Left Far Lateral Craniotomy for Clipping of a Posterior Inferior Cerebellar Artery Aneurysm

Abstract

Objectives The complex anatomical relationships of neurovascular structures at the craniovertebral junction make the clipping of a posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) aneurysm surgically challenging. We demonstrate the clipping of a PICA aneurysm in the video.

Design, Setting, and Participant A 65-year-old woman presented with a nonsymptomatic unruptured left PICA aneurysm; follow-up angiography showed an increase in its size. Preoperative angiography demonstrated a PICA aneurysm with the neck close to the origin of the PICA. A daughter sac of the aneurysm was also noted. A left far lateral approach was performed. The vagoaccessory triangle was exposed after opening the arachnoid membrane. The origin of the PICA and the aneurysm were revealed after exploration. The aneurysm neck was identified both proximally and distally. Two fenestrated clips were applied; subsequent indocyanine green (ICG) videoangiography demonstrated that the PICA was obstructed. One clip was adjusted, and repeated ICG videoangiography showed the PICA was patent. An endoscope was used before and after the clip application to better understand the anatomy of the aneurysm and inspect clip positions ([Fig. 1]).

Outcome The patient was neurologically intact postoperatively and was discharged on postoperative day 4.

Conclusion PICA aneurysms require careful treatment. Impingement of adjacent structures can cause severe complications. Lower cranial nerve damage can cause dysphagia, and compromised vertebral/PICA circulation can cause brainstem symptoms, such as Wallenberg's syndrome. Intraoperative ICG videoangiography should be used to evaluate vessel patency, and the endoscope should be used to fully inspect the aneurysm and evaluate the clip application.

The link to the video can be found at: https://youtu.be/dKxFQTRA89g.

Keywords

aneurysm - craniovertebral junction - far lateral approach - posterior inferior cerebellar artery

Disclosures

None.

Financial Support

None.