title: Anterior subtemporal approach for posteriorly projecting posterior communicating artery aneurysms.
abstract: We report our experience with the anterior subtemporal approach for the posterior communicating artery aneurysm protruding posteriorly. Between 2000 and 2005, seven patients with posterior communicating artery aneurysm were operated on through the anterior subtemporal approach. The approach provided a better view than the pterional approach. This approach seems to be suitable for posteriorly projecting posterior communicating artery aneurysms. The advantages of the anterior subtemporal approach are as follows: (1) It provides a short and a direct trajectory to the aneurysm. (2) Aneurysmal neck and surrounding structures can be easily identified and secured compared with the pterional approach. (3) A previously placed clip for a middle cerebral artery or internal carotid artery aneurysm through the pterional route does not interfere with the clipping surgery for regrown or de novo posterior communicating artery aneurysms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Azumino Red Cross Hospital, Azumino, Japan. thoriuchi-nsu@umin.ac.jp
authors.forename: Tetsuyoshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Horiuchi
authors.forename: Fukuo
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nakagawa
authors.forename: Yuichiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Miyama
authors.forename: Kazuhiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hongo
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D017542:Aneurysm, Ruptured / Q000601:surgery; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002343:Carotid Artery, Internal / Q000601:surgery; D002533:Cerebral Angiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D002532:Intracranial Aneurysm / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D020768:Middle Cerebral Artery / Q000601:surgery; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures; D020769:Posterior Cerebral Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D013345:Subarachnoid Hemorrhage / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed