Growth of basilar artery aneurysm after ventriculo-peritoneal shunt

Review of current treatment modalities and clinical outcome of giant saccular aneurysms of the basilar apex

Introduction

Giant aneurysms of the basilar apex represent formidable challenges as the high rupture rate of untreated lesions must be balanced against the technical complexity and potential morbidity of intervention.

Research question

Review of treatment modalities and outcomes of patients harboring giant (>2.5 cm) basilar apex saccular aneurysms, in an effort to refine treatment decision-making.

Material and methods

A systematic literature review through the PubMed and Scopus databases was performed according to the PRISMA guidelines to identify cases of giant basilar apex saccular aneurysms treated either microsurgically or endovascularly. Patients' demographics, aneurysm size, preoperative and postoperative neurologic status, angiographic and clinical outcomes as well as follow-up information were obtained.

Results

Data from 32 studies fulfilling the inclusion criteria, including 49 patients (32 treated surgically and 17 endovascularly) was obtained. Mean patient age at presentation was 51.69 years, with a male-to-female ratio of 1:2. Mean maximum aneurysm diameter was 30.57 mm. A favorable outcome (mRS 0-2) was reported on 70.6% of endovascular and 56.3% of open surgical cases. Complete aneurysm occlusion was achieved in 55.6% of the open and 23.5% of the endovascular cases. Death rate was 33% for endovascular and 15.6% for open cases; the higher mortality of endovascular treatment is mainly attributed to the mass effect from continued brainstem compression after treatment.

Discussion and conclusion

Higher rates of complete occlusion but higher morbidity are associated with microsurgery compared to endovascular modalities. Severe, clinically apparent brainstem mass effect may require decompression associated with microsurgery, when technically feasible.

Treatment strategy for giant thrombosed aneurysm of the basilar artery with associated obstructive hydrocephalus

Background

There is no established adequate treatment for thrombosed aneurysm of the basilar artery with obstructive hydrocephalus. We conducted coil embolization and peritoneal shunting followed by placement of a stent expected to exert flow diversion (FD) effects to treat 2 patients with giant thrombosed aneurysms of the basilar artery with associated obstructive hydrocephalus, with good results.

Methods

From April 2019 to March 2021, consecutive two cases of symptomatic hydrocephalus due to giant thrombosed aneurysms in the posterior cranial fossa at our hospital were treated. At first, coil embolization was performed to prevent aneurysm rupture. After coil embolization, ventriculoperitoneal shunting was performed. Finally, stent-assisted coil embolization was performed with flow re-direction endoluminal device (FRED) or low-profile visualized intraluminal support device (LVIS) stent.

Results

Both patients were discharged after recovering well, with no postoperative hemorrhagic or ischemic complications.

Conclusion

Staged surgery using a FRED for flow diverter or an LVIS stent expected to have FD effects may offer an effective treatment option.

Trans-lateral ventricular approach for surgical treatment of a high located basilar apex aneurysm: report of a rare presentation of the disease and surgical technique

Surgical management of basilar apex aneurysms is considered among the most technically challenging procedures and high located basilar apex makes the procedure more challenging. Pterional trans-sylvian (with or without orbitozygomatic extension) and subtemporal are the most commonly used approaches, however, it is sometimes difficult or impossible to access a high-positioned aneurysm of basilar bifurcation without excessive retraction of brain and neurovascular structures. We are reporting a 65-year-old woman presented with chronic hydrocephalus secondary to a high-located basilar apex aneurysm surgically clipped through trans-frontal trans-ventricular trans-choroidal approach. We described anatomical details for selecting this approach and surgical steps during the procedure.

