Aneurysm Clip Compression Technique in the Surgery of Aneurysms with Hard/Calcified Neck

One of the most important technical problems in surgery to repair aneurysms is the presence of a hard/calcified neck. In this situation, various techniques can be used for proper clipping. In addition to well-known techniques, we have used a different technique for more than 10 years. This technique probably also has been used by other neurosurgeons, but we could not find any publications about it in the English literature. Therefore, we would like to report the details of this technique and our own experience.

More than 600 anterior circulation aneurysms were clipped between January 2003 and December 2014. It was necessary to apply this technique in 25 aneurysms because of a hard/calcified neck. This series was reviewed retrospectively. If the hard-calcified plaque at the neck does not allow for full closure of the clip and the known techniques are not sufficient for clipping, we carefully and slowly compress the aneurysm clip itself at the neck with a hemostatic clamp. The hard plaque usually is crushed with this technique, and full closure of the clip is immediately obtained.

Complete occlusion of the neck was achieved in 16 aneurysms (64%) with this technique. Technique-related complication developed as intraoperative rupture of the aneurysm in two patients (8%). However, this complication was managed with other techniques in both cases. No distal thromboembolism developed in any patient.

Our aneurysm clip compression technique may be a viable option in surgery of aneurysms with hard-calcified neck.