Prospective factors of temporary arterial occlusion during anterior communicating artery aneurysm repair

This study was undertaken to determine variables that could predict, in the perioperative period of anterior communicating artery (ACom) aneurysms surgeries, the likelihood of postoperative sequelae and complications, after temporary arterial occlusion (TAO).

In a universe of 32 patients submitted to ACom aneurysm repair in the last 7 years, 21 needed TAO intraoperatively, and had their data examined retrospectively.

Aneurysms larger than 7 mm were more likely to be treated with longer TAO time than small aneurysms, (p < 0.0001). There was no statistical correlation between time of occlusion and outcome. Age, Glasgow Coma Scale at initial evaluation, and Fisher scale at first CT scanning were independent factors of unfavorable outcome (p < 0.001). Meanwhile gender, tobacco addiction, obesity, arterial hypertension, dyslipidemia, location of TAO (A1 or A2), intraoperative rupture (IR) and the aneurysm size were not identified as independent prognostic factors.During follow-up period, two thirds of the patients had a favorable outcome, accomplishing normal daily life activities without major complications. Most patients developed clinical vasospasm (66.6 %), with 19 % of the patients harboring a severe disease. Delayed ischemic neurological deficit was observed in 28.5 %, without any statistical correlation to time of TAO or IR.

TAO during ACom aneurysm repair does not seem to add more morbidities to the procedure, and is not an independent prognostic factor.