Retrograde suction decompression of giant paraclinoid aneurysms using a No. 7 French balloon–containing guide catheter

Retrograde Suction Decompression for Clipping of a Giant Ophthalmic Internal Carotid Artery Aneurysm: 2-Dimensional Operative Video

Microsurgical clipping of large paraclinoid aneurysms is challenging because of the complex anatomy of the dural rings, lack of easy proximal control, and wide aneurysm necks. Proximal retrograde suction decompression, or the Dallas technique, can reduce aneurysm turgor and, with aspiration of the trapped cervical and supraclinoid internal carotid arteries (ICAs), can collapse the aneurysm to aid microsurgical clipping.1-5  A woman in her late 30s presented with decreased right-eye visual acuity. Informed written consent was obtained for microsurgical management and publication. Upon cervical exposure of the carotid bifurcation, we performed a standard pterional craniotomy, trans-sylvian exposure, and intradural anterior clinoidectomy. After burst suppression and cross-clamping of the carotid, we inserted an angiocatheter at the common carotid artery (CCA). Distal temporary clips were placed on the posterior communicating artery and C7 ICA. With the cervical ICA unclamped, retrograde suction was continuously applied to deflate the aneurysm. We applied 2 pairs of fenestrated-booster clips to the aneurysm dome and a fifth clip to the aneurysm neck. After restoration of flow, indocyanine green angiography and Doppler assessments were performed. The proximal clip was converted into a curved clip to optimize ICA flow.  Postoperative angiography confirmed complete occlusion of the aneurysm. The patient was discharged on postoperative day 3, with stable visual acuity.6 This video demonstrates that retrograde suction decompression via the cervical CCA can be safely performed to facilitate clipping of complex paraclinoid ICA aneurysms. Comprehensive planning of temporary aneurysm trapping for suction decompression and permanent clip construct for aneurysm occlusion are needed for effective aneurysm repair.

Comparative Analysis of Feasibility of the Retrograde Suction Decompression Technique for Microsurgical Treatment of Large and Giant Internal Carotid Artery Aneurysms

Objective

Retrograde suction decompression (RSD) is an adjuvant technique used for the microsurgical treatment of large and giant internal carotid artery (ICA) aneurysms. In this study, we analyzed the efficacy and safety of the RSD technique for the treatment of large and giant ICA aneurysms relative to other conventional microsurgical techniques.

Methods

The aneurysms were classified into two groups depending on whether the RSD method was used (21 in the RSD group vs. 43 in the non-RSD group). Baseline characteristics, details of the surgical procedure, angiographic outcomes, clinical outcomes, and procedure-related complications of each group were reviewed retrospectively.

Results

There was no significant difference in the rates of complete neck-clipping between the RSD (57.1%) and non-RSD (67.4%) groups. Similarly, there was no difference in the rates of good clinical outcomes (modified Rankin Scale score, 0–2) between the RSD (85.7%) and non-RSD (81.4%) groups. Considering the initial functional status, 19 of 21 (90.5%) patients in the RSD group and 35 of 43 (81.4%) patients in the non-RSD group showed an improvement or no change in functional status, which did not reach statistical significance.

Conclusion

In this study, the microsurgical treatment of large and giant intracranial ICA aneurysms using the RSD technique obtained competitive angiographic and clinical outcomes without increasing the risk of procedure-related complications. The RSD technique might be a useful technical option for the microsurgical treatment of large and giant intracranial ICA aneurysms.

The 25th anniversary of the retrograde suction decompression technique (Dallas technique) for the surgical management of paraclinoid aneurysms: historical background, systematic review, and pooled analysis of the literature

OBJECTIVE

Paraclinoid internal carotid artery (ICA) aneurysms frequently require temporary occlusion to facilitate safe clipping. Brisk retrograde flow through the ophthalmic artery and cavernous ICA branches make simple trapping inadequate to soften the aneurysm. The retrograde suction decompression (RSD), or Dallas RSD, technique was described in 1990 in an attempt to overcome some of those treatment limitations. A frequent criticism of the RSD technique is an allegedly high risk of cervical ICA dissection. An endovascular modification was introduced in 1991 (endovascular RSD) but no studies have compared the 2 RSD variations.

