A Ruptured Blood Blister-Like Aneurysm that Experienced Regrowth with Coil Compaction Twice in a Month : Case Report

Unlike other aneurysms, blood blister-like aneurysms(BBA) occur at non-branching sites, are commonly located at the dorsal wall of the supraclinoid internal carotid artery (ICA), and are suspected to arise from dissecting aneurysms. They are typically diagnosed after a bleed because of their small size and unusual site. Therefore, lesions exist after brain computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging, but they are often not found. In the case of BBA, which have a high risk of recurrence, the treatment is difficult, and selecting the treatment method is also challenging. This paper describes the treatment of a BBA with internal trapping of the ICA that eventually recurred despite performing coil embolization twice.

Three-Dimensional Intraarterial Vaso Computed Tomography Depiction of Pipeline Flex with Shield Technology Flow Diverter Stent in Ruptured Blister Aneurysm of Supraclinoid Internal Carotid Artery

Blister aneurysms are intracranial arterial lesions originating at nonbranching sites of the dorsal supraclinoid internal carotid artery and basilar artery.1 Among different treatment options, the use of flow-diverting devices is gaining popularity and has the potential for becoming the standard of care.2 Radiological evaluation of flow diverter braid expansion and vessel wall apposition during procedure has become useful in preventing life-threatening complications. Incomplete coverage of an aneurysm neck, kinking, or incomplete expansion and malapposition of a stent carries a significant risk for thromboembolic events.3 4

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

Anterior 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

A Posterior Communicating Segment Aneurysm of the Supraclinoid Internal Carotid Artery Treated with an Extracranial to Intracranial Bypass and Trapping

Surgical treatment of giant aneurysms often poses significant challenges. Endovascular techniques have evolved exponentially over the last decades, and most of these complex aneurysms can be treated with flow-diverting techniques; however, successful obliteration of all giant aneurysms is not always possible with endovascular flow-diverting techniques. Although the need for microsurgical intervention has undoubtedly diminished, a versatile-thinking surgeon should keep in mind that obliteration of these aneurysms combined with revascularizing the distal circulation via extracranial–intracranial bypass techniques can provide a potentially life-long durable solution. The key to curing these pathologies is to utilize interdisciplinary decision making with a robust knowledge of the pros and cons of different treatment approaches. Herein, we present a case of a giant posterior communicating segment aneurysm of the left supraclinoid internal carotid artery (ICA), which was treated by obliteration (Fig. 1). Extradural anterior clinoidectomy was used to provide exposure of the supraclinoidal ICA proximal to the aneurysm, and revascularization of the distal circulation was achieved with a common carotid artery to M2-superior trunk bypass using a radial artery interposition graft (Fig. 2). The patient was a 62-year-old female who presented with vision loss in her left eye but was otherwise neurologically intact. She had a history of two unsuccessful flow-diverting stent placement attempts 2 months prior to this surgery. Postoperatively, the patient woke up without any deficits, with her left eye vision partially recovered and ultimately returning to normal at 1-year follow-up. Computed tomography (CT) angiography at a 1-year follow-up showed complete obliteration of the aneurysm and successful revascularization of the distal circulation.The link to the video can be found at: https://youtu.be/3Zz-ecvlDIc .

Clip Reconstruction of a Previously Leaked Large Complex Posterior Communicating Segment Aneurysm with Extradural Anterior Clinoidectomy

Fusiform or near-fusiform aneurysms that involve the long segment of the supraclinoid internal carotid artery (ICA) pose significant challenges to neurovascular surgeons. Involvement of the origin of vital branching arteries in this segment may preclude safe treatment with flow diverting stents. In addition, clip reconstruction may also not be possible in this region due to entire or near-entire involvement of the circumference of the ICA (Fig. 1). In this video article, we present a case of a complex and previously leaked, (visualized with hemosiderin) aneurysm of the posterior communicating segment of the ICA, in a 60-year-old female. Multiple complexities made this aneurysm challenging to treat. These included (1) a 270-degree encirclement of the ICA with multiple lobulations that left only a small section of nondiseased vessel wall, (2) a relatively short segment of the supraclinoidal ICA that made proximal control challenging thus requiring an extradural anterior clinoidectomy, (3) a fetal posterior communicating artery that originated immediately proximal to the beginning of the aneurysm, and lastly, (4) an anterior choroidal artery that was firmly adherent over the aneurysm dome. In this video, we present the microsurgical steps for dealing with this complex aneurysm, including extradural clinoidectomy and clip reconstruction (Fig. 2). Postoperatively, the patient woke up without any deficits. Angiography showed complete obliteration of the aneurysm.The link to the video can be found at: https://youtu.be/C3Vc0maWChc.

Supraclinoid Internal Carotid Artery Aneurysm Clipping Complicated by Aneurysm Dome Origin of the Anterior Choroidal Artery: 2-Dimensional Operative Video

Supraclinoid internal carotid artery (ICA) aneurysms most commonly arise at the origin of the posterior communicating or anterior choroidal artery. The unique angioarchitecture presented in this case involved the anterior choroidal artery (AChA) originating from the dome of a supraclinoid ICA aneurysm. Treatment is associated with high morbidity because of the eloquent parenchyma perfused by the AChA. Therefore, the preservation of flow within the AChA during clipping is paramount. Anterior choroidal syndrome, comprising hemiplegia, hemianesthesia, and hemianopsia, conveys a significant morbidity. This syndrome is observed in the setting of AChA sacrifice and can be observed in a delayed manner after clipping. Anterior choroidal syndrome is of uncertain etiology but is associated with AChA infarction. This patient presented with tinnitus and was found to have an incidental supraclinoid ICA aneurysm with AChA originating from the aneurysmal dome. A right orbitozygomatic craniotomy was performed for a transsylvian approach to the aneurysm. A fenestrated clip was applied to occlude the aneurysmal portion of the ICA up to the point of AChA origin. A curved clip was then used to occlude the AChA segment of the aneurysm, providing patency to the AChA takeoff along the ICA. Patency of the AChA and ICA was confirmed with intraoperative angiography, and the patient had a favorable clinical outcome. This case exemplified an excellent surgical clipping of a challenging supraclinoid ICA aneurysm involving the need to preserve a vessel off the aneurysm dome. The patient gave informed consent for surgery and video recording. Institutional review board approval was deemed unnecessary. Used with permission from Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, Arizona.