Management and safety of intraoperative ventriculostomy during early surgery for ruptured intracranial aneurysms.

BACKGROUND: Brain edema and/or acute hydrocephalus are common features that limit working space during early surgery of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). Intraoperative ventriculostomy offers an immediate brain relaxation. However, management and complications related to the routine use of intraoperative external ventricular drainage (iEVD) are not well investigated. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed all patients who were treated with pterional craniotomy and clipping for ruptured anterior circulation aneurysms in our center between 2012 and 2019. We included in this study all patients submitted to iEVD using the Paine's point on the side of craniotomy. Indication for positioning of an iEVD was given in all cases whenever initial cisternal dissection was hampered by the lack of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) circulation due to SAH and/or hydrocephalus. RESULTS: In the study period, 162 patients with aSAH underwent surgical clipping. In 103 patients, an iEVD was used. The overall rate of iEVD-related complications was 6.7%, including 3 cases of catheter misplacement, one case of catheter obstruction, one case of related hemorrhage, and 2 cases of infection. The rate of shunt-dependent hydrocephalus was 16.5% (17/103 patients). CONCLUSION: In our experience, iEVD is a safe technique that facilitates dissection during early surgery for intracranial ruptured aneurysms, without requiring an additional burr hole procedure.

Acute Coils Migration Causing Significant M3 Branch Occlusion: A Case Report of Rescue Surgery with Superficial Temporal Artery-Middle Cerebral Artery Bypass.

We describe an uncommon case of acute coils migration with significant occlusion of M3 branch and our management of this complication. Ballon-assisted coil placement was performed for an unruptured intracavernous internal carotid artery aneurysm in a 62-year-old woman. After coil placement and balloon deflection, we observed coils migration with significant occlusion of M3 branch. After early clinical deterioration without other neurological symptoms, we decided to perform superficial temporal artery-middle cerebral artery (STA-MCA) bypass to ensure blood flow distal to the occlusion. The patient was discharged without neurological deficit. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case report about STA-MCA bypass to treat acute coils migration. This technique could represent a successful rescue therapy in case of acute coils migration that cannot be retrieved by endovascular tools or in case where distal and deep location of migrated coils controindicate surgical removal.

Neuroendoscopic Aspiration of Blood Clots in the Cerebral Aqueduct and Third Ventricle During Posterior Fossa Surgery in the Prone Position.

BACKGROUND: During surgery in the posterior fossa in the prone position, blood can sometimes fill the surgical field, due both to the less efficient venous drainage compared to the sitting position and the horizontally positioned surgical field itself. In some cases, blood clots can wedge into the cerebral aqueduct and the third ventricle, and potentially cause acute hydrocephalus during the postoperative course. OBJECTIVE: To illustrate a technique that can be used in these cases: the use of a flexible scope introduced through the opened roof of the fourth ventricle with a freehand technique allows the navigation of the fourth ventricle, the cerebral aqueduct, and the third ventricle in order to explore the cerebrospinal fluid pathways and eventually aspirate blood clots and surgical debris. METHODS: We report on one patient affected by an ependymoma of the fourth ventricle, for whom we used a flexible neuroendoscope to explore and clear blood clots from the cerebral aqueduct and the third ventricle after the resection of the tumor in the prone position. Blood is aspirated with a syringe using the working channel of the scope as a sucker. RESULTS: A large blood clot that was lying on the roof of the third ventricle was aspirated, setting the ventricle completely free. Other clots were aspirated from the right foramen of Monro and from the optic recess. CONCLUSION: We describe this novel technique, which represents a safe and efficient way to clear the surgical field at the end of posterior fossa surgery in the prone position. The unusual endoscopic visual perspective and instrument maneuvers are easily handled with proper neuroendoscopic training.