Microsurgery for Multiple Intracranial Aneurysms

Background: A total of 23 patients with 52 aneurysms were surgically treated in single surgery at a Neurosurgical Service of the Health Service of the State of São Paulo from 2009 to 2011. Method: Retrospective analysis of patients undergoing clipping of two or more cerebral aneurysms in a single stage, from January 2007 to July 2012. Results: Twenty-nine patients underwent two or more clipping cerebral aneurysms in a single surgery – 28 with a single craniotomy and one through two craniotomies. Of these, 20, 7, 1 and 1 were submitted to the clipping of 2, 3, 4 and 5 cerebral aneurysms, respectively. Five were male and 24 were female, and the age range was 40 to 66-years-old. Eight left craniotomies were performed to approach 17 lateralized brain aneurysms to the left and five to the right, as well as three anterior communicating complex aneurysms. Twelve craniotomies were performed on the right to approach 23 intracranial aneurysms lateralized to the right and six on the left, as well as 15 anterior communicating artery complex aneurysms and 1 on the basilar artery. Of the 29 patients, 28 evolved with 1-3 pts and only one with 4-5 pts on the Rankin scale, six months after surgery. Conclusion: We advocate microsurgical approach for most of the cases of multiple intracranial aneurysms aiming the microsurgical clipping of all intracranial aneurysms if feasible through a single stage and a single craniotomy.

Perforating Arteries of the Lemniscal Trigone: A Microsurgical Neuroanatomic Description

Background: The perforating arteries in the dorsolateral zone of the midbrain play a crucial role in the functions of the brain stem. Their damage due to herniation, pathological lesions, or surgery, favored by the narrow tentorial incisura, can lead to hemorrhages or ischemia and subsequently to severe consequences for the patient.Objective: In literature, not much attention has been directed to the perforating arteries in the lemniscus; in fact, no reports on the perforators of this anatomical region are available. The present study aims to a detailed analysis of the microanatomy and the clinical implications of these perforators, in relation to the parent vessels. We focused on the small vessels that penetrate the midbrain's dorsolateral surface, known as lemniscal trigone, to understand better their microanatomy and their functional importance in the clinical practice during the microsurgical approach to this area.Methods: Eighty-seven alcohol-fixed cadaveric hemispheres (44 brains) without any pathological lesions provided the material for studying the perforating vessels and their origin around the dorsolateral midbrain using an operating microscope (OPMI 1 FC, Zeiss). Measurements of the perforators' distances, in relation to the parent vessels, were taken using a digital caliper.Results: An origin from the SCA could be found in 70.11% (61) and from the PCA in 27.58% (24) of the hemispheres. In one hemisphere, an origin from the posterior choroidal artery was found (4.54%). No perforating branches were discovered in 8.04% of specimens (7).Conclusion: The perforating arteries of the lemniscal trigone stem not only from the superior cerebellar artery (SCA), as described in the few studies available in literature, but also from the posterior cerebral artery (PCA). Therefore, special attention should be paid during surgery to spare those vessels and associated perforators. A comprehensive understanding of the lemniscal trigone's perforating arteries is vital to avoid infarction of the brainstem when treating midbrain tumors or vascular malformations.

Neuroendoscopic followed by microsurgical approach for the treatment of pilocytic astrocytoma of the pineal region

Pilocytic astrocytoma is a low-grade tumor that can affect the pineal region and has a potential life-threatening presentation with obstructive hydrocephalus. This video presents the case of a child who underwent an endoscopic third ventriculostomy with tumor biopsy and for whom a supracerebellar infratentorial approach was chosen after confirmation of the diagnosis of a pilocytic astrocytoma. Herein, we discuss the technical details of both procedures, such as the single burr hole in the neuroendoscopic approach, the ventricular landmarks and identification of the venous sinus through neuronavigation, the anatomical landmarks during the supracerebellar infratentorial approach, and the use of ultrasonographic aspiration.

Management Options for Suprasellar Cystic Craniopharyngioma: Endoscopic Transventricular Approach and Microsurgical Approach

Objective The treatment of cystic craniopharyngioma in children is varied. The treatment ranges from radical excision to direct radiotherapy. As the morbidity of excision is high, more conservative approaches are used. Transventricular endoscopy is a minimally invasive treatment for cystic craniopharyngiomas. The objective of this study is to compare the outcome of microscopic versus endoscopic transventricular approach for cystic craniopharyngioma. Methods This is a retrospective study of series of children managed with microscopic excision and endoscopic transventricular approach for suprasellar cystic craniopharyngiomas. Operative details, visual outcome, endocrinological outcome, tumor-related cyst recurrence rate, and complication were compared between microscopic and endoscopic groups. Results A total of 28 children underwent microscopic excision and 14 children underwent endoscopic procedure. The anesthesia time was significantly lower with endoscopic as compared to microscopic group (p = 0.0001) as well as blood loss during surgery (p = 0.0001). Hospital stay after surgery was shorter in endoscopic group. Incidence of diabetes insipidus was more in microscopic group (25%) compared to endoscopic group (7.14%). Visual outcome was almost same with approaches. Requirement of hormone replacement was more in microscopic group than in endoscopic group (p = 0.006). Incidence of cyst recurrence was more in microscopic (39.3%) compared to endoscopic group (7.7%). Conclusion Endoscopic transventricular approach is a safe alternative for initial treatment of suprasellar cystic craniopharyngioma in children.

Robotic and standard surgical intervention as adjunct therapies for retroperitoneal ganglioneuroma resection: a case report

Background Ganglioneuroma (GN) is ranked by the International Neuroblastoma Pathology Classification as a benign tumor. It can occur anywhere along the sympathetic nerve chain and surgical excision is the treatment of choice. Case presentation An 18-year-old female patient sought medical assistance after 6 months of constant dorsal and back pain radiating from the thoracic region to the right abdominal flank. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a solid nodular lesion with heterogeneous post-contrast enhancement and lobulated contours, centered on the right foramina of D12–L1, with a projection to the intracanal space, which compressed and laterally displaced the dural sac and had a right paravertebral extension between the vertebral bodies of D11 and superior aspect of L2. Ganglioneuroma was diagnosed using immunohistochemical analysis. It was decided to use a surgical approach in two stages: robot assisted for the anterior/retroperitoneal mass and a posterior hemilaminectomy/microsurgical approach to attempt total resection, avoiding the traditional anterior thoracoabdominal surgical incision and optimizing the patient’s postoperative outcomes. No postoperative adverse events were noted, and the patient was discharged on postoperative day 5. Conclusion This retroperitoneal GN presentation was peculiar because it originated at the D12 nerve root, which extended to the retroperitoneal space and inside the spinal canal. We hope that our case report can assist future decisions in similar circumstances.

Surgical Management of Lymphedema: An Overview of Preoperative Evaluation and Surgical Techniques

Lymphedema is a chronic and progressive disease that affects many of the patients who underwent cancer ablative surgery and decreases the quality of life of them. Surgical management including lymphovenous shunting and vascularized lymph node transfer become popular in the field of microsurgery. For the better outcome of microsurgical approach to lymphedema, understanding of multiple image modalities is essential. Also, understanding other conservative management tools is crucial for setting reasonable algorism for lymphedema management.

Balloon Assisted Endovascular Coiling in Wide Neck Basilar Tip Aneurysm

Basilar tip aneurysms are the commonest aneurysms of the posterior circulation and constitute around 5-8% of all cerebral aneurysms. Ruptured basilar tip aneurysms may present with signs and symptoms of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) with sudden, extremely severe headache, nausea and vomiting, stiff neck, blurred or double vision, sensitivity to light, seizure, drooping eyelid and loss of consciousness. At times, the hemorrhage could be fatal, reaching mortality beyond 20%. Basilar tip aneurysms have complex anatomy and have always been considered difficult to treat. Two well-known options to treat basilar tip aneurysms include the microsurgical approach and the endovascular approach. Endovascular treatment is now a cost-effective, preferred and logical rationale for the management of intracranial aneurysms. This case reports the first ever coiling procedure that was performed at Ziauddin Hospital (North Campus) for a basilar tip aneurysm and the other major challenge faced at our center was that the neck was wide, hence requiring a supporting balloon.