Treatment of Recurrent Intracranial Aneurysms After Neck Clipping: Novel Classification Scheme and Management Strategies.

BACKGROUND: Recurrent aneurysms after initial clipping have been discussed as an important issue in the surgical management of aneurysm. OBJECTIVE: To report our experience with recurrent cerebral aneurysms after neck clipping and to discuss classification and recommended management. METHODS: Aneurysm treatments from a single institution over a 20-year period were retrospectively reviewed. Twenty-three recurrent aneurysms in 23 patients were managed during the study period. Recurrent aneurysms were classified using the concepts of closure line and closure plane, as follows. Type 1: neck situated in an almost different site from the previous clip. Type 2: existing closure plane and reconstructive closure plane are almost the same. Type 3: existing closure plane and reconstructive closure plane cross (type 3a); in rare cases, the existing closure line is sufficiently distant from the neck (type 3b). Type 4: no reconstructive closure line is identifiable. RESULTS: Nine patients presented with subarachnoid hemorrhage at recurrence. The mean interval to recurrence was 15.0 years. Management comprised clipping with elective subsequent old-clip removal (n = 7), clipping with preceding old-clip removal (n = 2), bypass occlusion (n = 1), coating (n = 1), combined surgery (n = 1), endovascular surgery (n = 4), and observation (n = 3). Therapeutic intervention was not indicated in 4 patients. Types 3a and 4 required more complex surgical procedures or coil embolization. Procedural complications were observed in 2 patients. CONCLUSION: A small but definite propensity toward recurrence after neck clipping exists, and most recurrent aneurysms require some form of retreatment. The novel classification scheme may provide conceptual clarity and therapeutic guidance for decision making.

[Contribution of increasing age to carotid plaque morphology and symptoms].

OBJECTIVE: Aging is considered to cause atherosclerotic changes in the carotid artery, but few studies have evaluated this relationship. In this study, we used carotid plaques removed from patients with carotid artery stenosis and investigated how aging contributes to carotid plaque morphology and symptoms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 60 patients(55 men, 5 women; mean age, 70.5 years; range, 53-85 years) treated at our hospital between January 2009 and April 2012 were enrolled in this study. All patients underwent carotid endarterectomy; their carotid plaques were stained with hematoxylin-eosin and/or Elastica-Masson stain and examined by a pathologist. Using these data, the carotid systolic velocity and plaque morphology were analyzed considering the age by decade as well as the symptomatology. RESULTS: Of the 60 patients, 29 were symptomatic(transient ischemic attack (TIA) in 8 patients; infarction in 20;and amaurosis in 1). Symptoms were less common as patient age increased. The incidence of TIA also tended to decrease with an increase in age, although the opposite trend was seen with infarction. In plaque morphology, the presence of active plaque, macrophage, inflammatory infiltration, and capillary angiogenesis decreased as age increased, while the presence of degenerative plaques, decrease in smooth muscle cell number, and calcification inversely increased. Active, degenerative, and combined (active/degenerative) lesions are statistically unrelated to symptoms as well as systolic velocity (cm/sec) at the carotid stenosis. The rates of hemorrhagic lesions were similar among decades, but the lesion statistically contributed to increasing symptoms (p=0.0045) and increasing systolic velocity (p=0.031). CONCLUSION: Increasing age contributes to morphological changes in carotid plaques and symptoms. When hemorrhagic lesions are suspected in carotid plaques, patients will be symptomatic and may require surgery.

[Ruptured aneurysm at the anomalous arterial wall of the distal anterior inferior cerebellar artery: a case report].

