title: Posterior cerebral circulation revascularization.
abstract: Posterior circulation revascularization has evolved as a method to treat selected patients with vertebrobasilar ischemia who have inaccessible atherosclerotic occlusive disease and who have failed maximal medical therapy. In addition, complex unclippable aneurysms of the posterior circulation are another indication for revascularization of the vertebrobasilar territory. Careful preoperative evaluation and meticulous attention to detail intraoperatively yield good patient outcomes with minimal morbidity and mortality. This article reviews the vascular anatomy of the posterior circulation and the indications, preoperative evaluation, operative techniques, clinical outcomes, and alternative treatments for patients requiring posterior circulation revascularization procedures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305, USA.
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: S I
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Ryu
authors.forename: G K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Steinberg
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D002548:Cerebral Revascularization / Q000379:methods*; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation / Q000502:physiology; D004594:Electrophysiology / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007036:Hypothermia, Induced; D002532:Intracranial Aneurysm / Q000175:diagnosis; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016343:Monitoring, Intraoperative; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000145:classification; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D020521:Stroke / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed