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Updated: May 17, 2026
Minimally Invasive Thumb-sized Pterional Craniotomy for Surgical Clip Ligation of Unruptured Anterior Circulation Aneurysms
Published on: August 11, 2015
Unruptured Supraclinoid Internal Carotid Artery Aneurysm Surgery : Superciliary Keyhole Approach versus Pterional
1Department of Neurosurgery, Cardiocerebrovascular Center, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea.
Objective:
A superciliary keyhole approach is an attractive, minimally invasive surgical technique, yet the procedure is limited due to a small cranial opening. Nonetheless, an unruptured supraclinoid internal carotid artery (ICA) aneurysm can be an optimal surgical target of a superciliary approach as it is located in the center of the surgical view and field. Therefore, this study evaluated the feasibility and surgical outcomes of a superciliary keyhole approach for unruptured ICA aneurysms.
Methods:
The authors report on a consecutive series of patients who underwent a superciliary approach for clipping unruptured ICA aneurysms between January 2007 and February 2012. The data were compared with a historical control group who underwent a pterional approach between January 2003 and December 2006.
Results:
In the superciliary group, a total of 71 aneurysms were successfully clipped without a residual sac in 70 patients with a mean age of 57 years (range, 37-75 years). The maximum diameter of the aneurysms ranged from 4 mm to 14 mm (mean±standard deviation, 6.6±2.3 mm). No direct mortality or permanent morbidity was related to the surgery. The superciliary approach demonstrated statistically significant advantages over the pterional approach, including a shorter operative duration (mean, 100 min), no intraoperative blood transfusions, and no postoperative epidural hemorrhages.
Conclusion:
A superciliary keyhole approach provides a sufficient surgical corridor to clip most unruptured supraclinoid ICA aneurysms in a minimally invasive manner.