METHODS

The authors performed a systematic review of MEDLINE/PubMed and Web of Science and identified all studies from 1990-2016 in which either Dallas RSD or endovascular RSD was used for treatment of paraclinoid aneurysms. A pooled analysis of the data was completed to identify important demographic and treatment-specific variables. The primary outcome measure was defined as successful aneurysm obliteration. Secondary outcome variables were divided into overall and RSD-specific morbidity and mortality rates.

RESULTS

Twenty-six RSD studies met the inclusion criteria (525 patients, 78.9% female). The mean patient age was 53.5 years. Most aneurysms were unruptured (56.6%) and giant (49%). The most common presentations were subarachnoid hemorrhage (43.6%) and vision changes (25.3%). The aneurysm obliteration rate was 95%. The mean temporary occlusion time was 12.7 minutes. Transient or permanent morbidity was seen in 19.9% of the patients. The RSD-specific complication rate was low (1.3%). The overall mortality rate was 4.2%, with 2 deaths (0.4%) attributable to the RSD technique itself. Good or fair outcome were reported in 90.7% of the patients.Aneurysm obliteration rates were similar in the 2 subgroups (Dallas RSD 94.3%, endovascular RSD 96.3%, p = 0.33). Despite a higher frequency of complex (giant or ruptured) aneurysms, Dallas RSD was associated with lower RSD-related morbidity (0.6% vs 2.9%, p = 0.03), compared with the endovascular RSD subgroup. There was a trend toward higher mortality in the endovascular RSD subgroup (6.4% vs 3.1%, p = 0.08). The proportion of patients with poor neurological outcome at last follow-up was significantly higher in the endovascular RSD group (15.4% vs 7.2%, p < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

The treatment of paraclinoid ICA aneurysms using the RSD technique is associated with high aneurysm obliteration rates, good long-term neurological outcome, and low RSD-related morbidity and mortality. Review of the RSD literature showed no evidence of a higher complication rate associated with the Dallas technique compared with similar endovascular methods. On a subgroup analysis of Dallas RSD and endovascular RSD, both groups achieved similar obliteration rates, but a lower RSD-related morbidity was seen in the Dallas technique subgroup. Twenty-five years after its initial publication, RSD remains a useful neurosurgical technique for the management of large and giant paraclinoid aneurysms.

Adenosine-induced Flow Arrest to Facilitate Intracranial Complex Aneurysm Clip Ligation: Review of the Literature

Complex intracranial aneurysms (CIAs) rank high among the most technically demanding neurosurgical pathologies. Microsurgery and clip ligation can be challenging in CIAs as circumferential visualization of the aneurysm, parent vessels, branches, perforators, and other neurovascular structures is important to prevent residual aneurysms or strokes from vessel or perforator occlusion. Decompression of the aneurysm sac is often required for CIAs. We reviewed the literature and PubMed advanced search showed 13 results of adenosine-induced flow arrest to facilitate intracranial complex aneurysm clip ligation which included three independent case reports and ten cases in a case series from 1999 to May 2016. Few case series have described the use of adenosine in intracranial aneurysm surgery. Satisfactory aneurysm decompression was achieved in all cases, and all aneurysms were clipped successfully. We recommend that adenosine cardiac arrest is a relatively novel method for decompression of intracranial aneurysms to facilitate clip application. With appropriate safety precautions, it is a reasonable alternative method when temporary clipping of proximal vessels is not desirable or not possible.

Entire Orifice Blocking-Assisted Microsurgical Treatment: Clipping of Intracranial Giant Wide-Neck Paraclinoid Aneurysms

OBJECTIVE

Giant wide-neck paraclinoid aneurysms remain a formidable challenge for neurosurgeons due to the brisk retrograde blood flow during surgical clipping. Theoretically, Entire orifice blockade (EOB) by placing a longitudinal intracarotid balloon catheter across the aneurysm neck could achieve a good vascular control in treating cerebral aneurysms, but related studies have been scarce. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficiency of the EOB-assisted microsurgical technique for treating giant wide-neck paraclinoid aneurysms.

METHODS

Clinical data and treatment summaries of patients with giant wide-neck paraclinoid aneurysms who underwent EOB-assisted microsurgical clipping were retrospectively reviewed.

