Trends over time in the management of 2253 patients with cerebral aneurysms: A single practice experience

Surgical and Endovascular Treatment of Saccular Posterior Inferior Cerebellar Artery Aneurysms: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

OBJECTIVE

The optimal treatment modality for saccular aneurysms of the posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) remains unclear. A previous meta-analysis on the topic included a heterogenous study population, limiting the conclusions that can be drawn from its results. The aim of this study was to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to compare outcomes of microsurgical and endovascular treatment (EVT) of these aneurysms.

METHODS

A search of 4 online databases was performed for studies describing the management of saccular PICA aneurysms. The primary outcome was complete aneurysm occlusion. Data were also collected on neurologic outcomes, cranial nerve palsies, and requirement for re-treatment. A random effects model was used for calculation of pooled proportions. Our protocol was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42021232784).

RESULTS

A total of 17 studies were included in the final analysis, reporting the treatment outcomes of 455 aneurysms, with a mean follow-up of 20 months. The pooled occlusion rates were 94.8% (95% confidence interval [CI] 90.6%-97.8%) for surgical treatment and 69.1% (95% CI 55.0%-81.7%) for EVT. Pooled rates of good neurologic outcome (modified Rankin scale score ≤2, Glasgow Outcome Scale score ≥4) at last follow-up were 78.1% (95% CI 67.4%-87.1%) for surgery and 77.6% (95% CI 67.9%-86.0%) for EVT.

CONCLUSIONS

This meta-analysis demonstrates that in the treatment of saccular PICA aneurysms, microsurgical clipping results in superior angiographic outcomes, similar functional outcomes, but higher rates of lower cranial nerve palsy compared with EVT. Further studies are required to assess the duration and severity of cranial nerve palsies following surgical treatment, and long-term aneurysm occlusion and the requirement for re-intervention following EVT.

Aging Patient Population With Ruptured Aneurysms: Trend Over 28 Years

BACKGROUND

Given increasing life expectancy in the United States and worldwide, the proportion of elderly patients affected by aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) would be expected to increase.

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether an aging trend exists in the population of aSAH patients presenting to our institution over a 28-yr period.

METHODS

A prospectively maintained database of consecutive patients presenting to our institution with subarachnoid hemorrhage between January 1991 and December 2018 was utilized. The 28-yr period was categorized into 4 successive 7-yr quarter intervals. The age of patients was compared among these intervals, and yearly trends were derived using linear regression.

RESULTS

The cohort consisted of 1671 ruptured aneurysm patients with a mean age of 52.8 yr (standard deviation = 15.0 yr). Over the progressive 7-yr time intervals during the 28-yr period, there was an approximately 4-fold increase in the proportion of patients aged 80 yr or above (P < .001) and an increase in mean patient age from 51.2 to 54.6 yr (P = .002). Independent of this trend but along the same lines, there was a 29% decrease in the proportion of younger patients (<50 yr) from 49% to 35%. On linear regression, there was 1-yr increase in mean patient age per 5 calendar years (P < .001).

CONCLUSION

Analyses of aSAH patients demonstrate an increase in patient age over time with a considerable rise in the proportion of octogenarian patients and a decrease in patients younger than 50 yr. This aging phenomenon presents a challenge to the continued improvement in outcomes of aSAH patients.

Supraorbital Keyhole Craniotomy for Basilar Artery Aneurysms: Accounting for the "Cliff" Effect

BACKGROUND

Treatment of basilar artery aneurysms is challenging. While endovascular techniques have dominated, there still remain circumstances where open surgical clipping is required or preferred. Minimally invasive "keyhole" approaches are being used more frequently to provide the durability of surgical clipping with a lower morbidity profile; however, careful patient selection is required. The supraorbital "keyhole" approach has been described for the treatment of basilar artery aneurysms, but careful assessment of the basilar exposure is necessary to ensure proper visualization of the aneurysm and ability to obtain proximal vascular control. Various methods of estimating the basilar artery exposure in this approach have been described, including the anterior skull base line and the posterior clinoid line, but both are unreliable and inaccurate.

OBJECTIVE

To propose a new method, the orbital roof-dorsum line, to simply and accurately predict the basilar artery exposure.

METHODS

CT angiograms for 20 consecutive unique patients were analyzed to obtain the anterior skull base line, posterior clinoid line, and the orbital roof-dorsum line. CT angiograms were then loaded onto a Stealth neuronavigation system (Medtronic, Minneapolis, Minnesota) to obtain "true" visualization lengths. A case illustration is presented.

RESULTS

Pairwise comparison tests demonstrated that both the anterior skull base and the posterior clinoid estimation lines differed significantly from the "true"  value ( P < .0001). Our orbital roof-dorsum estimation provided results that accurately predicted the "true" value ( P = .71).

CONCLUSION

The orbital roof-dorsum line provides a simple and reliable method of estimating basilar artery exposure and should be used whenever considering patients for surgical clipping by this approach.

Simulation Training Methods in Neurological Surgery

Simulation training plays a paramount role in medicine, especially when it comes to mastering surgical skills. By simulating, students gain not only confidence, but expertise, learning to apply theory in a safe environment. As the technological arsenal improved, virtual reality and physical simulators have developed and are now an important part of the Neurosurgery training curriculum. Based on deliberate practice in a controlled space, simulation allows psychomotor skills augment without putting neither patients nor students at risk. When compared to the master-apprentice ongoing model of teaching, simutation becomes even more appealing as it is time-efficient, shortening the learning curve and ultimately leading to error reduction, which is reflected by diminished health care costs in the long run. In this chapter we will discuss the current state of neurosurgery simulation, highlight the potential benefits of this approach, assessing specific training methods and making considerations towards the future of neurosurgical simulation.

Aneurismal subarachnoid hemorrhage: who remains for surgical treatment in the post-ISAT era?

INTRODUCTION

Although there have been a number of studies on changes and trends in the management of aneurismal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) since publication of the International Subarachnoid Aneurysm Trial (ISAT), no data exist on what category of patients still remains for surgical treatment. Our goal was to investigate the changes that occurred in the characteristics of a population of aSAH patients treated surgically in the post-ISAT period in a single neurosurgical center, with limited availability of endovascular service.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The study included 402 aSAH patients treated surgically in our unit between January 2004 and December 2011. Each year, data regarding number of admissions, age, aneurysm location and size, clinical and radiological presentation, outcome and mortality rates were collected and analyzed.

RESULTS

The annual number of admissions more than halved in the study period (from 69 in 2004 to 32 in 2011). There were no linear trends regarding patients' mean age, clinical presentation and outcomes, but the number of patients in Fisher grade 4 increased and mortality slightly decreased. An unexpected, statistically significant increase occurred in the incidence of anterior communicating artery aneurysms (from 36.2% to 50%) and medium size aneurysms (from 34.7% to 56.2%) treated surgically, with a corresponding decrease in the incidence of middle cerebral artery aneurysms (from 40.5% to 34.3%) and large aneurysms (from 21.7% to 12.5%).

CONCLUSIONS

Unexpected trends in characteristics of aSAH patients treated surgically could be related to treatment decision modality. Trend patterns could be properly expressed in the constant availability of endovascular services.