Microsurgical Treatment of Posterior Cerebral Circulation Aneurysms Via Keyhole Approaches

To explore the techniques of microsurgical treatment for posterior cerebral circulation aneurysms via keyhole approaches and assess its feasibility.

A total of 27 patients with 28 posterior cerebral circulation aneurysms were treated surgically by keyhole approaches; 24 patients presented with subarachnoid hemorrhage and 3 with headache. Of these 27 patients, 15 patients were treated via the supraorbital keyhole approach, 6 via the retrosigmoid keyhole approach, 3 via the subtemporal keyhole approach, 2 via median suboccipital approach, and 1 via the pterional keyhole approach.

Of the 28 posterior cerebral circulation aneurysms, 24 aneurysms were clipped and 4 trapped; 23 aneurysms clipped completely, and 1 had residual aneurysm. Glasgow Outcome Scores at discharge revealed 25 patients had a good recovery; 1 patient was slightly disabled, and 1 patient was severely disabled. Of 15 patients treated via the supraorbital keyhole approach, to make a wider operative space, drilling of anterior clinoid process (2 patients) and posterior clinoid process (3 patients) was performed; posterior communicating artery was cut off (1 patient). For 3 patients with multiple aneurysms, complete occlusion was achieved via the same approach at one-stage.

Individualized keyhole approaches for posterior cerebral circulation artery aneurysms are safe and effective. The anterior clinoid process or posterior clinoid process could be drilled to offer a wide operative space for clipping. The use of multiple working windows is very helpful for controlling the parent artery and clipping the aneurysm.