RESULTS

A total of 26 patients were analyzed. All but 3 patients harbored unruptured aneurysms. The mean largest diameter of the aneurysms was 26.8±2.0 mm, and the mean neck size was 12.5±2.4 mm. All lesions were successfully clipped without residual aneurysms. Post-operative images revealed no major branch occlusion due to thromboembolic complications. Four patients presented neurologic deficits caused by vasospasm, 3 of which were completely resolved by postoperative treatment. At a mean follow-up time of 1.86 ± 0.95 years (range, 0.5-3.5 years), none of the patients died, and 96.2% (n = 25) of the patients had favorable clinical outcomes with modified Rankin Scale values of 0-2.

CONCLUSIONS

For patients with giant wide-neck paraclinoid aneurysms, EOB-assisted microsurgical clipping is a safe and useful procedure for obtaining vascular control, for softening and shrinking the aneurysm sac and for providing a wide and clean operative field that allows the clip to be effectively placed.

The combined treatment of stenting and surgery in a giant unruptured aneurysm of the middle cerebral artery

BACKGROUND

This case study reports on a combined therapy of stenting and surgery for a giant unruptured middle cerebral artery (MCA) aneurysm with the aim of preserving the patency of the vessel during surgery.

CASE DESCRIPTION

A 51-year-old male presented with a sudden onset of moderate left hemiparesis and dysarthria. Neuro-radiological evaluations showed a giant right unruptured MCA aneurysm without subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). The cerebral angiography confirmed the presence of such an aneurysm producing compression of both M2 branches with consequent slowing of the blood flow. Two weeks later, the patient underwent the positioning of an Enterprise stent and inside this, a flow diverter Silk stent. They were placed across the aneurysm and in one of the two M2 branches with the aim of protecting them during surgical manipulation. The patient went immediately to surgery, where the aneurysm was resected and both M2 branches decompressed.

CONCLUSION

The combined placement of the stents allowed safe and successful surgical dissection of the M2 branches and clipping of the aneurysm without interrupting the blood flow.

Management strategy of surgical and endovascular treatment of unruptured paraclinoid aneurysms based on the location of aneurysms

OBJECTIVE

Advances in endovascular treatment (EVT) have greatly improved the treatment outcomes of paraclinoid aneurysms. However, EVT had the shortcoming of durability and thromboembolic complications. As well, surgical treatment of paraclinoid aneurysms is still challenging due to the complexity of adjacent structures. The objective of this study is to report our experience with a combined surgical and endovascular treatment of unruptured paraclinoid aneurysms based on the location of aneurysms.

METHODS

A retrospective review was conducted of 185 cases of unruptured paraclinoid aneurysms that underwent surgical or endovascular treatment between September 2008 and August 2012. Thirty-one aneurysms (16.8%) were treated by microsurgery and 154 (83.2%) were treated by EVT. Fifty aneurysms (27.0%) were classified to the dorsal group and 135 (73%) were classified to the non-dorsal group.

RESULTS

Twenty of 50 dorsal group aneurysms (40%) were treated by microsurgery while 124 of 135 non-dorsal group aneurysms (91.9%) underwent an EVT. The rate of complete occlusion was 96.8% in surgical series and 60.4% in EVT (P < 0.001). Recanalization occurred in 9 aneurysms (5.8%) of EVT and 1 aneurysm (3.2%) of surgical series (P = 0.360). In non-dorsal group, transient complications (10 aneurysms (5.4%), P = 0.018) and morbidity at last visiting (6 aneurysms (3.2%), P = 0.021) were more present in surgically treated cases rather than in EVT cases. Diplopia and visual field defect occurred in the non-dorsal group only; in 2 of 11 surgical cases (18.2%) and in 1 of 124 EVT series (0.8%) (P = 0.017). The overall rate of excellent or good clinical outcomes (Glasgow outcome scale 5 or 4) was 98.9%.

CONCLUSION

EVT is a safe and effective treatment for the non-dorsal group. Based on angiographic and clinical aspects, microsurgical clipping has prior efficacy with better outcomes in the dorsal group under proper individualized selection.