Distal anterior inferior cerebellar artery(AICA)aneurysms are rare, so its pathogenesis and treatment remain controversial. Here, we report the unique pathogenesis of a ruptured aneurysm in this area that was based on anomalous components as well as partial dissection of the arterial wall. A 61-year-old woman presented to our hospital with sudden headache and nausea. On admission, neurological examination revealed slight consciousness disturbance. Computed tomography(CT)of the head showed a clotted subarachnoid hemorrhage(SAH)that was dominant in the right cerebellopontine and prepontine cistern. Three-dimensional CT angiography detected an irregular fusiform aneurysm 4.5×3.2mm in size in the distal portion of the AICA. The patient underwent trapping without distal vascular reconstruction by the lateral suboccipital approach. After surgery, she experienced right hearing disturbance and ipsilateral facial palsy that were considered to be caused by vasogenic edema at the cerebellar peduncle that resulted from the initial SAH damage. Pathology revealed an aneurysmal wall with anomalous components and arterial dissection in the arterial wall. To our knowledge, only one article has reported the histological findings of a distal AICA aneurysm. Based on the pathology of this case, these findings may suggest a useful treatment strategy for this rare aneurysm.

A novel technique for ventriculoperitoneal shunting by flat panel detector CT-guided real-time fluoroscopy.

BACKGROUND: Surgical placement of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS) is the main strategy to manage hydrocephalus. However, the failure rate associated with placement of ventricular catheters remains high. METHODS: A hybrid operating room, equipped with a flat-panel detector digital subtraction angiography system containing C-arm cone-beam computed tomography (CB-CT) imaging, has recently been developed and utilized to assist neurosurgical procedures. We have developed a novel technique using intraoperative fluoroscopy and a C-arm CB-CT system to facilitate accurate placement of a VPS. RESULTS: Using this novel technique, 39 consecutive ventricular catheters were placed accurately, and no ventricular catheter failures were experienced during the follow-up period. Only two patients experienced obstruction of the VPS, both of which occurred in the extracranial portion of the shunt system. CONCLUSION: Surgical placement of a VPS assisted by flat panel detector CT-guided real-time fluoroscopy enabled accurate placement of ventricular catheters and was associated with a decreased need for shunt revision.

[Remote cerebellar hemorrhage after single burr hole drainage of chronic subdural hematoma of the elderly].

Remote cerebellar hemorrhage is a usual complication after supratentorial craniotomy. Especially, only several cases have been reported regarding the occurrence of remote cerebellar hemorrhage after burr hole drainage for the treatment of chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH). In this paper, we present an elder patient with this rare postoperative complication. A 73-year-old man presented with dysarthria and right hemiparesis. Computed tomography (CT) demonstrated a left chronic subdural hematoma. Hematoma drainage through a single burr hole was perfomed. About 3 hours after the surgery, the patient became restless and presented nausea and dizziness with a relatively large amount of drainage of hematoma. CT revealed resolution of the subdural hematoma and bilateral cerebellar hemorrhage appearing as "zebra sign". Magnetic resonance angiography and 3D-CT angiography showed the normal structure of posterior circulation in both the arterial and venous phases. The remote cerebellar hemorrhage was suspected to have happened as a result of overdrainage of hematoma. Finally, he was discharged without any neurological deficits. Although remote cerebellar hemorrhage after drainage through a burr hole for the treatment of chronic subdural hematoma is a rare complication, it is necessary to be aware of the possibility of such a complication after supratentorial surgery.

[CSF leakage and anosmia in aneurysm clipping of anterior communicating artery by basal interhemispheric approach].

We studied the incidence of postoperative infection related to CSF leakage and anosmia in basal interhemispheric approach (BIH). Between April, 1990 to March, 2009, 142 cases of anterior communicating (Acom) aneurysm including both unruptured and ruptured have been treated by clipping surgery using BIH. We retrospectively obtained clinical informations from medical records and video records about infectious complications, CSF leakage of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), olfactory dysfunction and intraoperative findings of damage to the olfactory nerve. In most cases (139 patients, 97%), frontal sinus were opened at craniotomy. Of all, CSF rinorrhea occurred in 4 cases (2.8%), and meningitis in 6 cases. There was only one patient who sufferd from meningitis due to CSF rinorrhea. All that patients recovered completely without deficit. Anosmia occurred in 6 cases (4.2%), and intraoperative injuries in 4 cases (2.8%). There was only one patient in whom anosmia was consistent with nerve injury. In conclusion, BIH is an appropriate procedure for infection risk control in Acom aneurysm surgery. It is difficult to avoid olfactory dysfunction completely, even if olfactory nerves are preserved in form.

