Adenosine-Assisted Clipping of Intracranial Aneurysms

Temporary parent vessel clip occlusion in aneurysm surgery is not always practical or feasible. Adenosine-induced transient cardiac arrest may serve as an alternative.

All patients who underwent microsurgical clipping of intracranial aneurysms under adenosine-induced asystole performed by the author between September 2011 and July 2014 were retrospectively reviewed.

A total of 16 craniotomies were performed and 16 aneurysms were clipped under adenosine-induced asystole (in 8 basilar arteries, 7 internal carotid arteries, and 1 middle cerebral artery) in 14 patients (8 females, 6 males). Seven cases were elective and 7 were performed after subarachnoid hemorrhage. The patients' mean age was 54 years (range, 39-70 years). The indications for adenosine use were proximal control in narrow surgical corridors in 11 cases, aneurysm softening in 4 cases, and aneurysm rupture in 1 case. A single dose was used in 12 patients; 2 patients had multiple boluses. The median (range) total dose was 30 (18-60) mg. Adenosine induced bradycardia with concomitant arterial hypotension in all patients and the majority also had asystole for 5-15 s. Transient cardiac arrhythmias were noted in 1 patient (atrial fibrillation in need of electroconversion after two boluses).

Nine clinical scenarios were identified in which adenosine-induced temporary cardiac arrest and deep hypotension was an effective adjunct to temporary clipping during the microsurgical clipping of intracranial aneurysms.