• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.59 no.3
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• pp.269-275
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• 2016

Objective : Although middle cerebral artery (MCA) aneurysms are less amenable to coil embolization, an increasing number of studies support favorable endovascular treatment for them. The purpose of this study is to compare the outcomes of two different treatments (surgery versus coiling) and evaluate the benefits of surgical clipping for MCA aneurysms. Methods : Here we retrospectively analyzed the outcomes of 178 ruptured and unruptured MCA aneurysms treated in patients between September 2008 and April 2012. Parameters assessing treatment outcomes include degree of aneurysm occlusion, presence of regrowth, clinical status, and complications. Results : Among 178 MCA aneurysms, 153 were treated surgically. After a mean follow-up of 12 months, the surgery group showed a clinically significant complete occlusion rate (98%) compared with the coiling group (56%) (p<0.001). Follow-up radiologic evaluation showed a higher regrowth rate (four of 16 cases) in the coiling group than in the surgery group (one of 49 cases) (p=0.003). There was no statistically significant difference in favorable clinical outcome rate between the two groups. The procedure-related permanent morbidity and mortality rates were 2% (three of 153 cases) in the surgery group and 0% (0 of 25 cases) in the coiling group. Conclusion : Compared to endovascular treatment, surgical neck clipping for both ruptured and unruptured MCA aneurysms results in a significantly higher complete obliteration rate and less regrowth. Therefore, even in this endovascular era, we still recommend surgical clipping as the primary treatment option for MCA aneurysms rather than coil embolization.

• Journal of Cerebrovascular and Endovascular Neurosurgery
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.214-223
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• 2023

Embolization of the middle meningeal artery (MMA) is a safe and effective adjunct in the treatment of chronic subdural hematoma. While prior authors describe the use of coils to assist embolization by preventing reflux through eloquent collaterals, we de- scribe the use of coils to further open the MMA, allowing the administration of greater amounts of embolisate for a more robust embolization. The objective of this study was to demonstrate that helical coils can safely open the MMA following the administration of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) particles. This allows for more embolisate to be administered into the MMA for more effective treatment. A retrospective review was conducted at our institution including intraoperative images and postoperative clinical and radiographic follow up. Failure rates using MMA embolization with PVA and helical coil augmentation were compared to failure rates in the literature of MMA embolization with PVA or ethylene vinyl-alcohol copolymer alone. A total of 8 cases were reviewed in which this technique was implemented. There were no immediate complications after treatment. All patients that underwent helical coil embolization following the administration of PVA had increased amount of embolisate delivered into the MMA. All patients at follow up had resolution of the subdural hematoma on outpatient imaging. Helical coil embolization allows for more embolisate administration into the MMA and provides a technical advantage for patients that fail traditional techniques of embolization. Case series are taking place to further test this hypothesis and identify the ideal patient population that may gain maximal yield from this novel technique.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.179-186
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• 2005

Objective: The purpose of this paper is to report our experiences in managing seventeen cases of residual intracranial aneurysms following surgical or endovascular treatment and discuss the incidence of residual aneurysms, the indications and technique of retreatment of residual aneurysms. Methods: During a period of 42 months, we treated 391 aneurysms in 339 patients with microsurgical clipping or GDC embolization as a primary treatment. In 39 of them, follow-up angiography revealed residual aneurysms and seventeen of whom were retreated. There were eleven cases in ACoA, three cases in distal ICA, one, in each of MCA, ACA and basilar artery. We reviewed retrospectively the clinical notes, operation records and cerebral angiograms of seventeen patients who had been treated for residual aneurysms. Results: Complementary treatment was performed in 8 cases by means of surgery and in 9 cases by means of GDC embolization. There were eleven females and six males with an age variation between 29 and 78 years. The mean duration of angiographic follow-up was 17.3 months. Of the seventeen cases that were treated for residual aneurysms, fourteen achieved complete occlusion. Of 17 retreated patients, fifteen patients had good recovery according to the Glasgow Outcome Scale. Conclusion: When occlusion after endovascular or surgical treatment is incomplete, a new multidisciplinary approach should be carried out. Given our experiences, we recommend coil embolization of the choice in cases that the residual aneurysmal neck had been narrowed by previous clipping. On the other hand, if the residual aneurysm has enough space to clip but not enough to coil, we recommend the microsurgical clipping.