Combined surgical and endovascular access of the superficial middle cerebral vein to occlude a high-grade cavernous dural arteriovenous fistula: case report

BACKGROUND AND IMPORTANCE

High-grade cavernous sinus (CS) dural arteriovenous fistulae with cortical venous drainage often have a malignant presentation requiring urgent treatment. In the absence of a venous access to the lesion, transarterial embolization can potentially cure these lesions; however, the high concentration of eloquent arterial territories adjacent to the fistula creates a precarious risk of arterial-arterial reflux. In such cases, a combined surgical and endovascular approach may provide the least invasive option.

CLINICAL PRESENTATION

We describe a patient presenting with a venous hemorrhagic infarct caused by a high-grade CS dural arteriovenous fistula (Barrow type D caroticocavernous fistula) with isolated drainage via the superficial middle cerebral vein into engorged perisylvian cortical veins. No transfemoral or ophthalmic strategy was angiographically apparent, and the posterior location of the involved CS compartment mitigated a direct puncture. The patient underwent direct puncture of the superficial middle cerebral vein via an orbitozygomatic craniotomy and the CS was catheterized under fluoroscopic guidance. The CS was coil-embolized back into the distal superficial middle cerebral vein with complete obliteration of the fistula. The patient did well with no new deficits and made an uneventful recovery.

CONCLUSION

This novel combined open surgical and endovascular approach enables obliteration of a CS dural arteriovenous fistula with isolated cortical venous drainage and avoids the additional manipulation with direct dissection and puncture of the CS itself.

Association of Intracranial Aneurysm and Loeys-Dietz Syndrome: Case Illustration, Management, and Literature Review

BACKGROUND AND IMPORTANCE:

Loeys-Dietz syndrome (LDS) is a newly described connective tissue disease associated with aortic aneurysms. A strong association between LDS and intracranial aneurysms has not yet been documented in the literature. We present the first detailed report of an intracranial aneurysm finding in an LDS patient.

CLINICAL PRESENTATION:

The patient is a 20-year-old female recently diagnosed with LDS and found to harbor 2 incidental intracranial aneurysms on a screening magnetic resonance angiography: a 3-mm right carotid ophthalmic aneurysm and an 8-mm partially fusiform paraclinoid carotid artery aneurysm. A standard left pterional craniotomy was performed. Intraoperative adenosine was used instead of temporary clipping because her vessels were extremely friable. After reconstruction, an intraoperative indocyanine green angiogram was obtained, confirming complete aneurysmal obliteration and internal carotid artery patency.

CONCLUSION:

This is the first detailed report of a clear association between intracranial aneurysms and LDS. An association between LDS and intracranial aneurysms, if substantiated in a larger study, has implications for aneurysm screening in this population. Such an association may shed light on mechanisms of aneurysm formation, growth, and rupture.

Perioperative and intraoperative maneuvers to optimize surgical outcomes in skull base surgery

There are many approaches to obtaining a workable endoscopic surgical field in sinus surgery. With extended sinus and transdural endoscopic surgery, a more rigid approach must be taken. There are 3 main factors that invariably lead to poor surgical outcomes in endoscopic sinus and skull base surgery: bleeding, inadequate access, and unidentified anatomic anomalies. Bleeding is arguably the most common reason for incomplete resection. An understanding of microvascular and macrovascular bleeding allows a more structured approach to improve the surgical field in extended endoscopic surgery. The endoscopic surgeon should always be comfortable in performing the same procedure as an open operation. However, converting or abandoning an endoscopic procedure should rarely occur because much of this decision making should take place preoperatively. Along with poor hemostasis, inadequate access is an important cause of poor outcome. Evaluation of the anatomy involved by pathology but also the anatomy that must be removed to allow adequate exposure is important. This article reviews the current techniques used to ensure optimal surgical conditions and outcomes.

Surgical and endovascular treatments for intracranial aneurysms

The goals of microsurgical and endovascular treatment of intracranial aneurysms are to prevent subarachnoid hemorrhage and/or eliminate mass effect symptoms. Debate has raged regarding which aneurysms to treat and with which technique or combination of techniques. It is our impression that studies that have assessed aneurysm natural history and treatment options are compromised by the inherent limitations of clinical trials, with many natural history studies likely underestimating rupture risk over long-term follow-up. Endovascular therapy and open neurosurgery should both be used strategically, and our current interest is in integrating these techniques in a fashion extending beyond the simplistic clip-versus-coil debate.

