Basilar trunk aneurysm surgically treated with anterior petrosectomy and external carotid artery-to-posterior cerebral artery bypass: technical note.
OBJECTIVE
We discuss a detailed surgical technique, its indications, and potential pitfalls in its use.


METHODS
A surgical procedure combining Kawase's anterior petrosectomy and external carotid artery-to-posterior cerebral artery high-flow bypass was performed for the treatment of a patient with a fusiform basilar trunk aneurysm.


RESULTS
Follow-up angiography revealed the successful obliteration of the aneurysm and that the graft was functioning well. Late ischemic complications, however, occurred 5 weeks after surgery.


CONCLUSIONS
Kawase's approach is a versatile option for safe vascular reconstruction of the posterior cerebral artery and exposure of a basilar trunk aneurysm in the upper clival region. Although, theoretically, a high-flow bypass might decrease the risk of hemodynamic ischemia, it does not prevent thromboembolic complications.
Terasaka
Shunsuke
S
Department of Neurosurgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan.
Itamoto
Koji
K
Houkin
Kiyohiro
K
D001488:Basilar Artery; D002342:Carotid Artery, External / Q000601:surgery*; D002533:Cerebral Angiography; D002544:Cerebral Infarction / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D002532:Intracranial Aneurysm / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects; D020769:Posterior Cerebral Artery / Q000601:surgery*; D013997:Time Factors