• Journal of Cerebrovascular and Endovascular Neurosurgery
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.447-451
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• 2023

Developmental anomalies of internal carotid artery (ICA), being rare entities, are mostly asymptomatic by themselves because of good collateral supply. However, when present with other associated intracranial anomalies requiring treatment, there can be catastrophic consequences, if special attention is not paid to this condition. We present a case of 36 years old male, who reported to our emergency department with complaints of headache and loss of consciousness. He was diagnosed as a case of ruptured anterior communicating aneurysm with subarachnoid hemorrhage and agenesis of left ICA with trans-cavernous anastomosis. He underwent clipping of aneurysm and was discharged uneventfully. This report highlights the importance of skillful microsurgical clipping in extremely high-risk conditions, in contemporary era of hybrid neurosurgeons.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.57 no.4
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• pp.250-257
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• 2015

Objective : Endovascular treatment of wide-necked intracranial aneurysms is a challenge and the durability and the safety of these treated aneurysms remain unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical and long-term angiographic results of wide-necked intracranial aneurysms treated with coil embolization. Methods : Between January 2002 and December 2012, 53 wide-necked aneurysms treated with coil embolization were selected. Forty were female, and 13 were male. Twenty eight (52.8%) were ruptured aneurysms, and 25 (47.2%) were unruptured aneurysms. The patents' medical and radiological records were reviewed retrospectively. Results : Of the 53 aneurysms, coiling alone was employed in 45 (84.9%) and stent-assisted coiling was done in 8 (15.1%). The initial angiographic results revealed Raymond class 1 (complete occlusion) in 30 (56.6%) cases, Raymond class 2 (residual neck) in 18 (34.0%) cases, and Raymond class 3 (residual sac) in 5 (9.4%) cases. The mean angiographic follow-up period was 37.9 months (12-120 months). At the last angiographies, Raymond class 1 was seen in 26 (49.1%) cases, Raymond class 2 in 16 (30.2%), and Raymond class 3 in 11 (20.8%). Angiographic recurrence occurred in 22 (41.5%) patients, with minor recurrence in 7 (13.2%) cases and major recurrence in 15 (28.3%). Retreatment was performed in 8 cases (15.1%). A suboptimal result on the initial angiography was a significant predictor of recurrence in this study (p=0.03). Conclusion : The predictor of recurrence in wide-necked aneurysms is a suboptimal result on the initial angiography. Long-term angiographic follow-up is recommended in wide-necked aneurysms.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.208-218
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• 2019

Background: The anatomy of middle cerebral artery (MCA) aneurysms has been noted to be unfavorable for endovascular treatment. The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility and efficacy of coiling for MCA aneurysms. Methods: From January 2004 to December 2015, 72 MCA aneurysms (38 unruptured and 34 ruptured) in 67 patients were treated with coils. Treatment-related complications, clinical outcomes, and immediate and follow-up angiographic outcomes were retrospectively analyzed. Results: Aneurysms were located at the MCA bifurcation (n=60), 1st segment (M1, n=8), and 2nd segment (M2, n=4). Sixty-nine aneurysms (95.8%) were treated by neck remodeling techniques using multi-catheter (n=44), balloon (n=14), stent (n=8), or combination of these (n=3). Only 3 aneurysms were treated by single-catheter technique. Angiographic results were 66 (91.7%) complete, 5 (6.9%) remnant neck, and 1 (1.4%) incomplete occlusion. Procedural complications included aneurysm rupture (n=1), asymptomatic coil migration to the distal vessel (n=1), and acute thromboembolism (n=10) consisting of 8 asymptomatic and 2 symptomatic events. Treatment-related permanent morbidity and mortality rates were 4.5% and 3.0%, respectively. There was no bleeding on clinical follow-up (mean, 29 months; range, 6-108 months). Follow-up angiographic results (mean, 26 months; range, 6-96 months) in patients included 1 major and 3 minor recanalizations. Conclusion: Coiling of MCA aneurysms could be a technically feasible and clinically effective treatment strategy with acceptable angiographic and clinical outcomes. However, the safety and efficacy of this technique as compared to surgical clipping remains to be ascertained.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.64 no.1
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• pp.23-29
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• 2021

