Superciliary Keyhole Approach for Unruptured Anterior Circulation Aneurysms: Surgical Technique,Indications, and Contraindications

Neurosurgeons have been trying to reduce surgical invasiveness by applying minimally invasive keyhole approaches. Therefore, this paper clarifies the detailed surgical technique, its limitations, proper indications, and contraindications for a superciliary keyhole approach as a minimally invasive modification of a pterional approach. Successful superciliary keyhole surgery for unruptured aneurysms requires an understanding of the limitations and the use of special surgical techniques. Essentially, this means the effective selection of surgical indications, usage of the appropriate surgical instruments with a tubular shaft, and refined surgical techniques, including straightforward access to the aneurysm, clean surgical dissection, and the application of clips with an appropriate configuration. A superciliary keyhole approach allows unruptured anterior circulation aneurysms to be clipped safely, rapidly, and less invasively on the basis of appropriate surgical indications.     

Extracranial Internal Carotid Artery Occlusion: The Role of Common Carotid Artery Volume Flow

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Quantitative measurement of blood flow volume in the common carotid artery (CCA) is now possible using the color velocity imaging quantification (CVI-Q) ultrasound technique. The aim of this study was to evaluate the cerebral hemodynamic effects of unilateral internal carotid artery (ICA) occlusion on CCA blood flow volumes (FVs) using CVI-Q. METHODS: Records of ultrasound studies in our neurosonology laboratory were retrospectively reviewed to identify patients with unilateral ICA occlusions who at a minimum received both a routine color duplex carotid ultrasound examination and quantitative measurement of FV in the CCA, bilaterally, using the CVI-Q method. A total of 71 patients met criteria and were included in the cohort. A side to side comparison was performed for FV, peak systolic velocities (PSV), end-diastolic velocities (EDV), and resistance indices (RIs) in the CCA. Results correlated with any other available data such as flow direction in the ophthalmic artery and the presence of intracranial collateralization. RESULTS: The FV, PSV, and EDV were significantly reduced, and the RI was significantly increased in the CCA on the side of the occlusion. A subgroup analysis in patients who also had an examination of the ophthalmic (n = 61) and the intracranial arteries of the Circle of Willis (n = 50), showed significantly higher FV in the CCA on the side of the occlusion if there was also reversed flow in the ophthalmic artery on the side of the occlusion (344 +/- 144 ml/min versus 169 +/- 53 ml/min). CONCLUSION: Quantitative FV measurement using CVI-Q ultrasound can identify clear alterations in volume flow, collateral pathways, and cerebral hemodynamics in patients with unilateral ICA occlusion. It is a complementary tool, providing additional objective information about the cerebral hemodynamic effects of ICA occlusion that goes beyond what is available using routine flow velocity data.     

眶上锁孔入路手术治疗前交通动脉动脉瘤

目的：探讨前交通动脉（ACoA）动脉瘤经眶上锁孔入路手术夹闭的手术技术、安全性和相对适应证。方法：总结27例经眉弓眶上锁孔入路手术治疗的ACoA动脉瘤临床资料，着重阐述手术方法、术中动脉瘤破裂处理及手术适应证。结果：27例动脉瘤全部一次手术夹闭成功，但其中有5例术中动脉瘤破裂，3例合并脑积水者行脑室一腹腔分流术，1例死亡。27例患者均未出现手术入路相关并发症。19例数字减影血管造影或CT血管造影随访显示夹闭良好。结论：眶上锁孔入路显微外科手术是治疗ACoA动脉瘤的一种有效、安全的微创方法。     

Aberrant Ascending Pharyngeal Artery Mimicking a Partially Occluded Internal Carotid Artery

Doppler sonography has become a primary imaging modality for the diagnosis of carotid arterial stenosis. Carotid stenting for a severely stenotic but not completely occluded carotid artery is becoming an alternative to carotid endarterectomy in selected groups of patients. The authors discuss a case of complete occlusion of the internal carotid artery associated with an ipsilateral aberrant ascending pharyngeal artery originating from the proximal internal carotid artery, which mimicked a stenotic internal carotid artery on sonography. Meticulous Doppler sonographic examination may provide clues for this extraordinary condition, yet angiography is indicated for a definite diagnosis.     