• Journal of Cerebrovascular and Endovascular Neurosurgery
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.235-240
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• 2018

The safety and feasibility of simple coil embolization and stent deployment for the treatment of posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) aneurysms, as well as their radiologic and clinical results, have not been adequately understood. Especially, if dissecting aneurysm of proximal PICA is associated with small caliber PICA and stenosis of ipsilateral vertebral artery orifice (VAO), endovascular coiling with saving of PICA is not always easy. This 64-year-old man presented with subarachnoid hemorrhage due to a ruptured dissecting aneurysm of left proximal PICA. The aneurysm was irregularly fusiform in nature with a shallow PICA orifice (1.4 mm) and narrow caliber (0.9-1.5 mm). Moreover, the ipsilateral VAO showed severe stenosis (1.8 mm). We performed bifemoral puncture and chose additional route from right vertebral artery to left vertebrobasilar junction for retrograde approach and deployment of LVIS Jr. intraluminal support at proximal PICA. And then, the antegrade approach and coiling of aneurysm was done. Despite of transient thrombus of PICA, the aneurysm was successfully secured with preservation of whole PICA course. For preservation of narrow PICA with ipsilateral VAO stenosis, the contralateral approach and deployment of LVIS Jr. intraluminal support may be considered.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.151-154
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• 2005

A 43-year-old woman was admitted with the chief complaint of progressive visual disturbance and her brain radiological studies disclosed well demarcated tumor at tuberculum sellae area and bilateral mirror image paraclinoid internal carotid artery saccular aneurysms. A larger left side aneurysm was pointing medialy and almost encased by the tumor. Although a brain tumor and intracranial aneurysm can be simultaneously treated by surgery, the high risk of intra-operative aneurysm rupture should be considered. Therefore, the author secondly performed tumor resection after the endovascular embolization of the aneurysm which was embedding the tumor using a Guglielmi detachable coil. After successful treatment of the patient with tuberculum sellae meningioma associated with bilateral mirror image paraclinoid aneurysms using endovascular and surgical techniques, the authors present the case with a review of the related literatures.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.60 no.2
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• pp.262-268
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• 2017

Objective : Stents are widely used in coil embolization of intracranial aneurysms, but on occasion, a microcatheter must traverse a stented segment of artery (so-called trans-cell technique) to select an aneurysm, or double stenting may necessary. In such situations, microguidewire passage and microcatheter delivery through a tortuous stented parent artery may pose a technical challenge. Described herein is a microguidewire looping technique to facilitate endovascular navigation in these circumstances. Methods : To apply this technique, the microguidewire tip is looped before entering the stented parent artery and then advanced distally past the stented segment, with the loop intact. Rounding of the tip prevents interference from stent struts during passage. A microcatheter is subsequently passed into the stented artery for positioning near the neck of aneurysm, with microguidewire assistance. The aneurysm is then selected, steering the microcatheter tip (via inner microguidewire) into the dome. Results : This technique proved successful during coil embolization of nine saccular intracranial aneurysms (internal carotid artery [ICA], 6; middle cerebral artery, 2; basilar tip, 1), performing eight trans-cell deliveries and one additional stenting. Selective endovascular embolization was enabled in all patients, resulting in excellent clinical and radiologic outcomes, with no morbidity or mortality directly attributable to microguidewire looping. Conclusion : Microguidewire looping is a reasonable alternative if passage through a stented artery is not feasible by traditional means, especially at paraclinoid ICA sites.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.178-181
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• 2008

