Microsurgical treatment of ophthalmic artery aneurysm, a case series of 55 patients with long-term follow-up.

BACKGROUND: Ophthalmic artery aneurysm (OAA) can be secured in endovascular or microsurgical approaches. Still there are controversies in technique selection and their long term outcomes. METHODS: All the patients with OAA were treated microsurgically and followed. Demographic data, neurological status, physical examination findings, angiographic data, operation details, and intraoperative and postoperative events were recorded and analyzed. P < 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: Among 55 patients, 38 were females (69.1%). Median preoperative glasgow coma scale (GCS), Fisher Grade, and Hunt and Hess(HH) scores were 15, 1 and 1, respectively. The most common neurologic manifestation was visual problems (n = 15). The most common anatomical projection was medial (43.6%) oriented lesions. 85.5% of them only had 1 ophthalmic aneurysm while multiple aneurysms were reported in 14.6%. In 52 patients temporary clip was used. in 21 patients (38.2%) intraoperative aneurysm rupture occurred. Larger aneurysm size and preoperative hydrocephalus were associated with higher rates of aneurysm rupture (P = 0.003 and 0.031). 28.5% of the patients with visual problems had clinical improvement in the postoperative period. The mean follow-up period was 5 years. Follow-up angiography showed a 100% obliteration rate with a 0.0% recurrence rate. Median values for follow-up glasgow outcome scale and modified Rankin scale were 5 and 0, respectively. favorable neurological outcomes were associated with better primary GCS and HH scores. CONCLUSION: OAA microsurgery is an effective and safe procedure with significant improvement in both visual and neurological status. Low recurrence rate and excellent clinical recovery are the most important advantages of microsurgery in OAA treatment.

Surgical clipping of ophthalmic artery aneurysms: a single center series.

AIM: The purpose of this study was to summary the characteristics of ophthalmic artery (OphA) aneurysms and to obtain the independent risk factors for poor prognosis of microsurgical clipping treatment for OphA aneurysms. METHODS: The clinical and microsurgical clipping results of all 63 patients with ophthalmic aneurysm were investigated and reviewed. The OphA aneurysm patient's case records were reviewed including clinical characteristics, image findings, and clinical outcomes. Then, the risk factors of poor prognosis were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: Monocular blindness persisted in 4 patients (6.35%), 1 patient developed persistent vegetate state (PVS) (1.59%), while 4 patients (6.35%) died. The matching process constructed a cohort consisting of 9 poor outcome (Glasgow Outcome Scale, GOS 1-3) patients (14.3%), and 54 good outcome (GOS 4-5) patients (85.7%). Univariate analysis between the good outcome and poor outcome revealed statistical significance in age > 60 (p = 0.045), size (p = 0.016), and rupture before operation (p = 0.049). Further, multivariate logistic regression analysis identified age > 60 (odds ratio [OR], 5.877; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.039-33.254; p = 0.045) and aneurysm size > 10mm (OR, 9.417; 95% CI, 1.476-60.072; p = 0.018) as the independent risk factors for poor outcome in microsurgical clipping treatment for OphA aneurysms. CONCLUSION: The significant independent risk factors associated with clipping OphA aneurysms are age (>60) and size (>10mm).

[Surgical management of ophthalmic artery aneurysms via minimally invasive frontolateral approach].

Objective: To explore the minimally invasive techniques and outcome of carotid ophthalmic artery aneurysms clipping via a frontolateral approach. Methods: The clinical data of 95 patients with carotid ophthalmic artery aneurysms treated via frontolateral approach in the last 1.5 years in Beijing Tiantan Hospital and Beijing Anzhen Hospital were analyzed retrospectively.Before the operation, digital subtraction angiogram (DSA) was performed among all patients.The patients were divided into two groups by the lateral approach.According to preoperative classification, surgical characteristics and prognosis were summarized. Results: Ninety-five cases of ophthalmic aneurysms were divided into type Ⅰ of 44 cases (46.3%), type Ⅱ of 34 cases (35.7%) and type Ⅲ of 17cases (17.9%), according to the results of DSA.The diameter of aneurysm was <10 mm (35 cases), 10-25 mm (34 cases), and >25 mm (26 cases). In the 17 cases of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), 8 cases were ruptured carotid-ophthalmic artery aneurysms.Among those 95 patients, 93 were clipped successfully, 2 was trapped.Multiple aneurysms in 5 cases were treated in one surgical session through the same approach.No aneurysm residual was found after postoperative CTA review.Ipsilateral vision of 3 cases were decline.Cerebral infarction was appeared in 9 cases.All the others had a good recovery. Conclusions: The carotid-ophthalmic artery aneurysms could be well exposed. Microsurgery through frontolateral approach has the advantages such as minimal invasion, less effect on the patients' look and simple procedure.The frontolateral approach is safe and effective in surgery for ophthalmic segment of the internal carotid artery aneurysms.

Intraorbital and intracanalicular ophthalmic artery aneurysms. Literature review and report of a case.

This paper reviews literature about intraorbital ophthalmic artery aneurysms discussing presentation, aetiology and treatment options. In addition we report on a case of intraorbital ophthalmic artery aneurysm with acute onset of headache, visual loss and right eye ophthalmoplegia.

Elongated, finger-like ophthalmic segment aneurysms: Implications for selection of treatment modality.

BACKGROUND: Microsurgical treatment of ophthalmic segment aneurysms often requires anterior clinoidectomy and optic nerve mobilization prior to successful clipping. OBJECTIVE: We hypothesize that ophthalmic segment aneurysms that are elongated and finger-like grow unconstrained, lateral to the optic nerve. We note that this avoids the need for clinoid resection and optic nerve mobilization. METHODS: Three cases with up-pointing aneurysms were reviewed. Patient and aneurysm characteristics were collected. RESULTS: The first two patients with elongated ophthalmic segment aneurysms were found to have aneurysms growing lateral to the optic nerve. This allowed for straightforward treatment via microsurgical clipping without anterior clinoidectomy or division of the falciform ligament. The third patient presented with distortion of the optic chiasm superiorly and medially by a giant ventral ICA aneurysm. A concomitant ophthalmic aneurysm in this patient exhibited elongated morphology, with a high-resolution MRI demonstrating the patient's optic nerve was located inferior and medial to the ophthalmic artery aneurysm dome. This supports our hypothesis that an overriding optic nerve normally impedes vertical growth of ophthalmic segment aneurysms. CONCLUSIONS: Ophthalmic segment aneurysms may acquire a round morphology when their growth is constrained superiorly by the optic nerve. Elongated ophthalmic segment aneurysms may be the result of growth lateral to the optic nerve. For these aneurysms, an anterior clinoidectomy is not required, and microsurgical clipping represents a straightforward treatment option.

Peripheral Ophthalmic Artery Aneurysm Associated with Multifocal Intracranial and Extracranial Aneurysms: Case Report and Literature Review.

Peripheral ophthalmic artery aneurysm is a rare disease entity. We review the relevant literature and report a case of fusiform aneurysm involving the entire intraorbital ophthalmic artery in association with multiple intracranial and extracranial aneurysms, diagnosed on digital subtraction angiography. The patient suffered irreversible blindness secondary to compressive optic neuropathy which did not improve after a 3-day trial of intravenous methylprednisolone. Autoimmune screen was normal. The underlying cause is unknown.

Optic Nerve Mobilization as an Alternative to Anterior Clinoidectomy for Superior Carotid-Ophthalmic Aneurysms: Operative Technique.

BACKGROUND: Carotid-ophthalmic aneurysms arise from the internal carotid artery between the distal dural ring and the origin of the posterior communicating artery. The surgical treatment of these aneurysms usually requires anterior clinoidectomy. However, this procedure is not without complications. In the present report, we have described optic nerve mobilization after optic foraminotomy as an alternative to anterior clinoidectomy to clip superior carotid-ophthalmic aneurysms. METHODS: We have reported the cases of 3 patients with superior carotid-ophthalmic aneurysms who had undergone surgical clipping. Instead of an anterior clinoidectomy, the optic nerve was mobilized after performing optic foraminotomy. The optic canal was carefully unroofed with a 3-mm, high-speed, diamond drill under constant cold saline irrigation to avoid thermal damage to the optic nerve. After incision of the falciform ligament and optic sheath, the optic nerve was gently mobilized with a No. 6 Penfield dissector, facilitating aneurysmal neck exposure and clipping through a widened opticocarotid triangle. RESULTS: The postoperative course was uneventful for all 3 patients, without any added visual defect. Optic nerve mobilization allowed us to safely widen the opticocarotid triangle and dissect the aneurysm off the optic nerve, without the need for clinoidectomy. This alternative technique permitted, not only early decompression of the optic nerve, but also dissection of the arachnoid between the inferior surface of the optic nerve and the superior surface of the ophthalmic-carotid artery and aneurysm dome. CONCLUSIONS: Optic nerve mobilization after optic foraminotomy proved to be a safe and relatively easy technique for exposing and treating superior carotid-ophthalmic aneurysms.

Microsurgical Clipping of Ophthalmic Aneurysms in an Endovascular Era: Sonopet-Assisted Intradural Clinoidectomy and Other Tenets.

These video cases present some unique technical tenets for microsurgical clipping of proximal internal carotid artery aneurysms (Video 1). The first patient is a 49-year-old woman with a history of a prior ruptured and treated right middle cerebral artery aneurysm who was found to have growth of known left middle cerebral artery and left internal carotid artery ophthalmic segment aneurysms on radiographic studies. An intradural clinoidectomy with Sonopet, with proximal control at cervical carotid and wide sylvian fissure exposure with ample sharp dissection of the aneurysm anatomy, allowed safe clipping of the ophthalmic aneurysm in this case. The second patient is a 39-year-old woman with a history of a prior left middle cerebral artery M2 occlusion with recent mechanical thrombectomy. The patient was found to have a 6-mm incidental, unruptured right internal cerebral artery paraophthalmic segment and 3-mm right posterior communicating artery aneurysm on radiographic studies. This patient underwent microsurgical clipping given unique patient factors. A similar controlled intradural clinoidectomy, with proximal cervical ICA control and aneurysmal segment trapping, allowed safe aneurysm exclusion. For patients with multiple aneurysms such as in these cases, the deeper proximal aneurysm should generally be treated first. The videos illustrate some key technical points in this regard.

Usefulness of External Carotid Artery Angiogram with Manual Carotid Compression in Ophthalmic Artery Aneurysm.

OBJECTIVE: Identifying collaterals from external carotid artery (ECA) is necessary before treatment of ophthalmic artery (OphA) aneurysm. We present a manual carotid compression test to verify collaterals in ophthalmic artery aneurysms, and evaluate its usefulness. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From March 2013 to December 2017, endovascular coiling was performed 19 consecutive patients with 20 OphA aneurysms. We performed manual carotid compression test for patients who had aneurysms incorporating entry of OphA. Clinical and angiographic outcomes were investigated. RESULTS: Of 13 cases underwent manual carotid compression test, 12 cases were confirmed collateral flow from ECA to OphA. During the coil embolization, we tried to maintain the original OphA flow even if it has a collateral anastomosis. Among them, OphA occlusion occurred in one patient during coiling. Recurrence of aneurysm was occurred in a ruptured case and additional embolization was required. CONCLUSIONS: The manual carotid compression test is useful method to identify the collaterals from ECA in patients with OphA aneurysm. This test can be used as a screening test for confirming collateral flow in OphA aneurysms or as an alternative for patients who are difficult to perform BTO.

Two-Stage Revascularization and Clip Reconstruction of a Giant Ophthalmic Artery Aneurysm: 3-Dimensional Operative Video.