Giant Basilar Artery Aneurysm Involving the Origin of Bilateral Posterior Cerebral and Superior Cerebellar Arteries: Neck Reconstruction with pCONus-Assisted Coiling

Giant aneurysms of the basilar artery are rare and are frequently associated with obstructive hydrocephalus and brainstem compression. Treatment still remains a challenge both for neurosurgeons and for interventional neuroradiologists. Cases reported in the literature are anecdotal and, overall, their outcomes are poor. We present the case of a patient with a giant aneurysm of the basilar artery tip, involving the origin of both the posterior cerebral and superior cerebellar arteries, who underwent coiling and ventriculoperitoneal shunting for associated obstructive hydrocephalus. A pCONus ® stent (Phenox; Bochum, Germany) was detached with its petals opened over the ostia of the parent vessels, with the aim being to reconstruct the neck of the aneurysm and to preserve the flow in the parent vessel. Moreover, the presence of the stent was useful to maintain the coils within the dome of the aneurysm. The pCONus is a new neurovascular device that is also useful for treating cases of complex basilar artery aneurysms when the ostia of the parent vessel origin is at the level of the aneurysm neck.

Posterior Fossa Craniectomy with Endovascular Therapy of Giant Fusiform Basilar Artery Aneurysms: A New Approach to Consider?

BACKGROUND

The prognosis of unruptured giant basilar artery (BA) aneurysms is very poor. No treatment has shown efficacy in survival. This pilot case-control study examines the overall survival (OS) benefit of combined surgical and endovascular management of giant BA aneurysms.

METHODS

Combined treatment including posterior fossa craniectomy followed by endovascular treatment was performed in 3 patients with giant BA aneurysms. OS of the 3 patients was compared with a control group of 6 patients (ratio 1:2) treated with the endovascular procedure only.

RESULTS

The mean survival time was 32.6 months in the craniectomy group (SD 9.01, 95% confidence interval [14.9, 50.3]) and 3.5 months in the control group (SD = 2.08, 95% confidence interval [0.001, 7.6]; Mantel-Cox test P < 0.04). At mean follow-up of 36.5 months (SD 10.2), 2 of 3 patients had a favorable outcome with a Glasgow Outcome Scale score of 5. Univariate analysis determined that women had a statistically higher OS than men (33.7 months vs. 3.058 months for men; log-rank test P = 0.011). A similar outcome was obtained in the presence of a circulating posterior communicating artery (P = 0.03) and in the presence of an endovascular right vertebral artery occlusion (P = 0.022).

CONCLUSIONS

Our study suggests that preventive posterior fossa craniectomy increases significantly OS of patients with giant BA aneurysms.

Research progress on vertebrobasilar dolichoectasia

Vertebrobasilar dolichoectasia (VBD) is a rare disease characterized by significant expansion, elongation, and tortuosity of the vertebrobasilar arteries. Current data regarding VBD are very limited. Here we systematically review VBD incidence, etiology, characteristics, clinical manifestations, treatment strategies, and prognosis. The exact incidence rate of VBD remains unclear, but is estimated to be 1.3% of the population. The occurrence of VBD is thought to be due to the cooperation of multiple factors, including congenital factors, infections and immune status, and degenerative diseases. The VBD clinical manifestations are complex with ischemic stroke as the most common, followed by progressive compression of cranial nerves and the brain stem, cerebral hemorrhage, and hydrocephalus. Treatment of VBD remains difficult. Currently, there are no precise and effective treatments, and available treatments mainly target the complications of VBD. With the development of stent technology, however, it may become an effective treatment for VBD.

Combined endovascular and surgical treatment of fusiform aneurysms of the basilar artery: technical note

BACKGROUND

To present the combined treatment of fusiform basilar artery aneurysms consisting of a surgical posterior fossa decompressive craniectomy and ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt operation at the same sitting, before the endovascular procedure with telescopic stenting of the aneurysmatic vessel segment in four cases.

METHODS

Combined treatment involving surgical procedure consisting of ventriculoperitoneal shunt placement for hydrocephalus and an occipital bone craniectomy and C1 vertebrae posterior laminectomy to decompress the posterior fossa in the same session. After surgery, the patients were loaded with acetylsalicylic acid and clopidogrel, and then the endovascular treatment was performed.

RESULTS

All of the procedures were performed successfully without technical difficulty. The patients tolerated the procedures well and all cases showed remodelling with the overlapping stent technique. The patients were discharged home with baseline neurological situation and computed tomography (CT) angiography was performed at the 3rd month.

CONCLUSION

This technique is a safer endovascular approach to treating symptomatic fusiform basilar artery aneurysms by protecting patients from both the haemorrhagic complications of anticoagulant therapy and thrombotic complications due to the interruption of anticoagulant therapy, while treating the hydrocephalus and compression by surgical means.

Basilar apex aneurysm manifesting as third ventricular mass and obstructive hydrocephalus--case report--

A 58-year-old male, with a past history of hypertensive thalamic hemorrhage 12 years before, presented with gradually exaggerating gait disturbance, memory disturbance, and urinary incontinence. On admission, he had gait disturbance represented by petit pas and anteropulsion in addition to significant recent memory disturbance. Cranial computed tomography (CT) revealed a hyperdense mass in the third ventricle with triventricular dilation. Cerebral magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and MR angiography identified the third ventricular lesion as saccular basilar apex aneurysm. No other intracranial abnormal intensity contributing to his clinical symptoms was recognized. Cervical MR angiography showed normal findings. Cerebral blood flow (CBF) measurements revealed diffuse CBF reduction in the cerebral hemisphere. The patient underwent coil embolization which accomplished complete aneurysm occlusion. He showed only slight improvement in his gait disturbance after embolization, and CT following embolization revealed persistent ventriculomegaly. Ventriculoperitoneal shunting was carried out. Intraoperative neuroendoscopy demonstrated cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) obstruction caused by the embolized aneurysm at the level of the third ventricle, with normal CSF findings. Postoperatively his gait disturbance and intellectual impairment showed remarkable improvement. Basilar apex aneurysm associated with obstructive hydrocephalus has complex underlying pathology and should be treated by a combination of definitive aneurysm obliteration and CSF diversion.

Successful treatment of a thrombosed posterior cerebral artery aneurysm causing obstructive hydrocephalus

The authors report a 49-year-old man who presented with obstructive hydrocephalus caused by a thrombosed posterior cerebral artery aneurysm. He underwent an endoscopic third ventriculostomy for the obstructive hydrocephalus followed by endovascular occlusion for the aneurysm. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a thrombosed posterior cerebral artery aneurysm presenting with obstructive hydrocephalus treated by the combination of endoscopic and endovascular techniques.

Pericallosal artery pseudoaneurysm secondary to endoscopic-assisted ventriculoperitoneal shunt placement. Case report

Complications following cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) diversion procedures are protean. The formation of pseudoaneurysms after the placement of a ventricular catheter as part of a CSF diversion procedure is presumably quite rare. The authors report the case of a child in whom a pericallosal artery pseudoaneurysm developed following the endoscopic insertion of a ventricular catheter as part of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt placement procedure. Significant intraventricular bleeding signaled vascular injury. Angiography revealed a right pericallosal artery pseudoaneurysm. The patient subsequently underwent surgical trapping of his pseudoaneurysm and physical therapy for left leg monoparesis. This appears to be the first reported case of pseudoaneurysm formation following the placement of a ventricular catheter for a CSF diversion procedure. This case underlines a rare but serious risk involved with the routine placement of CSF shunts.

Aneurysm growth after brain tumor removal: case report

A rare case of rapid growth of an aneurysm after a posterior fossa meningioma removal in a 69-year-old lady is reported. Serial angiography, cerebral computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging are presented. The patient harbored risk factors to both aneurysm formation and growth as current cigarette smoking, arterial hypertension, female sex and reduction of intracranial hypertension. One-year follow up after the first surgical procedure is presented.