[Cerebral complications induced by neurotoxity of nonionic contrast medium after embolization of unruptured cerebral aneurysms: report of 2 cases].

We successfully performed endovascular coil embolization for 2 patients with unruptured saccular aneurysms. However, transient cortical blindness and generalized seizure associated with CNS neurotoxity of contrast medium were noted for each patient after the procedure. In the first case of a 62-year-old woman with a right BA-SCA aneurysm, she complained of blindness with restlessness one day after the intervention but no evidence of embolism on MRA. Abnormal EEG with slow, large amplitudes and 99mTc-HMPAO SPECT-evidenced hyperperfusion were observed in the occipital area. Accompanied by resolution of the edematous changes on MRI in conjunction with normalization of EEG and rCBF by anticonvulsant administration, her visual acuity completely recovered 8 days after the onset. According to these findings, we considered this case as transient cortical blindness. In the second case of a 68-year-old man with a left MCA aneurysm, he exhibited generalized seizure 8 hours after the procedure. CT scan revealed retention of the contrast medium over the left hemisphere. Postictal EEG one day after the seizure showed left frontal slowing but had no evidence of contrast medium retention or hyperperfusion. He recovered well with corticosteroid, anticonvulsant, and intravenous hydration. His follow-up DSA 2 years after the coiling was performed without trouble by reducing the amount/concentration of the contrast medium and by prophylactic steroid and hydration. Non-ionic contrast medium-related neurotoxity as represented by transient cortical blindness or generalized seizure should be recognized as a possible complication of endovascular surgery where patients' brain areas are locally vulnerable to contrast medium exposure.

[Is hyperdynamic therapy possible for elderly patients with vasospasm following subarachnoid hemorrhage?].

BACKGROUND: Recently we have an increased number of elderly patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) to be treated. Elderly patients are expected to have a worse cardiac function than that of younger patients. A question arises whether management for elderly patients in the vasospasm period can be performed as safely as it is for younger patients. The aim of this study is to examine the cardiac function of the elderly patients (> or =75 y.o.) with SAH correlated with various complications in the vasospasm period. MATERIALS: We retrospectively analyzed consecutive 356 patients with SAH encountered in our institute since 2000 to 2006. Seventy-three patients (20.5% of all) are 75 or more than 75-year-old. Their mean age is 80.4 +/- 4.43 (16 male, 57 female). Cardiac function was examined by trans-thoracic echocardiography (CTE) in 40 patients (54.8%). RESULT: Average value of their ejection fraction (EF) and rates of perioperative complications were not so different from those of the younger patients. But among patients of > or =75 y.o., certain patients in whom EF was under 0.6 significantly have experienced cardiopulmonary complications and longer hospitalization. In a multiple logistic analyses, only EF is significantly related with cardiopulmonary complications (P = 0.013). CONCLUSIONS: Among elderly SAH patients > or =75 year of age, some have experienced more cardiopulmonary complications than younger patients and have needed longer hospitalization. For such patients hyperdynamic therapy must be carefully carried out. TTE is effective to predispose and help eliminate their cardiopulmonary complications in the pre- and postoperative period.

[Elderly patient with cerebellar malignant astrocytoma].

Malignant cerebellar astrocytoma is very rare and the prognosis is extremely poor. We report herein the case of an elderly patient with malignant cerebellar astrocytoma. This 80-year-old man initially presented with dizziness and ataxia of the right hand. Metastatic cerebellar tumor was diagnosed on first admission, based on a past history of colon cancer treated by surgery and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings supporting the diagnosis of metastasis. The patient underwent gamma knife surgery (20 Gy) and was discharged. Follow-up after discharge was insufficient. Two years after gamma knife surgery, he returned to our hospital complaining of dizziness, headache, and right limb ataxia. MRI revealed a cystic mass in the right cerebellar hemisphere, and the lesion was removed by right suboccipital craniotomy. The tumor represented malignant astrocytoma. Optimal management of patients harboring sush difficult. to-treat tumors, including the role of gamma-knife radiosurgery, is discussed.