were no significant clinical side effects. Follow-up angiographic controls of basilar aneurysms operated on via the transcavernous approach consistently showed the reestablishment of flow within the cavernous sinus as early as 2 to 3 months postoperatively. Conclusion: Presently, the use of hemostatic agents and the better understanding of the microsurgical anatomy of the cranial base and cavernous sinus enable us to tame the cavernous sinus and operate in and around it with a high degree of safety.

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Microsurgical anatomy of the arterial compartment of the cavernous sinus: analysis of 24 cavernous sinus

Arquivos de Neuro-Psiquiatria ◽

10.1590/s0004-282x2005000200012 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 63 (2a) ◽

pp. 259-264 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Gustavo Isolan ◽

Evandro de Oliveira ◽

João Paulo Mattos

Keyword(s):

Carotid Artery ◽

Internal Carotid Artery ◽

Cavernous Sinus ◽

Internal Carotid ◽

Sella Turcica ◽

Microsurgical Anatomy ◽

Isolated Artery ◽

Anatomy Knowledge ◽

Tentorial Artery ◽

Meningohypophyseal Trunk

The cavernous sinus is a complex compartment situated in both sides of the sella turcica, being its microsurgical anatomy knowledge of fundamental importance when consider to approach surgically. We studied the arterial microanatomy of 24 cavernous sinus at the microsurgical laboratory, considering that in all the internal carotid artery were filled with colored latex. The meningohypophyseal trunk was present in 18 cases (75%) with its origin in intracavernous portion of the internal carotid artery. In relation to the 18 presented cases with meningohypophyseal trunk, 14 (77.7%) had a trifurcate and 4 (23.3%) had a bifurcate pattern. The tentorial artery was present in all. Its origin was observed, arising from the meningohypophyseal trunk in 17 (70.8%) and as an isolated artery in some extension of the intracavernous portion in 7 (29.1%). An accessory tentorial artery was found in one specimen. The dorsal meningeal artery was present in 22 cases (91.6%). Its origin was in the meningohypophyseal trunk in 17 cases (77.2%), arising from internal carotid artery in 4 cases (18.1%) and from inferior hypophyseal artery in one case (4.1%).The inferior hypophyseal artery was present in all cases, having its origin at the meningohypophyseal trunk in 16 cases (66.6%). In the remaining 8 cases (33.3%) the artery was found arising alone from the intracavernous portion also. The artery of the inferior cavernous sinus or inferolateral trunk was present in all cases and had its origin from internal carotid artery in its intracavernous segment. The McConnell's artery was not found in any cavernous sinus.

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Case Report: Internal Carotid Artery Thrombosis: A Rare Complication After Fibrin Glue Injection for Cavernous Sinus Hemostasis

Frontiers in Surgery ◽

10.3389/fsurg.2021.730408 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

Author(s):

Hugo Andrade-Barazarte ◽

Zhongcan Chen ◽

Chenyi Feng ◽

Visish M. Srinivasan ◽

Charuta G. Furey ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Carotid Artery ◽

Internal Carotid Artery ◽

Skull Base ◽

Fibrin Glue ◽

Cavernous Sinus ◽

Internal Carotid ◽

Rare Complication ◽

Patient Consent ◽

Venous Bleeding ◽

Glue Injection

Background: Fibrin glue injection within the cavernous sinus (CS) is a demonstrably safe and simple technique to control venous bleeding with a low complication rate. However, this technique does have inherent risks. We illustrate 2 cases of internal carotid artery (ICA) thrombosis after fibrin glue injection in the CS for hemostasis.Methods: After encountering this complication recently, we conducted a retrospective review of the surgical database of 2 senior neurosurgeons who specialize in cerebrovascular and skull base surgery to identify patients with any complications associated with the use of fibrin glue injection for hemostasis. Approval was given by respective institutional review boards, and patient consent was obtained.Results: Of more than 10,000 microsurgery procedures performed by 2 senior neurosurgeons with a combined experience of 40 years, including procedures for aneurysms and skull base tumors, 2 cases were identified involving ICA thrombosis after fibrin glue injection in the CS for hemostasis. Both cases involved severe ischemic complications as a result of the ICA thrombosis. In this article, we present their clinical presentation, characteristics, management, and outcomes.Conclusion: Direct injection of fibrin glue into the CS for hemostasis can effectively control venous bleeding and facilitate complex dissections. However, it can be associated with ICA thrombosis, with subsequent serious ischemia and poor prognosis. Although this complication appears to be rare, increased awareness of this problem should temper the routine use of fibrin glue in anterior clinoidectomy and transcavernous approaches.

