• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.55 no.1
• /
• pp.36-39
• /
• 2014

Treatment of complex aneurysms usually entails not only direct clipping but also alternative treatment modality. We recently experienced a case of vertebral artery dissecting aneurysm and obtained good treatment outcomes. Our case suggests that the endovascular segmental occlusion with posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) to PICA side anastomosis might be a good treatment option in patients with complex vertebral artery dissecting aneurysms. A 45-year-old woman has a left vertebral dissecting aneurysm with dizziness. Based on the aneurysmal morphology and the involvement of PICA, the patient underwent side to side anastomosis of the PICA. This was followed by the endovascular segmental coil occlusion. The aneurysmal sac was completely obliterated. At a 2-year follow-up, the patient achieved a good patency of both PICA. In conclusion our case suggests that the endovascular segmental occlusion of the parent artery followed by PICA to PICA bypass surgery through a midline suboccipital approach is a reasonable multimodal treatment option in patients with complex vertebral artery dissecting aneurysms.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.30 no.1
• /
• pp.66-72
• /
• 2001

Apatient with multiple dissecting aneurysms of a posterior inferior cerebellar artery trunk who presented with SAH is reported. A 58-year-old woman presented with sudden occipital headache, dizziness and vomiting. The intial vertebral angiography revealed a suspicious pearl and string sign at the proximal posterior inferior cerebellar artery(PICA) segment. After 2 weeks, follow up angiography showed a progression of the proximal PICA dissection and newly developed dissecting aneurysm of the distal PICA segment. A far lateral suboccipital transcondylar appoach confirmed two dissecting aneurysms at distant sites of the PICA trunk. The dissection segments were wrapped with muslin wrap, which preserved the flow through the PICA and brain stem perforators. The angiographys at 3 weeks and 6 months after operation revealed serial disappearance of the dissecting aneurysms which is distal to proximal. The diagnosis, course and treatment of the dissecting aneurysms of the PICA are discussed with literature review.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.41 no.3
• /
• pp.196-199
• /
• 2007

Dissecting aneurysms frequently involve the vertebral arteries and their branches, but those involving the posterior inferior cerebellar artery [PICA] and not vertebral artery at all are extremely rare. We present a case of an isolated dissecting aneurysm of the PICA without involvement of vertebral artery. A 54-year-old man presented with dizziness and headache. MR imaging of the brain showed a cerebellar infarction of the left PICA territory. MR angiographic and cerebral angiographic studies revealed a dissecting fusiform aneurysm involving the left proximal PICA. Subsequently, the patient underwent GDC embolization. A postembolization angiogram demonstrated complete obliteration of the aneurysm. In this report, the treatment modalities for this rare condition is described with review of the literature.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.38 no.3
• /
• pp.231-233
• /
• 2005

Here we report a case of ruptured dissecting aneurysm of the posterior inferior cerebellar artery[PICA] treated with proximal PICA coil occlusion using an endovascular technique. A 28-year-old man presented with acute severe headache and vomiting followed by seizure. At admission, he was drowsy, with diplopia and right ankle hypesthesia. Computed tomographic scans demonstrated a subarachnoid hemorrhage. Cerebral angiography demonstrated a dissecting aneurysm of the left proximal PICA. One day after the bleeding episode, he was undergone proximal PICA coil occlusion using an endovascular technique. The patient's postoperative course was uneventful. The decision that led to the choice of treatment is discussed.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.40 no.5
• /
• pp.369-372
• /
• 2006

The dissecting aneurysms of the posterior cerebral circulation arise most commonly from the vertebral artery and occasionally extend to the posterior inferior cerebellar artery[PICA]. The dissecting aneurysm localized in the PICA without involving the vertebral artery is rare. We present a PICA dissecting aneurysm that had kaleidoscopic clinical course of bleeding, occlusion, and recanalization before the surgery. The patient had serial follow-up angiograms based on significant changes of clinical status. The patient successfully underwent microsurgical trapping with clips for the dissecting aneurysm and showed neurological improvement.