Temporary balloon occlusion during the surgical treatment of giant paraclinoid and vertebrobasilar aneurysms

PURPOSE

We propose the combined neurosurgical-endovascular treatment with the balloon occlusion of parent artery during surgery of giant paraclinoid and vertebrobasilar aneurysms, which are unsuitable for a pure endovascular or surgical approach.

METHODS

Between January 2003 and December 2007, we treated surgically 15 giant aneurysms (11 paraclinoid and four vertebrobasilar) with the combined approach of surgery and endovascular intraoperative technique.

FINDINGS

Complete aneurysm occlusion was achieved in all 15 aneurysms, as confirmed by intraoperative angiographic control. In one paraclinoid aneurysm, a small recurrence became evident 1 year after surgery and needed coil embolisation.

CONCLUSIONS

The temporary balloon occlusion technique is useful and improves the safety of the unavoidable exposure of the parent artery in the surgical treatment of giant paraclinoid and vertebrobasilar aneurysms.

Endovascular retrograde suction decompression as an adjunct to surgical treatment of ophthalmic aneurysms: analysis of risks and clinical outcomes

OBJECTIVE

Endovascular retrograde suction decompression with balloon occlusion of the internal carotid artery is a useful adjunct in the surgical treatment of ophthalmic aneurysms. This technique helps establish proximal control, facilitates intraoperative angiography, and may aid dissection by evacuating blood and softening the aneurysm. Although the technical aspects of this procedure have been described, the published data on its safety are scant. This study analyzed 2 groups of patients who underwent craniotomies for treatment of ophthalmic aneurysms, comparing a group who received suction decompression with a group who did not.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data on 118 craniotomies for ophthalmic aneurysms performed from 1990 to 2005 is presented. A group of 63 patients treated with endovascular suction decompression during surgery is compared with 55 patients who did not undergo this technique.

RESULTS

In our overall analysis of ophthalmic aneurysms, the clinical outcome was statistically related to aneurysm size (P = 0.046). The endovascular suction decompression group in this study had overall larger aneurysms (P < 0.0001) compared with the other group. There was no statistical difference between the 2 groups in rates of complications, stroke, new visual deficit, or death. The clinical outcomes were statistically similar at discharge and at 1 year.

CONCLUSION

Endovascular balloon occlusion and suction decompression did not increase the complication rate in a large cohort of craniotomy patients with ophthalmic aneurysms. This technique may be used to augment surgical capabilities without significantly increasing the operative risk.

Cavernous carotid aneurysms: to treat or not to treat?

Most cavernous carotid aneurysms (CCAs) are considered benign lesions, most often asymptomatic, and to have a natural history with a low risk of life-threatening complications. However, several conditions may exist in which treatment of these aneurysms should be considered. Several options are currently available regarding the management of CCAs with resultant good outcomes, namely expectant management, luminal preservation strategies with or without addressing the aneurysm directly, and Hunterian strategies with or without revascularization procedures. In this article, we discuss the sometimes difficult decision regarding whether to treat CCAs. We consider the natural history of several types of CCAs, the clinical presentation, the current modalities of CCA management and their outcomes to aid in the management of this heterogeneous group of cerebral aneurysms.

RESULTS, OUTCOMES, AND FOLLOW-UP OF REMNANTS IN THE TREATMENT OF OPHTHALMIC ANEURYSMS

OBJECTIVE

Ophthalmic aneurysms present unique challenges to a vascular team. This study reviews the 16-year experience of a multidisciplinary neurovascular service in the treatment, complications, outcomes, and follow-up of patients with ophthalmic aneurysms from 1990 to 2005.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data of 134 patients with 157 ophthalmic aneurysms is presented. Subgroup analysis is performed based on treatment and clinical presentation of the patients.

