Iatrogenic Dural Arteriovenous Fistula after Superficial Temporal Artery to Middle Cerebral Artery Anastomosis: A Case Report / 대한신경손상학회지

Dural arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) are uncommon, representing only 10% to 15% of all intracranial AVFs. Here we present the case of a patient with cerebral infarction who experienced a dural AVF after craniotomy for superficial temporal artery (STA) to middle cerebral artery (MCA) bypass surgery. A 48-year-old man presented with dysarthria and right side hemiparesis. A brain magnetic resonance imaging scan revealed multiple acute infarctions and severe stenosis of the left MCA. Therefore, STA-MCA bypass surgery was performed. A follow-up angiography performed 2 weeks after the surgery showed an abnormal vascular channel from the left middle meningeal artery (MMA) to the middle meningeal vein (MMV) just anterior to the border of the craniotomy margin. This fistula originated from a screw used for cranial fixation. The screw injured the MMA and MMV, and this resulted in the formation of a fistula. The fistula was successfully treated with transarterial embolization. Surgeons should be careful when fixing bones with screws and plates as fistulas can develop if vessels are injured.

Clinical and Angiographic Outcomes of Wide-necked Aneurysms Treated with the Solitaire AB Stent

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the clinical and angiographic outcomes of treatment with stent-assisted coil embolization using the Solitaire AB stents for wide-necked intracranial aneurysms. METHODS: From October 2010 to December 2011, 22 patients with aneurysms were treated with the Solitaire AB stent. One patient with a dissecting aneurysm was excluded, thus 21 patients with 21 wide-necked saccular aneurysms were included in this study. The technical success rate, procedure-related complications, initial and follow-up angiographic results, and clinical outcomes were retrospectively collected. RESULTS: The locations of aneurysms were as follows: paraclinoid in 14, distal internal carotid artery in 4, and vertebral artery in 3 patients. All aneurysms were unruptured and less than 10 mm-sized. The mean dome-to-neck ratio of the aneurysms was 1.00 (range: 0.45-1.81). The mean follow-up duration was 12.1 (7-15) months after the initial procedure. The technical success rate was 21 (95.5%) of 22 patients with aneurysms. Fortunately, there were no procedure-related complications. Follow-up angiography showed that the rate of complete occlusion was 57.1%, neck remnants 38.1%, and incomplete occlusion 4.8%. CONCLUSION: We suggest that using Solitaire AB stent is technically feasible and safe in the stent-assisted coil embolization for wide-necked saccular intracranial aneurysms. To evaluate the long-term effects of this stent, further follow-up angiography is needed.

Clinical and Angiographic Outcomes of Wide-necked Aneurysms Treated with the Solitaire AB Stent

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the clinical and angiographic outcomes of treatment with stent-assisted coil embolization using the Solitaire AB stents for wide-necked intracranial aneurysms. METHODS: From October 2010 to December 2011, 22 patients with aneurysms were treated with the Solitaire AB stent. One patient with a dissecting aneurysm was excluded, thus 21 patients with 21 wide-necked saccular aneurysms were included in this study. The technical success rate, procedure-related complications, initial and follow-up angiographic results, and clinical outcomes were retrospectively collected. RESULTS: The locations of aneurysms were as follows: paraclinoid in 14, distal internal carotid artery in 4, and vertebral artery in 3 patients. All aneurysms were unruptured and less than 10 mm-sized. The mean dome-to-neck ratio of the aneurysms was 1.00 (range: 0.45-1.81). The mean follow-up duration was 12.1 (7-15) months after the initial procedure. The technical success rate was 21 (95.5%) of 22 patients with aneurysms. Fortunately, there were no procedure-related complications. Follow-up angiography showed that the rate of complete occlusion was 57.1%, neck remnants 38.1%, and incomplete occlusion 4.8%. CONCLUSION: We suggest that using Solitaire AB stent is technically feasible and safe in the stent-assisted coil embolization for wide-necked saccular intracranial aneurysms. To evaluate the long-term effects of this stent, further follow-up angiography is needed.

Efficacy of the Disappearance of Lateral Spread Response before and after Microvascular Decompression for Predicting the Long-Term Results of Hemifacial Spasm Over Two Years

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this large prospective study is to assess the association between the disappearance of the lateral spread response (LSR) before and after microvascular decompression (MVD) and clinical long term results over two years following hemifacial spasm (HFS) treatment. METHODS: Continuous intra-operative monitoring during MVD was performed in 244 consecutive patients with HFS. Patients with persistent LSR after decompression (n=22, 9.0%), without LSR from the start of the surgery (n=4, 1.7%), and with re-operation (n=15, 6.1%) and follow-up loss (n=4, 1.7%) were excluded. For the statistical analysis, patients were categorized into two groups according to the disappearance of their LSR before or after MVD. RESULTS: Intra-operatively, the LSR was checked during facial electromyogram monitoring in 199 (81.5%) of the 244 patients. The mean follow-up duration was 40.9+/-6.9 months (range 25-51 months) in all the patients. Among them, the LSR disappeared after the decompression (Group A) in 128 (64.3%) patients; but in the remaining 71 (35.6%) patients, the LSR disappeared before the decompression (Group B). In the post-operative follow-up visits over more than one year, there were significant differences between the clinical outcomes of the two groups (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: It was observed that the long-term clinical outcomes of the intra-operative LSR disappearance before and after MVD were correlated. Thus, this factor may be considered a prognostic factor of HFS after MVD.

Clinical Features and Surgical Results of Distal Anterior Cerebral Artery Aneurysm

OBJECTIVE: Distal anterior cerebral artery(DACA) aneurysms are relatively uncommon, and have special aspects. We discuss clinical features and surgical results of DACA aneurysms with review of literatures. METHODS: Among 725 cases of intracranial aneurysms operated from 1989 to 2001 in our hospital, 38 cases of DACA aneurysms were studied retrospectively. The clinical presentations, neurological findings, operative approaches and outcome were analyzed. RESULTS: The incidence of the DACA aneurysm was 5.2% of total 725 aneurysms. Multiple aneurysms were found in 10 patients. Among the 38 patients, 15 were men and 23 were women. The mean age was 49.8 years. 2 aneurysms were located at frontobasal artery, 5 at the origin of frontopolar artery, 28 at the bifurcation between callosomarginal and pericallosal artery, 3 at the origin of pericallosal artery. 32 patients had good outcomes after surgery. 4 patients remained disabled, and 2 patients died. Postoperative complications were vasospasm, cerebral infarction, intracranial hemorrhage, pneumonia. CONCLUSION: The incidence of DACA aneurysm was relatively rare than other location. We think that unilateral interhemispheric approach is useful for aneurysm in most DACA, and approaches should be chosen according to the location of aneurysm and presence or absence of multiple aneurysms. The Glasgow Outcome Scale score was good in patient with low Hunt & Hess grade preoperatively. And early operation can reduce the rate of rebleeding and improve outcome of DACA aneurysms.