• Journal of Cerebrovascular and Endovascular Neurosurgery
• /
• v.20 no.4
• /
• pp.235-240
• /
• 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
• /
• v.58 no.5
• /
• pp.467-470
• /
• 2015

A 74-year-old patient was diagnosed with a subarachnoid hemorrhage suspected from a dissecting aneurysm located at the lateral medullary segment of the posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA). Because perforators to the medulla arose both proximal and distal to the dissecting segment, revascularization for distal flow was essential. However, several previously reported methods for anastomosis, such as an occipital artery-PICA bypass or resection with PICA end-to-end anastomosis could not be used. Ultimately, we performed an in situ side-to-side anastomosis of the proximal loop of the PICA with distal caudal loops within a single artery, as a "closing omega," followed by trapping of the dissected segment. The aneurysm was obliterated successfully, with intact patency of the revascularized PICA.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.41 no.5
• /
• pp.318-322
• /
• 2007

Regarding the bilateral vertebral artery [VA] dissecting aneurysms, treatment strategy remains controversial because there have not been enough cases to reach a conclusion on the best treatment. We present a patient underwent staged microsurgical trapping and endovascular coiling for each dissecting aneurysm of bilateral VA presenting subarachnoid hemorrhage [SAH]. The ruptured side was managed by VA trapping procedure without any neurological deficit. Postoperative cerebral angiography revealed patent right PICA without filling of previous right dissecting aneurysm and spontaneous occlusion of the left dissecting aneurysm one month after trapping procedure. However, follow-up angiography revealed recanalization and growing of the left VA dissecting aneurysm one year after the operation. The patient underwent endovascular embolization using GDC for the proximal occlusion of the left VA and postoperative course was uneventful.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.51 no.3
• /
• pp.155-159
• /
• 2012

The treatment of bilateral vertebral artery dissecting aneurysms (VADAs) presenting with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is still challenging. The authors report a rare case of bilateral VADA treated with coil trapping of ruptured VADA and covered stents implantation after multiple unsuccessful stent assisted coiling of the contralateral unruptured VADA. A 44-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because of severe headache and sudden stuporous consciousness. Brain CT showed thick SAH and intraventricular hemorrhage. Cerebral angiography demonstrated bilateral VADA. Based on the SAH pattern and aneurysm configurations, the right VADA was considered ruptured. This was trapped with endovascular coils without difficulty. One month later, the contralateral unruptured VADA was protected using a stent-within-a-stent technique, but marked enlargement of the left VADA was detected by 8-months follow-up angiography. Subsequently two times coil packing for pseudosacs resulted in near complete occlusion of left VADA. However, it continued to grow. Covered stents graft below the posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) origin and a coronary stent implantation across the origin of the PICA resulted in near complete obliteration of the VADA. Covered stent graft can be used as a last therapeutic option for the management of VADA, which requires absolute preservation of VA flow.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.51 no.3
• /
• pp.160-163
• /
• 2012

We report an unusual case of lateral medullary infarction after successful embolization of the vertebral artery dissecting aneurysm (VADA). A 49-year-old man who had no noteworthy previous medical history was admitted to our hospital with a severe headache. Computed tomography (CT) revealed a subarachnoid hemorrhage, located in the basal cistern and posterior fossa. Cerebral angiography showed a VADA, that did not involve the origin of the posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA). We treated this aneurysm via endovascular trapping of the vertebral artery distal to the PICA. After operation, CT revealed post-hemorrhagic hydrocephalus, which we resolved with a permanent ventriculoperitoneal shunt procedure. Postoperatively, the patient experienced transient mild hoarsness and dysphagia. Magnetic resonance image (MRI) showed a small infarction in the right side of the medulla. The patient recovered well, though he still had some residual symptom of dysphagia at discharge. Such an event is uncommon but can be a major clinical concern. Further investigation to reveal risk factors and/or causative mechanisms for the medullary infarction after successful endovascular trapping of the VADA are sorely needed, to minimize such a complication.