Objective : Although stent-assisted coiling (SAC) has been reported to be safe and effective in treating wide-necked aneurysms, the technique has procedure-related complications. Thus, we reported our experiences of SAC using the Neuroform Atlas stent in treating wide-necked aneurysms and evaluated the incidence of and risk factors for procedure-related complications. Methods : From March 2018 to August 2019, we treated 130 unruptured wide-necked aneurysms in 123 patients with Neuroform Atlas stents. Angiographic results and clinical outcomes were reviewed retrospectively. Clinical and angiographic follow-up were performed in all cases (mean, 12.4 months) after the procedure. Results : There were eight cases (6.2%) of procedure-related complications (two dissections, five thromboembolisms, and one hemorrhage) and two (1.5%) of delayed complications (one ischemia and one hemorrhage). There was one case (0.8%) of failure of stent deployment and one (0.8%) of suboptimal positioning of the stent. Follow-up angiography showed complete obliteration in 103 (79.2%), residual neck in 16 (12.3%), and residual aneurysm in 11 cases (8.5%). Aneurysm locations in the middle cerebral artery (odds ratio [OR], 2.211; p=0.046) and the anterior communicating artery (OR, 2.850; p=0.039) were associated with procedure-related complications on univariate analysis. However, no independent risk factor for procedure-related complications was noted in multivariate analysis. Conclusion : The Neuroform Atlas showed a high rate of technical success. Good clinical and radiographic outcomes in early follow-up suggests that the device is feasible and safe. SAC of aneurysms on the middle cerebral artery or anterior communicating artery may require more attention to prevent possible procedure-related complications.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.81-88
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• 2011

Objective : The purpose of this study was to analyze the clinical and anatomic features involved in determining treatment modalities for anterior communicating artery (AcoA) aneurysms. Methods : The authors retrospectively evaluated 112 AcoA aneurysms with pretreatment clinical features including age, Hunt and Hess grade, medical or neurological comorbidity, and anatomical features including aneurysm size, neck size, dome-to-neck ratio, vessel incorporation, multiple lobulation, and morphologic scoring system. Post-treatment clinical results were classified according to the Glasgow Outcome Scale, and anatomic results in coiled patients were classified according to the modified Raymond scale. Using multivariate logistic regression, the probabilities for decision making between surgical clipping and coil embolization were calculated. Results : Sixty-seven patients (60%) were treated with surgical clipping and 45 patients (40%) with endovascular coil embolization. The clinical factor significantly associated with treatment decision was age (${\geq}$65 vs. <65 years) and anatomical factors including aneurysm size (small or large vs. medium), dome-to-neck ratio (<2 vs. ${\geq}$2), presence of vessel incorporation, multiple lobulation, and morphologic score (${\geq}$2 vs. <2). In multivariate analysis, older patients (age, 65 years) had significantly higher odds of being treated with coil embolization relative to clipping (adjusted OR=3.78; 95% CI, 1.39-10.3; p=0.0093) and higher morphological score patients (${\geq}$2) had a higher tendency toward surgical clipping than endovascular coil embolization (OR=0.23; 95% CI, 0.16-0.93; p=0.0039). Conclusion : The optimal decision for treating AcoA aneurysms cannot be determined by any single clinical or anatomic characteristics. All clinical and morphological features need to be considered, and a collaborative neurovascular team approach to AcoA aneurysms is essential.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.228-233
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• 2008

Objective : The standard treatment strategy of intracranial aneurysms includes either endovascular coiling or microsurgical clipping. In certain situations such as in giant or dissecting aneurysms, bypass surgery followed by proximal occlusion or trapping of parent artery is required. Methods : The authors assessed the result of extracranial-intracranial (EC-IC) bypass surgery in the treatment of complex intracranial aneurysms in one institute between 2003 and 2007 retrospectively to propose its role as treatment modality. The outcomes of 15 patients with complex aneurysms treated during the last 5 years were reviewed. Six male and 9 female patients, aged 14 to 76 years, presented with symptoms related to hemorrhage in 6 cases, transient ischemic attack (TIA) in 2 un ruptured cases, and permanent infarction in one, and compressive symptoms in 3 cases. Aneurysms were mainly in the internal carotid artery (ICA) in 11 cases, middle cerebral artery (MCA) in 2, posterior cerebral artery (PCA) in one and posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) in one case. Results : The types of aneurysms were 8 cases of large to giant size aneurysms, 5 cases of ICA blood blister-like aneurysms, one dissecting aneurysm, and one pseudoaneurysm related to trauma. High-flow bypass surgery was done in 6 cases with radial artery graft (RAG) in five and saphenous vein graft (SVG) in one. Low-flow bypass was done in nine cases using superficial temporal artery (STA) in eight and occipital artery (OA) in one case. Parent artery occlusion was performed with clipping in 9 patients, with coiling in 4, and with balloon plus coil in 1. Direct aneurysm clip was done in one case. The follow up period ranged from 2 to 48 months (mean 15.0 months). There was no mortality case. The long-term clinical outcome measured by Glasgow outcome scale (GOS) showed good or excellent outcome in 13/15. The overall surgery related morbidity was 20% (3/15) including 2 emergency bypass surgeries due to unexpected parent artery occlusion during direct clipping procedure. The short-term postoperative bypass graft patency rates were 100% but the long-term bypass patency rates were 86.7% (13/15). Nonetheless, there was no bypass surgery related morbidity due to occlusion of the graft. Conclusion : Revascularization technique is a pivotal armament in managing complex aneurysms and scrupulous prior planning is essential to successful outcomes.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.307-318
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• 2001