颅内外动脉狭窄合并颅内无症状动脉瘤的血管内治疗策略研究

目的 探索颅内外动脉狭窄合并颅内无症状动脉瘤的安全和有效的血管内治疗策略。 方法 回顾性分析北京天坛医院急诊介入科2012年9月～2013年8月收住的因颅内外动脉狭窄拟行支 架治疗且合并颅内无症状动脉瘤的患者26例。对其临床、影像学资料、治疗措施及结果、并发症及预 后等进行分析。 结果 26例患者共发现≥70%的狭窄或闭塞病变54处,动脉瘤30枚（非同流域16枚,狭窄后7枚,狭窄 处3枚,狭窄前4枚）。26例患者中21例实施了狭窄病变的支架置入术,共干预25个狭窄/闭塞病变,技 术成功率100%。选择个体化的动脉瘤干预措施：16例患者的17枚动脉瘤（非同流域、直径＜5 mm、 夹层）建议随访观察;2例患者的2枚动脉瘤（直径＞5 mm、形状不规则）择期行栓塞术;5例患者的 6枚动脉瘤（狭窄后、狭窄处、多发性、直径＞5 mm、后交通段）同期行栓塞术或支架覆盖;3例患者 的5枚动脉瘤（狭窄后、分叶状、多发性、直径＞5 mm）建议介入治疗但因家属拒绝手术等原因选择随 访观察。术后发生脑室出血1例。临床随访10～21个月,所有患者均预后良好,仅发现无症状性支架内 再狭窄1例。 结论 颅内外动脉狭窄合并颅内无症状动脉瘤时根据动脉瘤与狭窄病变的位置关系,动脉瘤大小、 形态、位置、数量和患者情况等综合分析后给予个体化血管内治疗安全、有效。     

Internal Carotid Artery Floating Thrombus in Relapsing Polychondritis

Relapsing polychondritis is a rare autoimmune disease characterized by inflammation of cartilaginous tissues. It may be associated with systemic and cerebral vasculitis and exceptionally with ischemic stroke. Brain infarction associated with internal carotid artery thrombus, in a setting of relapsing polychondritis, has never been reported. We present a 52‐year‐old man without any known risk factors for stroke, treated with prednisone and azathioprine for relapsing polychondritis, who presented a minor left hemisphere stroke. Ultrasound of the neck vessels revealed an isoechogenic thrombus in the left internal carotid artery superimposed on a smooth moderately stenosing isoechogenic atheroma of the carotid bulb. The patient was treated with high‐dose tinzaparin and was followed with serial ultrasound. After 16 days, the thrombus demonstrated a hypoechogenic core surrounded by a hyperechogenic rim and the following day it resolved completely. Thrombus formation on a small unruptured plaque may reflect involvement by relapsing polychondritis of the intimal proteoglycans that hold a role in the development of atheromatosis.     

Anterior Choroidal Artery Aneurysm Surgery: Ischemic Complications and Clinical Outcomes Revisited

Objective

Surgical results for anterior choroidal artery (AChA) aneurysms have previously been reported as unsatisfactory due to inadvertent occlusion of the AChA, while the low incidence of AChA aneurysms hampers the accumulation of surgical experience. The authors reviewed their related surgical experience to document the ischemic complications and surgical outcomes.

Methods

Identification of the AChA at its origin by rigorous visual scrutiny, careful microdissection, and meticulous clip placement to avoid the AChA origin are all crucial surgical maneuvers. A retrospective review of a surgical series of 62 consecutive cases of an AChA aneurysm between 2004 and 2012 was performed.

Results

All patients, except for five (8.1%) with a small residual neck, showed complete aneurysm obliteration in postoperative angiographic evaluations. There was no incidence of procedure-related permanent AChA syndrome or oculomotor nerve palsy, while three (4.8%) patients suffered from transient AChA syndrome. The clinical outcomes [the 3-month modified Rankin Scale (mRS)] of the patients were related to their preoperative World Federation of Neurologic Surgeons (WFNS) grade. As regards the 3-month mRS, significant differences were found between patients with an unruptured aneurysm (WFNS grade 0; n=20), good-grade subarachnoid hemorrhage (WFNS grade 1-3; n=30), and poor-grade subarachnoid hemorrhage (WFNS grade 4-5; n=4).

Conclusion

In surgical treatment of AChA aneurysms, a risk of AChA insufficiency can be minimized by taking every precaution to preserve the AChA patency and intraoperative monitoring. In addition, the surgical outcome is primarily determined by the preoperative clinical state.     