RESULTS

Clinical outcomes are reported using the Glasgow Outcome Scale. A “good” outcome is defined as a Glasgow Outcome Scale score of 4 or 5, and a “poor” outcome is defined as a Glasgow Outcome Scale score of 1 to 3. Outcome was related to patient age (P = 0.0002) and aneurysm size (P = 0.046). Outcomes for patients with ruptured aneurysms were related to hypertension (P &lt; 0.0001) and clinical admission grade (P = 0.001). In patients with unruptured aneurysms, a good clinical outcome was noted in 103 (92.7%) of 111 patients at discharge and 83 (94.3%) of 88 patients at the time of the 1-year follow-up evaluation. Complete clipping was attained in 89 (79.5%) of 112 patients with angiographic follow-up. Patients with aneurysm remnants from both coiling and clipping had a low risk of regrowth, and there were no rehemorrhages. One of 25 patients with angiographic follow-up (average, 4.3 ± 4.1 years) after “complete” clipping showed recurrence of the aneurysm.

CONCLUSION

Despite the difficulties presented by ophthalmic aneurysms, these lesions can be successfully managed by a multidisciplinary team. Imaging follow-up of patients is important, as there is a risk of aneurysm regrowth after either coiling or clipping.

A new technique allowing prolonged temporary cerebral artery occlusion

OBJECT

Clipping of complex cerebral aneurysms often requires temporary vessel occlusion. The risk of stroke, however, increases exponentially with occlusion time. The authors hypothesized that prolonged temporary occlusion might be tolerated if the occluded vessels were perfused with cold physiological saline solution (CPSS). A low-flow perfusion rate would permit surgical manipulation of an aneurysm distal to the occlusion.

METHODS

To test this hypothesis, the authors temporarily occluded the middle cerebral artery (MCA) with an endovascular catheter in 6 rats. Three animals, the treatment group, were perfused with 5-ml CPSS/hour through the occluding endovascular catheter into the MCA, and the other 3 served as an ischemic control group. In both groups, the catheter was removed after 90 minutes of occlusion. The brain temperature was monitored with a stereotactically placed probe in the caudate-putamen in 2 separate experimental groups (11 animals).

RESULTS

Magnetic resonance imaging perfusion scanning during vessel occlusion confirmed similar reduction of cerebral blood flow during MCA occlusion in both the simple-occlusion and perfusion-occlusion groups. Magnetic resonance imaging diffusion scans performed 24 hours after temporary occlusion revealed infarcts in the ischemic control group of 138.3 +/- 28.0 mm(3) versus 9.9 +/- 9.9 mm(3) in the cold saline group (p < 0.005). A focal cooling effect during perfusion with CPSS was demonstrated (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Prolonged temporary cerebral vessel occlusion can be tolerated using superselective CPSS perfusion through an occluding endovascular catheter into the ischemic territory. This technique could possibly be applied in neurosurgery practice to the management of complex intracranial aneurysms.

Novel Use of an Endovascular Embolectomy Device for Retrograde Suction Decompression-Assisted Clip Ligation of a Large Paraclinoid Aneurysm: Technical Case Report

Objective:

Several different methodologies for proximal occlusion and retrograde suction decompression of large paraclinoid aneurysms have been reported previously. In this article, we describe the novel use of an endovascular embolectomy device (F.A.S.T. funnel catheter; Genesis Medical Interventional, Inc., Redwood City, CA) for temporary internal carotid artery occlusion and suction decompression of an intracranial aneurysm to facilitate surgical clip ligation. The combination of atraumatic occlusion technology and large lumen size makes this technique safer and easier.

Clinical Presentation:

A 53-year-old woman with progressive headaches underwent computed tomographic angiography, which revealed an unruptured large left paraclinoid aneurysm. Cerebral angiography confirmed the diagnosis. The patient did not tolerate a balloon test occlusion for therapeutic Hunterian internal carotid occlusion. The patient was subsequently taken to the operating room for a craniotomy and clip ligation of the aneurysm.

Intervention:

A standard left pterional craniotomy was performed with opening of the sylvian fissure and exposure of the left paraclinoid aneurysm. Intraoperative angiography with introduction of a new endovascular embolectomy device was performed. The device was deployed to achieve temporary occlusion of the cervical internal carotid artery, and aspiration through the central lumen allowed for retrograde suction decompression of the aneurysm. Collapse of the aneurysm through this technique permitted visualization of the aneurysmal neck with successful clip ligation.

Conclusion:

A new endovascular embolectomy device can be used to safely perform suction decompression of large paraclinoid aneurysms to facilitate clip ligation.