Objective : Surgical experiences of pseudoaneurysms such as traumatic, mycotic and ill-defined unknown causes of aneurysms are rare. The authors have studied the results of surgical management from such cases in our series. Patients and Method : In the last 17 years, 1320 patients with cerebrovascular aneurysms were managed surgically. Among these, 16 patients showed the pseudoaneurysms. The authors analyzed retrospectively the clinical characteristics, treatment methods, management outcomes and problems in the managements. Results : There were 6 patients with traumatic aneurysm, 4 mycotic aneurysms and 6 ill-defined unknown causes of aneurysm. The sites of traumatic aneurysms were cavernous portion of the internal carotid artery(n=3), distal portion of the anterior cerebral artery (n=2) and vertebral artery(VA : n=1). Good outcomes in 5 cases could be obtained by extracranial - intracranial bypass followed by parent vessel occlusion or resection of aneurysm followed by re-anastomosis of parent vessel. The sites of mycotic aneurysm were peripheral portions of middle cerebral artery(MCA : n=3) and posterior cerebral artery(PCA : n=1). The outcomes of the patients with a mycotic aneurysm were relatively poor. It was partially due to the development of new aneurysm after treatment in one. The sites of ill-defined unknown causes of aneurysm were extracranial carotid artery(n=3), V2 portion of the VA(n=1), peripheral portion of the PCA (n=1) and MCA(n=1). Good outcome in all cases could be obtained by resection of aneurysm with or without saphenous vein graft. Conclusion : For the treatments of cerebrovascular pseudoaneurysm, combinations of aggressive medical, endovascular and surgical managements seem mandatory. Insertion of stent for a extracranial carotid artery aneurysm and coiling for a peripheral mycotic aneurysm can be option in future.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.61 no.4
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• pp.450-457
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• 2018

Objective : Very large (20-25 mm) and giant (${\geq}25mm$) intracranial aneurysms have an extremely poor natural course, and treatment of these aneurysms remains a challenge for endovascular and surgical strategies. This study was undertaken to describe our experiences of endosaccular treatment of very large and giant intracranial aneurysms with parent artery preservation. Methods : From January 2005 to October 2016, twenty-four very large or giant aneurysms in 24 patients were treated by endosaccular coil embolization with parent artery preservation. Nine (37.5%) aneurysms were ruptured and 15 were unruptured, and of these 15, 11 were symptomatic cases and 4 were incidentally discovered. The cohort comprised 17 women and 7 men of mean age 58.5 years (range, 26-82). Mean aneurysm size was 26.0 mm (range, 20-39) and 13 of the 24 aneurysms were giant. Results : Immediate angiographic results were complete occlusion in nine (37.5%) cases, remnant neck in six (25.0%), and remnant sac in nine (37.5%). Overall procedural related morbidity and mortality rates were 12.5% and 4.2%, respectively. Angiographic follow-up was available in 16 patients (66.7%). Mean and median follow-up periods were 27.2 (range, 2-77) and 10.5 months, respectively. In 12 cases (12/16, 75%) stable occlusion was achieved, four cases (4/16, 25%) had recanalized, and two of these were retreated with additional coiling. At clinical follow-up of the nine ruptured cases, three patients (33.3%) achieved a good clinical outcome (Glasgow outcome scale [GOS] score of 4 or 5), two (22.2%) a poor outcome (GOS score of 2 or 3), and four patients (44.4%) expired (GOS 1). On the other hand, of the 15 unruptured cases, 13 patients (86.7%) achieved a good clinical outcome (GOS 4 or 5), one patient a poor outcome (GOS score of 2 or 3), and one patient expired (GOS 1). Conclusion : The present study shows endosaccular treatment of very large or giant intracranial aneurysms with parent artery preservation is both feasible and effective with acceptable morbidity and mortality.