Ophthalmic segment aneurysms (OSAs) are technically challenging lesions with a wide-neck morphology and proximity to the optic nerve. Revascularization and aneurysm trapping are occasionally needed to manage unclippable OSAs. Microsurgical treatment requires anterior clinoidectomy, optic strut drilling, and proximal/distal dural ring dissection for adequate exposure. This video demonstrates a two-stage revascularization and clip reconstruction of an OSA. A 62-yr-old woman was presented, with acute-onset expressive aphasia, right hemineglect, and hemiparesis. Neuroimaging revealed a partially thrombosed giant OSA measuring 2.5 × 2.3 cm2. Patient consent was obtained for bypassing, trapping, and decompressing the aneurysm. A pterional craniotomy was performed and an external carotid artery - radial artery graft - middle cerebral artery bypass was performed. The aneurysm was proximally occluded with a permanent clip on the clinoidal internal carotid artery (ICA). Adherence of the distal supraclinoid ICA to the aneurysm wall did not allow for aneurysm trapping. On postoperative day 8, the patient experienced acute mental status decline due to a frontal intraparenchymal hemorrhage. The aneurysm was trapped in a second surgery to occlude persistent retrograde aneurysm filling. The aneurysm sac was circumferentially dissected with temporary parent artery trapping. The OSA was opened and thrombectomized using an ultrasonic aspirator followed by trapping clip application. Postoperatively, the patient gradually returned to neurological baseline with minimal expressive aphasia. Although OSAs are preferentially treated with flow diversion, giant OSAs with significant mass effect may necessitate microsurgical clipping or trapping with decompressive thrombectomy. This case demonstrates that proximal clip occlusion may not be sufficient for aneurysm thrombosis and rupture prevention. Used with permission from Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, Arizona.

Microsurgical clipping of ophthalmic artery aneurysms: surgical results and visual outcomes with 208 aneurysms.

OBJECTIVEWhile most paraclinoid aneurysms can be clipped with excellent results, new postoperative visual deficits are a concern. New technology, including flow diverters, has increased the popularity of endovascular therapy. However, endovascular treatment of paraclinoid aneurysms is not without procedural risks, is associated with higher rates of incomplete aneurysm occlusion and recurrence, and may not address optic nerve compression symptoms that surgical debulking can. The increasing endovascular management of paraclinoid aneurysms should be justified by comparisons to surgical benchmarks. The authors, therefore, undertook this study to define patient, visual, and aneurysm outcomes in the most common type of paraclinoid aneurysm: ophthalmic artery (OphA) aneurysms.METHODSResults from microsurgical clipping of 208 OphA aneurysms in 198 patients were retrospectively reviewed. Patient demographics, aneurysm morphology (size, calcification, etc.), clinical characteristics, and patient outcomes were recorded and analyzed.RESULTSDespite 20% of these aneurysms being large or giant in size, complete aneurysm occlusion was accomplished in 91% of 208 cases, with OphA patency preserved in 99.5%. The aneurysm recurrence rate was 3.1% and the retreatment rate was 0%. Good outcomes (modified Rankin Scale score 0-2) were observed in 96.2% of patients overall and in all 156 patients with unruptured aneurysms. New visual field defects (hemianopsia or quadrantanopsia) were observed in 8 patients (3.8%), decreased visual acuity in 5 (2.4%), and monocular blindness in 9 (4.3%). Vision improved in 9 (52.9%) of the 17 patients with preoperative visual deficits.CONCLUSIONSThe most important risk associated with clipping OphA aneurysms is a new visual deficit. Meticulous microsurgical technique is necessary during anterior clinoidectomy, aneurysm dissection, and clip application to optimize visual outcomes, and aggressive medical management postoperatively might potentially decrease the incidence of delayed visual deficits. As the results of endovascular therapy and specifically flow diverters become known, they warrant comparison with these surgical benchmarks to determine best practices.

An approach to quantitative assessment of hemodynamic differences between unruptured and ruptured ophthalmic artery aneurysms.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Hemodynamic parameters are important in the pathogenesis, evolution and rupture of intracranial aneurysm. Energy loss (EL) has been applied for the rupture risk prediction of artery aneurysms recently. We proposed a new EL and further investigate its effects on the rupture of aneurysms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty-four patient-specific ophthalmic aneurysm datasets were divided into ruptured and unruptured groups based on their clinical history. Based on patient-specific 3D-DSA data, realistic models were retrospectively reconstructed and then analyzed by using computational fluid dynamic method. RESULTS: The flow field feature EL in ruptured cases was significantly higher than that in unruptured cases. The average wall shear stress (WSS) and the maximum WSS in ruptured cases were higher than those in unruptured cases. Modified pressure loss coefficient (PLCM) in ruptured cases was slight higher than that in unruptured cases but the difference has no statistical significance. Multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated flow field feature EL (p < 0.05) and the maximum WSS (p < 0.05) were the only independently significant variables to predict rupture of ophthalmic aneurysm. There were no differences in PLCM, the maximum oscillatory shear index (OSI), the average OSI and AR between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Flow field feature EL may be a reliable factor to predict the rupture risk of aneurysms.