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Internal carotid artery hemorrhage after irradiation and osteoradionecrosis of the skull base

Otolaryngology ◽

10.1016/s0194-5998(01)73640-6 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 125 (5) ◽

pp. 522-527 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

H LAM ◽

V ABDULLAH ◽

P WORMALD ◽

C VANHASSELT

Keyword(s):

Carotid Artery ◽

Internal Carotid Artery ◽

Skull Base ◽

Internal Carotid

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Nasopharyngeal muscle patch for the management of internal carotid artery injury in endoscopic endonasal surgery

Journal of Neurosurgery ◽

10.3171/2019.7.jns191370 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 133 (5) ◽

pp. 1382-1387 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Wei-Hsin Wang ◽

Stefan Lieber ◽

Ming-Ying Lan ◽

Eric W. Wang ◽

Juan C. Fernandez-Miranda ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Carotid Artery ◽

Internal Carotid Artery ◽

Skull Base ◽

Internal Carotid ◽

Skull Base Surgery ◽

Management Technique ◽

Endoscopic Endonasal Surgery ◽

Endonasal Surgery ◽

Endoscopic Endonasal ◽

Muscle Graft

OBJECTIVEInjury to the internal carotid artery (ICA) is the most critical complication of endoscopic endonasal skull base surgery. Packing with a crushed muscle graft at the injury site has been an effective management technique to control bleeding without ICA sacrifice. Obtaining the muscle graft has typically required access to another surgical site, however. To address this concern, the authors investigated the application of an endonasally harvested longus capitis muscle patch for the management of ICA injury.METHODSOne colored silicone-injected anatomical specimen was dissected to replicate the surgical access to the nasopharynx and the stepwise dissection of the longus capitis muscle in the nasopharynx. Two representative cases were selected to illustrate the application of the longus capitis muscle patch and the relevance of clinical considerations.RESULTSA suitable muscle graft from the longus capitis muscle could be easily and quickly harvested during endoscopic endonasal skull base surgery. In the illustrative cases, the longus capitis muscle patch was successfully used for secondary prevention of pseudoaneurysm formation following primary bleeding control on the site of ICA injury.CONCLUSIONSNasopharyngeal harvest of a longus capitis muscle graft is a safe and practical method to manage ICA injury during endoscopic endonasal surgery.

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Rare Clinical Onset of Nontraumatic Intracavernous Aneurysm of the Internal Carotid Artery: A Diagnostic and Therapeutic Challenge

Indian Journal of Neurosurgery ◽

10.1055/s-0040-1718989 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Enzo Emanuelli ◽

Maria Baldovin ◽

Claudia Zanotti ◽

Sara Munari ◽

Luca Denaro ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Carotid Artery ◽

Internal Carotid Artery ◽

Cavernous Sinus ◽

Internal Carotid ◽

Arterial Injury ◽

Sphenoidal Sinus ◽

Therapeutic Challenge ◽

Cavernous Sinus Syndrome ◽

Sellar Lesions ◽

Risk Of Rupture

AbstractWhile the so-called pseudoaneurysms can result from arterial injury during trans-sphenoidal surgery or after a trauma, spontaneous aneurysms of cavernous–internal carotid artery (CICA) are rare. Symptoms vary and the differential diagnosis with other, more frequent, sellar lesions is difficult. We describe three cases of misdiagnosed CICA spontaneous aneurysm. In two cases the onset was with neuro-ophthalmological manifestations, classifiable as “cavernous sinus syndrome.” The emergency computed tomography scan did not show CICA aneurysm and the diagnosis was made by surgical exploration. The third patient came to our attention with a sudden severe unilateral epistaxis; endonasal surgery revealed also in this case a CICA aneurysm, eroding the wall and protruding into the sphenoidal sinus. When the onset was with a cavernous sinus syndrome, misdiagnosis exposed two patients to potential serious risk of bleeding, while the patient with epistaxis was treated with embolization, using coils and two balloons. Intracavernous nontraumatic aneurysms are both a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge, because of their heterogeneous onset and risk of rupture, potentially lethal. Intracavernous aneurysms can be managed with radiological follow-up, if asymptomatic or clinically stable, or can be surgically treated with endovascular or microsurgical techniques.