Although endovascular intervention is the first-line treatment of intracranial aneurysm, intraprocedural rupture or extravasation is still an endangering event. We describe two interesting cases of extravasation during embolotherapy for ruptured peripheral cerebral pseudoaneurysms. Two male patients were admitted after development of sudden headache with presentation of intracerebral and subarachnoid hemorrhage, respectively. Initial angiographic assessment failed to uncover any aneurysmal dilatation in both patients. Two weeks afterwards, catheter angiography revealed aneurysms each in the peripheral middle cerebral artery and anterior inferior cerebellar artery. Under a general anesthesia, endovascular embolization was attempted without systemic heparinization. In each case, sudden extravasation was noted around the aneurysm during manual injection of contrast after microcatheter navigation. Immediate computed tomographic scan showed a large amount of contrast collection within the brain, but they tolerated and made an unremarkable recovery thereafter. Intraprocedural extravasation is an endangering event and needs prompt management, however proximal plugging with coil deployment can be sufficient alternative, if one confronts with peripheral pseudoaneurysm. Peculiar angiographic features are deemed attributable to extremely fragile, porous vascular wall of the pseudoaneurysm. Accordingly, it should be noted that extreme caution being needed to handle such a friable vascular lesion.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.248-251
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• 2011

Intracranial pial arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) are rare vascular lesions of the brain. These lesions consist of one or more arterial connection to a single venous channel without true intervening nidus. A 24-year-old woman visited to our hospital because of headache, vomiting, dizziness and memory disturbance that persisted for three days. She complained several times of drop attack because of sudden weakness on both leg. Cerebral angiograms demonstrated a giant venous aneurysm on right frontal lobe beyond the genu of corpus callosum, multiple varices on both frontal lobes fed by azygos anterior cerebral artery, and markedly dilated draining vein into superior sagittal sinus, suggesting single channel pial AVF with multiple varices. Transarterial coil embolization of giant aneurysm and fistulous portion resulted in complete disappearance of pial AVF without complication.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.59-63
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• 2007

Operative clipping after previous endovascular coiling in an aneurysm is a different problem from primary clipping procedure for neurosurgeons. With the increasing use of coil embolization, neurosurgeons will more and more face the similar situation. We report surgical clipping cases of intracranial aneurysm regrown after endovascular coiling. Three patients with a history of subarachnoid hemorrhage due to ruptured aneurysm underwent endovascular treatment (EVT) with detachable coils. The aneurysms were in the posterior communicating artery, the middle cerebral artery and distal anterior cerebral artery (DACA). Two near-total occlusions and one partial occlusion were achieved by EVT. After several months, angiographic follow-up revealed regrowth of the aneurysm requiring surgical clipping. Here, we report three cases in which surgical clipping was more difficult than a usual clipping procedure performed several months after EVT, because of adhesion and coil bulging into the aneurysmal neck. The difficulty of the treatment of the residual aneurysm after coiling is discussed, as are the surgical complications and limitations of clipping.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.116-119
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• 2010

Purpose: Arteriovenous fistulas that involve the cavernous sinus often produce ophthalmologic symptoms and signs. Transvenous endovascular access is the method of choice for a carotid-cavernous sinus fistula. The superior ophthalmic vein is a safe and reasonable alternative route for the transvenous embolization of carotid-cavernous sinus fistula. We report a case of the embolization of a carotid-cavernous sinus fistula using the superior ophthalmic vein approach. Methods: A 58 year old female had conjunctival congestion, periocular pain and diplopia with a 2 month duration. Diagnostic orbital CT, brain MRI and cerebral angiography revealed a carotid-cavernous sinus fistula. The fistula occlusion was treated by coil embolization using the superior ophthalmic vein approach. Results: The initial presenting symptoms, conjunctival congestion, periocular pain and diplopia, decreased after surgery. Coil embolization via the superior ophthalmic vein approach was difficult because of the venous tortuosity and friability. During the follow up period, the patient was in a good condition without complications. Conclusion: Surgical exposure of the superior ophthalmic vein provides direct venous access to the cavernous sinus as well as an effective and safe treatment approach. The cooperation of the plastic surgeon and interventionist is a factor in successful treatment.