Central Retinal Artery Occlusion after the Endovascular Treatment of Unruptured Ophthalmic Artery Aneurysm: A Case Report and a Literature Review.

Endovascular coil embolization for ophthalmic artery (OphA) aneurysms has a risk of occlusion of the OphA, which can lead to loss of vision. The authors report a patient with unruptured OphA aneurysm which treated with endovascular coiling and were complicated by blindness due to OphA thromboembolic occlusion after the procedure. The OphA successfully recanalized using local intra-arterial fibrinolysis with complete regain of visual acuity. The risk of visual loss due to thromboembolic complications cannot be ignored during endovascular coiling of the OphA aneurysm despite of good retrograde flow during OphA occlusion test using a balloon catheter. Rapid intervention is required for recovering visual disturbance in such a situation.

Case report: a troublesome ophthalmic artery aneurysm.

Objective and Importance When treating large unruptured ophthalmic artery (OA) aneurysms causing progressive blindness, surgical clipping is still the preferred method because aneurysm sac decompression may relieve optic nerve compression. However, endovascular treatment of OA aneurysms has made important progress with the introduction of stents. Although this development is welcomed, it also makes the choice of treatment strategy less straightforward than in the past, with the potential of missteps. Clinical Presentation A 56-year-old woman presented with a long history of progressive unilateral visual loss and magnetic resonance imaging showing a 20-mm left-sided OA aneurysm. Intervention Because of her long history of very poor visual acuity, we considered her left eye to be irredeemable and opted for endovascular therapy. The OA aneurysms was treated with stent and coils but continued to grow, threatening the contralateral eye. Because she failed internal carotid artery (ICA) balloon test occlusion, we performed a high-flow extracranial-intracranial bypass with proximal ICA occlusion in the neck. However, aneurysm growth continued due to persistent circulation through reversed blood flow in distal ICA down to the OA and the cavernous portion of the ICA. Due to progressive loss of her right eye vision, we surgically occluded the ICA proximal to the posterior communicating artery and excised the coiled, now giant, OA aneurysm. This improved her right eye vision, but her left eye was permanently blind. Conclusion This case report illustrates complications of the endovascular and surgical treatment of a large unruptured OA aneurysm.

Ophthalmic artery aneurysm: potential culprit of central retinal artery occlusion.

Central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) is one of the most devastating ophthalmic emergencies, causing acute painless visual loss in the affected eye. We describe the first case of acute non-arteritic CRAO associated with peripheral ophthalmic artery aneurysm and its clinical course after intra-arterial thrombolysis therapy. This case suggests that ophthalmic artery aneurysm can be the cause of CRAO and should be included in the differential diagnosis of CRAO.

Endoscopic endonasal transplanum approach to the paraclinoid internal carotid artery.

Objective To investigate the relevance of an endoscopic transnasal approach to the surgical treatment of paraophthalmic aneurysms. Setting Binasal endoscopic transplanum surgery was performed. Participants Seven cadaver heads were studied. Main Outcome Measures (1) Dimensions of the endonasal corridor, including the operative field depth, lateral limits, and the transplanum craniotomy. (2) The degree of vascular exposure. (3) Surgical maneuverability and access for clip placements. Results The mean operative depth was 90 ± 4 mm. The lateral corridors were limited proximally by the alar rim openings (29 ± 4 mm) and distally by the distance between the opticocarotid recesses (19 ± 2 mm). The mean posteroanterior distance and width of the transplanum craniotomy were 19 ± 2 mm and 17 ± 3 mm, respectively. Vascular exposure was achieved in 100% of cases for the clinoidal internal carotid artery (ICA), ophthalmic artery, superior hypophyseal artery, and the proximal ophthalmic ICA. Surgical access and clip placement was achieved in 97.6% of cases for vessels located anterior to the pituitary stalk (odds ratio [OR] 73.8; 95% confidence interval [CI] 7.66 to 710.8; p = 0.00). Conclusion The endoscopic transnasal approach provides excellent visualization of the paraclinoid region vasculature and offers potential surgical alternative for paraclinoid aneurysms.