Microsurgical Clipping Techniques and Outcomes for Paraclinoid Internal Carotid Artery Aneurysms

Microsurgical clipping of paraclinoid aneurysms presents unique technical challenges because of the anatomical complexity of the paraclinoid region.

To analyze microsurgical clipping techniques, complications, and outcomes associated with paraclinoid aneurysms, with a focus on clip selection and clipping technique according to aneurysm location.

From 1997 to 2016, 231 unruptured paraclinoid aneurysms from 216 patients were treated using microsurgical clipping. We retrospectively reviewed patient records to analyze clinical outcomes.

A total of 80 aneurysms (34.6%) were treated with simple clipping. Among them, fenestrated clips were used with superior hypophyseal artery (SHA) aneurysms, but curved clips were used with most other aneurysms. A total of 151 aneurysms (65.6%) were treated using multiple clips, including tandem clipping for ophthalmic artery (OphA) aneurysms, tandem angled-fenestrated clipping for SHA and ventral carotid aneurysms, stacked clipping for dorsal carotid aneurysms, and various techniques for clinoidal segment/carotid cave aneurysms. Postoperative angiography was performed in 214 aneurysms (92.6%), and complete obliteration was confirmed in 195 aneurysms (91.1%). Using the modified Rankin Scale (mRS), overall functional outcome was good (mRS 0-2) in 99.6% of patients, although 30 cases (13.0%) showed new postoperative visual deficits.

Surgical clipping of paraclinoid aneurysms is an excellent treatment modality with good clinical outcomes and acceptable complication rates, particularly in centers with large experience in the microsurgical management of cerebrovascular disorders. Appropriate clip selection and clipping techniques are required to perform complete and safe clipping.