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Role of Extradural Clinoidectomy and Optic Unroofing in Resection of an Anterior Clinoidal Meningioma with Encasement of the Internal Carotid Artery and Its Branches

Journal of Neurological Surgery Part B Skull Base ◽

10.1055/s-0041-1729996 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Sima Sayyahmelli ◽

Zhaoliang Sun ◽

Emel Avci ◽

Mustafa K. Başkaya

Keyword(s):

Carotid Artery ◽

Internal Carotid Artery ◽

Skull Base ◽

Vision Loss ◽

Internal Carotid ◽

Extent Of Resection ◽

World Health ◽

Who Grade ◽

The Right ◽

Supraclinoid Internal Carotid Artery

AbstractAnterior clinoidal meningiomas (ACMs) remain a major neurosurgical challenge. The skull base techniques, including extradural clinoidectomy and optic unroofing performed at the early stage of surgery, provide advantages for improving the extent of resection, and thereby enhancing overall outcome, and particularly visual function. Additionally, when the anterior clinoidal meningiomas encase neurovascular structures, particularly the supraclinoid internal carotid artery and its branches, this further increases morbidity and decreases the extent of resection. Although it might be possible to remove the tumor from the artery wall despite complete encasement or narrowing, the decision of whether the tumor can be safely separated from the arterial wall ultimately must be made intraoperatively.The patient is a 75-year-old woman with right-sided progressive vision loss. In the neurological examination, she only had light perception in the right eye without any visual acuity or peripheral loss in the left eye. MRI showed a homogeneously enhancing right-sided anterior clinoidal mass with encasing and narrowing of the supraclinoid internal carotid artery (ICA). Computed tomography (CT) angiography showed a mild narrowing of the right supraclinoid ICA with associated a 360-degree encasement. The decision was made to proceed using a pterional approach with extradural anterior clinoidectomy and optic unroofing. The surgery and postoperative course were uneventful. MRI confirmed gross total resection (Figs. 1 and 2). The histopathology was a meningothelial meningioma, World Health Organization (WHO) grade I. The patient continues to do well without any recurrence and has shown improved vision at 15-month follow-up.This video demonstrates important steps of the microsurgical skull base techniques for resection of these challenging tumors.The link to the video can be found at https://youtu.be/vt3o1c2o8Z0

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Transcavernous Resection of a Giant Extensive Chondrosarcoma with Endoscopic Assistance

Journal of Neurological Surgery Part B Skull Base ◽

10.1055/s-0041-1727124 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Walid Elshamy ◽

Burcak Soylemez ◽

Sima Sayyahmelli ◽

Nese Keser ◽

Mustafa K. Baskaya

Keyword(s):

Carotid Artery ◽

Internal Carotid Artery ◽

Skull Base ◽

Internal Carotid ◽

Gross Total Resection ◽

Petrous Apex ◽

Left Internal Carotid Artery ◽

Total Resection ◽

Complete Occlusion ◽

Grade Ii

AbstractChondrosarcomas are one of the major malignant neoplasms which occur at the skull base. These tumors are locally invasive. Gross total resection of chondrosarcomas is associated with longer progression-free survival rates. The patient is a 55-year-old man with a history of dysphagia, left eye dryness, hearing loss, and left-sided facial pain. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a giant heterogeneously enhancing left-sided skull base mass within the cavernous sinus and the petrous apex with extension into the sphenoid bone, clivus, and the cerebellopontine angle, with associated displacement of the brainstem (Fig. 1). An endoscopic endonasal biopsy revealed a grade-II chondrosarcoma. The patient was then referred for surgical resection. Computed tomography (CT) scan and CT angiogram of the head and neck showed a left-sided skull base mass, partial destruction of the petrous apex, and complete or near-complete occlusion of the left internal carotid artery. Digital subtraction angiography confirmed complete occlusion of the left internal carotid artery with cortical, vertebrobasilar, and leptomeningeal collateral development. The decision was made to proceed with a left-sided transcavernous approach with possible petrous apex drilling. During surgery, minimal petrous apex drilling was necessary due to autopetrosectomy by the tumor. Endoscopy was used to assist achieving gross total resection (Fig. 2). Surgery and postoperative course were uneventful. MRI confirmed gross total resection of the tumor. The histopathology was a grade-II chondrosarcoma. The patient received proton therapy and continues to do well without recurrence at 4-year follow-up. This video demonstrates steps of the combined microsurgical skull base approaches for resection of these challenging tumors.The link to the video can be found at: https://youtu.be/WlmCP_-i57s.

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