Occipital Artery to Middle Cerebral Artery Bypass Using the Descending Branch of the Lateral Circumflex Femoral Artery as an Interposition Graft for Blood Flow Augmentation in Progressive Moyamoya Disease

BACKGROUND

The superficial temporal artery to middle cerebral artery (MCA) end-to-side anastomosis is the most commonly used direct extracranial-intracranial bypasses type for Moyamoya disease (MMD). In progressive MMD without suitable scalp arteries, other bypass constructs may need to be considered to augment blood flow.

CASE DESCRIPTION

We present the exceptional case of a 48-year-old woman with progressive MMD and repeated transient ischemic attacks originating from the right hemisphere despite previous bilateral bypasses. We used the descending branch of the lateral circumflex femoral artery as an interposition graft for an occipital artery to M4 MCA bypass with 2 end-to-side anastomoses to augment blood flow. The ipsilateral occipital artery had already formed bilateral transdural collaterals; the goal was to preserve its supply while using the artery as a donor for an interposition graft. Access to the Sylvian fissure was limited because of the previous superficial temporal artery to MCA bypass with an extensive superficial collateral network necessitating preservation. The posterior aspect of the Sylvian fissure was targeted to revascularize the posterior frontal and parietal region using an interposition graft matching the vessel size of a distal MCA vessel segment. Surgery was technically successful, without complications, and the patient recovered without new neurologic deficits. The bypass graft was patent on postoperative computed tomographic angiography and transcranioplasty ultrasound.

CONCLUSIONS

This case illustrates the need for creative bypass constructs in progressive MMD patients with multiple prior surgeries. Two surgical goals are paramount: flow augmentation with preservation of the existing collateral network to avoid complications and new deficits.

[Application of the descending branch of the lateral circumflex femoral artery in the coronary artery bypass grafting operation]

Objective: To investigate the technical method for harvesting and application of the descending branch of the lateral circumflex femoral artery (DBLCFA) in the coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) operation. Methods: Between December 2016 and April 2017, 19 patients were arranged to use DBLCFA and got CT angiography (CTA) of pelvic and femoral arteries pre-operative at Fuwai Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College. Finally, DBLCFA was harvested in 16 patients (including 2 female patients, with a mean age of (47.4±8.5) years) through the anterior thigh incision (13 cases on the left side, 3 cases on the right side). The CABG operations were performed under the cardiopulmonary bypass support (in 10 cases) or under the beating heart condition (in 6 cases), and the DBLCFA conduit was used combining with bilateral internal thoracic artery (in 12 cases), radial artery (in 7 cases) and saphenpous vein (in 3 cases). Results: Due to anatomical variations such as short length and anomalous branch, or due to silent atherosclerosis stenosis of femoral artery, DBLCFA in 3 patients was considered inappropriate for use and was not harvested after CTA examination. In another 16 patients, DBLCFA was safely and quickly harvested and successfully used. On average, 3.4±0.6 anastomosis was built up in CBAG, no adverse effects were exhibited. The length of the harvested DBLCFA was (10.3±1.8) cm, with average lumen diameter of (1.9±0.5) mm. DBLCFA was used as free graft in 15 patients (7 to the first diagonal branch, 6 to the ramus intermedius branch, 1 to the left anterior descending branch and 1 to the second obtuse marginal branch). In 1 patient, the DBLCFA was firstly implanted end-to-side to the internal thoracic artery as a "Y" type composite graft, and then anastomosed to the third obtuse marginal branch. Conclusions: The descending branch of the lateral circumflex femoral artery is an option conduit in CABG. It can be harvested easily and safely. However, pre-operative CTA examination is necessary to exclude the variation and appropriate strategy for graft establishment should be considered during the operation.