The Clipping on Supraclinoid Internal Carotid Artery Aneurysms

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: We present a clinical analysis to envision the difficulties in supraclinoid internal carotid artery(ICA) aneurysmal neck clippings to improve the postoperative outcome. METHODS: Two hundred and fifty aneurysm surgeries were undertaken at our hospital from 1997 to 1998. There were 52 patients(20.4% of the total) of supraclinoid ICA saccular aneurysmal patients. Eighteen cases(34.6%) were found with diverse difficulties in direct neck clippings. The authors analyzed the causes of surgical difficulties in the clipping on supraclinoid ICA aneurysms, in a clinical perspective. RESULTS: Perfect aneurysmal clippings were performed in 45 patients(86.5%) of the total 52 cases of supraclinoid ICA aneurysms. The clipping and wrapping were needed in five cases(9.6%), trapping in one(1.9%) with one case(1.9%) needed only for wrapping. The causes of difficulties in direct neck clipings were aneurysm sac involving perforator in six cases(11.5%), too short an ICA proximal to posterior communicating artery for temporary clipping in 5(9.6%), posterior communicating artery aneurysm directed to the ventral side in three(5.8%), dorsal wall aneurysm in one, severe atheromatous ICA in one, a larger sac than in angiographic finding with partial thrombosis in one, severe adhesion of aneurysm to 3rd cranial nerve in one patient. CONCLUSION: For supraclinoid ICA aneurysm surgery, sufficient preoperative plans and careful inspection including angiographic findings to foresee the various difficulties of neck clippings are needed.