Far-lateral approach for lower basilar artery aneurysms

Area of Science:

• Neurosurgery
• Vascular Surgery
• Cranial Base Surgery

Background:

• Lower basilar artery aneurysms present significant surgical exposure challenges.
• Conventional cranial base approaches carry substantial risks of morbidity.
• The far-lateral approach is an alternative for accessing the lower basilar artery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of the far-lateral approach without occipital condyle drilling for lower basilar junction aneurysms.
• To assess surgical exposure, complication rates, and patient outcomes using this technique.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of four cases of lower basilar artery aneurysms treated between 1997 and 2001.
• Utilized the far-lateral approach without occipital condyle drilling for aneurysm clipping.
• Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) was used to measure patient outcomes.

Main Results:

• Successful clipping of all four lower basilar artery aneurysms was achieved.
• All patients demonstrated good outcomes, with GOS scores of 5 or 4.
• No cerebrospinal fluid leakage or pseudomeningocele occurred; two patients had transient voice or swallowing difficulties.

Conclusions:

• The far-lateral approach, omitting occipital condyle drilling, provides sufficient exposure for safe and effective clipping of lower basilar artery aneurysms.
• This surgical method is associated with minimal patient morbidity.