• 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.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.104-108
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• 2008

Background: The compression of 7th cranial nerve by arteries is one of the various causes of hemifacial spasm (HFS). A few previous studies were revealed the relation between the compression of 7th cranial nerve and common trunk anomaly. We evaluated the common trunk anomalies in patients with HFS using MRI and MRA. Methods: From January 2001 to December 2005, 41 consecutive patients (9 men, mean age $54.5{\pm}12.6$) with HFS underwent MRI and MRA. T2 axial images and time-of-flight angiographies were reviewed for identification of the compression at root exit zone by two neuroradiologists and one neurologist. Results: Thirty-seven patients showed neurovascular compression on the lesion side. Twenty patients of them were shown the compression of 7th cranial nerve by anterior inferior cerebellar artery (AICA), and seventeen patients of them were shown the compression by posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA). Twenty-four patients of the thirty-seven patients had common trunk anomaly. In control, twelve of twenty-one subjects had common trunk anomaly, that the frequencies of common trunk anomaly of two groups were 58.8% in HFS and 57.1% in controls. In the twenty-four patients with common trunk anomaly, eighteen patients had dominant-AICA, and six patients had dominant-PICA. The rate of nerve compression by common trunk anomaly in the HFS with unilateral common trunk, dominant-AICA was 76.5% and dominant-PICA was 100%. Conclusions: This study also revealed that AICA was most common compressive artery. There was no difference between the HFS groups and control groups in frequency of common trunk anomaly. Thus, we could not demonstrate the relationship between common trunk anomaly and HFS.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.56 no.2
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• pp.149-151
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• 2014

The cerebello-pontine angle lipomas causing trigeminal neuralgia or hemifacial spasm are rare. A lipoma causing glossopharyngel neuralgia is also very rare. A 46-year-old woman complained of 2-year history of severe right throat pain, with ipsilateral episodic otalgic pain. The throat pain was described as an episodic lancinating character confined to the throat. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging revealed a suspicious offending posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) compressing lower cranial nerves including glossopharyngeal nerve. At surgery, a soft, yellowish mass ($2{\times}3{\times}3mm$ in size) was found incorporating the lateral aspect of proximal portion of 9th and 10th cranial nerves. Only microvascular decompression of the offending PICA was performed. Additional procedure was not performed. Her severe lancinating pain remained unchanged, immediate postoperatively. The neuralgic pain disappeared over a period of several weeks. In this particular patient with a fatty neurovascular lump causing glossopharyngeal neuralgia, microvascular decompression of offending vessel alone was enough to control the neuralgic pain.

• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.182-189
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• 2001

If the proximal portion of the fourth segment of the vertebral onery is occluded before the posterior inferior cerebellar artery branch, ischemia usually affects the lateral medulla oblongata or the ipsilateral side of the cerebellum. The lateral medullary syndrome(wallenberg syndrome) resulting from occlusion in this area is common. 62 years old male who has swallowing difficulty, dizziness and diagnosed as the lateral medullary syndrome(wallenberg syndrome) is admitted in Wonkwang university oriental medical hospital Kwangju. We have diagnosed him as Taeumin and treated by east integrated therapy. We classified this as Taenmin-liyoiljung(太陰人 裏熱症) and prescribed chungsimyoinjatang(淸心蓮子湯) to the principle of cheongganjoyoil(淸肝燥熱). In the result, we had the improvement of the symptoms. This report described the process and contents about the way the patient was cured.