Ideal Internal Carotid Artery Trapping Technique without Bypass in a Patient with Insufficient Collateral Flow

Internal carotid artery (ICA) trapping can be used for treating intracranial giant aneurysm, blood blister-like aneurysms and ICA rupture during the surgery. We present a novel ICA trapping technique which can be used with insufficient collaterals flow via anterior communicating artery (AcoA) and posterior communicating artery (PcoA). A patient was admitted with severe headache and the cerebral angiography demonstrated a typical blood blister-like aneurysm at the contralateral side of PcoA. For trapping the aneurysm, the first clip was placed at the ICA just proximal to the aneurysm whereas the distal clip was placed obliquely proximal to the origin of the PcoA to preserve blood flow from the PcoA to the distal ICA. The patient was completely recovered with good collaterals filling to the right ICA territories via AcoA and PcoA. This technique may be an effective treatment option for trapping the aneurysm, especially when the PcoA preservation is mandatory.     

分期支架治疗颈内动脉次全闭塞伴对侧颈内动脉狭窄的疗效与安全性观察

目的 观察分期支架治疗颈内动脉次全闭塞伴对侧颈内动脉狭窄患者的疗效及安全性。
方法 回顾性分析2017年1-12月在西安交通大学第一附属医院神经内科连续住院的颈内动脉次全
闭塞伴对侧颈内动脉狭窄患者的临床资料。采用分期治疗的方法，一期使用小球囊扩张次全闭塞侧
颈内动脉，间隔2周后进行二期支架置入。观察手术技术成功率，手术成功指一期小球囊扩张后狭窄
率减小，局部无夹层，且二期支架置入位置良好，残余狭窄率≤30%，前向血流mTICI 3级；围手术期
并发症（包括高灌注综合征、脑梗死、TIA等）及死亡情况；随访1个月、3个月、6个月及3年的mRS评分，
以及心脑血管事件和全因死亡。
结果 共纳入7例颈内动脉次全闭塞患者，平均年龄63.0±3.4岁，男性6例；其中6例为左侧，6例合
并对侧颈内动脉狭窄≥50%。手术技术成功率100%（7/7），所有患者均未发生围手术期并发症及死
亡。1个月随访时1例患者mRS评分为1分，其他6例均为0分，其余时间点所有患者均为0分，3年随访时1
例患者于术后1年发生冠心病。
结论 分期支架治疗在颈内动脉次全闭塞伴对侧颈动脉狭窄患者中相对安全，并对颈内动脉狭窄
的改善明显。     

分期支架治疗颈内动脉次全闭塞伴对侧颈内动脉狭窄的疗效与安全性观察

目的 观察分期支架治疗颈内动脉次全闭塞伴对侧颈内动脉狭窄患者的疗效及安全性。方法 回顾性分析2017年1-12月在西安交通大学第一附属医院神经内科连续住院的颈内动脉次全闭塞伴对侧颈内动脉狭窄患者的临床资料。采用分期治疗的方法,一期使用小球囊扩张次全闭塞侧颈内动脉,间隔2周后进行二期支架置入。观察手术技术成功率,手术成功指一期小球囊扩张后狭窄率减小,局部无夹层,且二期支架置入位置良好,残余狭窄率≤30%,前向血流mTICI 3级;围手术期并发症（包括高灌注综合征、脑梗死、TIA等）及死亡情况;随访1个月、3个月、6个月及3年的mRS评分,以及心脑血管事件和全因死亡。结果 共纳入7例颈内动脉次全闭塞患者,平均年龄63.0±3.4岁,男性6例;其中6例为左侧,6例合并对侧颈内动脉狭窄≥50%。手术技术成功率100%（7/7）,所有患者均未发生围手术期并发症及死亡。1个月随访时1例患者mRS评分为1分,其他6例均为0分,其余时间点所有患者均为0分,3年随访时1例患者于术后1年发生冠心病。结论 分期支架治疗在颈内动脉次全闭塞伴对侧颈动脉狭窄患者中相对安全,并对颈内动脉狭窄的改善明显。     

Occlusion of the Internal Carotid Artery due to Intracranial Fungal Infection

In recent years the immunocompromised population has increased rapidly to include people with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), drug abusers, and transplant patients. Accordingly, the incidence of intracranial fungal infection has increased. Our institution experienced 2 cases of internal carotid artery (ICA) occlusion due to invasion of the cavernous sinus by an intracranial fungal infection. The first case was a 60-year-old man who presented with headache, eye pain, conjunctival injection, right-sided diplopia, and blurred vision. Infected tissues within the frontal and ethmoid sinuses were removed via bifrontal craniotomy and endoscopic sinus surgery through the Caldwell Luc approach. The second case was a 63-year-old woman who developed right-sided facial pain after a tooth extraction. The infection was not controlled despite continuous use of antifungal agents, resulting in death from sepsis. We believe that when intracranial fungal infection is suspected in a patient with orbital symptoms and a focal neurologic deficit, immediate angiographic investigation of possible ICA occlusion is warranted. Aggressive treatment with antifungal agents is the only way to improve prognosis.     

