Vertebral artery reconstruction using microanastomosis and intraoperative neuromonitoring: a case report from...

Jorge Mura, M.D. performed the microsurgery presented in this report on August 22, 2006 at the Institute of Neurosurgery Asenjo in Santiago, Chile. A highly vascularized tumor was present in the patient's only functional vertebral artery. Intraoperative neuromonitoring was conducted throughout the procedure. Following resection of the tumor and completion of the vertebral artery microanastomosis, somatosensory evoked potentials were improved from baseline potentials. Motor function was stable throughout the procedure. A post-operative computerized tomography (CT) angiogram showed that the reconstructed artery was normal and three times the size of the right vertebral artery. The patient had no post operative deficits. The preliminary result of the biopsy was an angiofibroma.