• Journal of Cerebrovascular and Endovascular Neurosurgery
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.223-226
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• 2024

Percutaneous techniques for femoral arterial access are increasingly being performed due to advances in endovascular cerebral procedures, as they provide a less morbid and minimally invasive approach than open procedures. Common complications associated with this peripheral puncture include hematoma, bleeding, pseudoaneurysm, arteriovenous fistula, retroperitoneal bleeding, inadvertent venous puncture, dissection, etc. The retrograde femoral access is currently the most frequently used arterial access as it is technically straightforward, allows for the use of larger size sheaths and catheters, allows repeated attempts, etc. Although being technically less challenging, grave complications can occur due to hardware failure. Here, we present a case of unruptured posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) aneurysm, who underwent uneventful diagnostic cerebral digital substraction angiography (DSA) via right femoral artery route on first attempt, but on second attempt for therapeutic intervention, landed up with stuck guide wire and faced decannulation difficulty due to unravelling of guide wire and multiple knot formation, which was finally removed after multiple attempts at pulling and improvised manoeuvres. Such cannulation and decannulation difficulties have been reported multiple times for central venous access, but extremely rarely for femoral routes, making this case a rarity and worth reporting.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.60 no.6
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• pp.738-748
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• 2017

Objective : We present our experience of microvascular decompression (MVD) for glossopharyngeal neuralgia (GPN) and evaluate the postoperative outcomes in accordance with four different operative techniques during MVD. Methods : In total, 30 patients with intractable primary typical GPN who underwent MVD without rhizotomy and were followed for more than 2 years were included in the analysis. Each MVD was performed using one of four different surgical techniques : interposition of Teflon pieces, transposition of offending vessels using Teflon pieces, transposition of offending vessels using a fibrin-glue-coated Teflon sling, and removal of offending veins. Results : The posterior inferior cerebellar artery was responsible for neurovascular compression in 27 of 30 (90%) patients, either by itself or in combination with other vessels. The location of compression on the glossopharyngeal nerve varied; the root entry zone (REZ) only (63.3%) was most common, followed by both the REZ and distal portion (26.7%) and the distal portion alone (10.0%). In terms of detailed surgical techniques during MVD, the offending vessels were transposed in 24 (80%) patients, either using additional insulation, offered by Teflon pieces (15 patients), or using a fibrin glue-coated Teflon sling (9 patients). Simple insertion of Teflon pieces and removal of a small vein were also performed in five and one patient, respectively. During the 2 years following MVD, 29 of 30 (96.7%) patients were asymptomatic or experienced only occasional pain that did not require medication. Temporary hemodynamic instability occurred in two patients during MVD, and seven patients experienced transient postoperative complications. Neither persistent morbidity nor mortality was reported. Conclusion : This study demonstrates that MVD without rhizotomy is a safe and effective treatment option for GPN.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.62 no.1
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• pp.35-45
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• 2019

Objective : To describe our experiences with a fully equipped high-end digital subtraction angiography (DSA) system within a hybrid operating room (OR). Methods : A single-plane DSA system with 3-dimensional rotational angiography, cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), and real-time navigation software was used in our hybrid OR. Between April 2014 and January 2018, 191 sessions of cerebrovascular procedures were performed in our hybrid OR. After the retrospective review of all cases, the procedures were categorized into three subcategorical procedures : combined endovascular and surgical procedure, complementary rescue procedure during intervention and surgery, and frameless stereotaxic operation. Results : Forty-nine of 191 procedures were performed using hybrid techniques. Four cases of blood blister aneurysms and a ruptured posterior inferior cerebellar artery aneurysm were treated using bypass surgery and endovascular trapping. Eight cases of ruptured aneurysm with intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) were treated by partial embolization and surgical clipping. Six cases of ruptured arteriovenous malformation with ICH were treated by Onyx embolization of nidus and subsequent surgical removal of nidus and ICH. Two (5.4%) of the 37 cases of pre-mature rupture during clipping were secured by endovascular coil embolization. In one (0.8%) complicated case of 103 intra-arterial thrombectomy procedures, emergency surgical embolectomy with bypass surgery was performed. In 27 cases of ICH, frameless stereotaxic hematoma aspiration was performed using $XperGuide^{(R)}$ system (Philips Medical Systems, Best, the Netherlands). All procedures were performed in single sessions without any procedural complications. Conclusion : Hybrid OR with a fully equipped DSA system could provide precise and safe treatment strategies for cerebrovascular diseases. Especially, we could suggest a strategy to cope flexibly in complex lesions or unexpected situations in hybrid OR. CBCT with real-time navigation software could augment the usefulness of hybrid OR.