Ruptured Internal Carotid Artery Aneurysm Presenting as a Sinonasal Organized Hematoma: Conventional Approach May Endanger Life

Sinonasal organized hematoma (SOH) is an uncommon benign entity with locally aggressive behavior. The conventional approach is complete resection. This approach, however, can cause massive hemorrhage and mortality in our patient due to a ruptured internal carotid artery (ICA) aneurysm hidden inside the SOH. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of a huge SOH with skull base invasion caused by a hidden ICA aneurysm, which usually would not be large enough to result in a sinonasal mass lesion. This case suggests that the possibility of an aneurysm should always be considered if a SOH is suspected, especially when it is huge and close to the ICA. Surgical resection may not be the first therapeutic choice unless the differential cause of a hidden aneurysm can be excluded.     

经海绵窦颅神经与颈内动脉关系的应用解剖研究

目的为海绵窦区手术提供解剖学基础。方法在手术显微镜下对15例(30侧)成人尸头标本海绵窦内颅神经位置、走行及与颈内动脉海绵窦段的毗邻关系进行观测。结果海绵窦入口平面从上到下可见第Ⅲ、Ⅳ颅神经以及第Ⅴ颅神经第1、2分支,颈内动脉在海绵窦内分为5段,第Ⅲ、Ⅳ、Ⅴ1、Ⅵ颅神经在海绵窦内长度分别为(9.33±3.75)m m、(10.59±3.95)m m、(15.45±4.69)m m和(18.12±5.98)m m;滑车神经变异较大;滑车神经下缘与三叉神经眼支下缘组成Parkinson三角是经海绵窦外侧壁入路手术开颅最常用的间隙。结论掌握经海绵窦的颅神经的显微解剖对海绵窦的直接手术具有重要的意义。     

Endovascular Treatment Using Graft-Stent for Pseudoaneurysm of the Cavernous Internal Carotid Artery

A 57-year-old man presented with a 2-day history of left oculomotor palsy. Digital subtraction angiography revealed a pseudoaneurysm of the left cavernous internal carotid artery (ICA) measuring 37×32 mm. The pseudoaneurysm was treated with a balloon expandable graft-stent to occlude the aneurysmal neck and preserve the parent artery. A post-procedure angiogram confirmed normal patency of the ICA and complete sealing of the aneurysmal neck with no opacification of the sac. After the procedure, the oculomotor palsy improved gradually, and had completely resolved 3 months after the procedure. A graft-stent can be an effective treatment for a pseudoaneurysm of the cavernous ICA with preservation of the parent artery.     

Association Between Stroke Severity and 5-Year Mortality in Ischemic Stroke Patients with High-Grade Stenosis of Internal Carotid Artery

Background

The clinical presentations and outcomes of patients with high-grade stenosis of internal carotid artery (ICA) are highly variable. We investigate the influence of different stroke severity on outcomes of ischemic stroke patients with high-grade stenosis of ipsilateral ICA.

无症状性颈动脉狭窄患者不同治疗方式后的临床结局

目的 探讨无症状性颈动脉狭窄（asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis,ACAS）患者药物治疗和介入治疗后的临床结局。      

Internal Carotid Aplasia/Hypoplasia and Intracranial Saccular Aneurysms: Series of Three New Cases and Systematic Review of the Literature

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Abnormal arterial flow dynamics and intracranial collateral pathways can be seen in patients with congenital internal carotid artery (ICA) aplasia or hypoplasia. Here we seek to evaluate whether ICA aplasia/hypoplasia is associated with an increased prevalence of intracranial saccular aneurysm relative to carotid rete mirabile. METHODS: We combined our experience of three cases with 148 previous publications to form a retrospective series including 132 cases of ICA aplasia, 33 cases of ICA hypoplasia, and 34 cases of carotid rete mirabile. RESULTS: After excluding cases lacking angiograms, ICA aplasia/hypoplasia was more commonly associated with aneurysm (45/158, 27.8%) compared with rete mirabile (2/34, 5.9%). A significantly greater overall aneurysm prevalence was seen among ICA aplasia/hypoplasia patients age 30 years or older (38/101, 36.6%) than in younger individuals (7/48, 14.6%). CONCLUSIONS: Intracranial saccular aneurysm is more strongly associated with ICA aplasia/hypoplasia than rete mirabile. An increased aneurysm prevalence among older individuals with ICA aplasia/hypoplasia suggests an acquired etiology. Magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) is recommended in the initial evaluation of ICA aplasia/hypoplasia to evaluate for intracranial saccular aneurysm, particularly after the third decade of life.