In recent years, in the absence of venous component, dilated, overlapping, and tortuous arteries forming a mass of arterial loops with a coil-like appearance have been defined as pure arterial malformation (PAM). It is extremely rare, and its etiology and treatment have not yet been fully elucidated. Here, we reported 2 cases of PAM with associated aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage in this paper. Both patients had severe headache as the first symptom. Subarachnoid hemorrhage was found by CT and computed tomography angiography (CTA) and PAM with associated aneurysm was found by digital subtraction angiography (DSA). In view of the distribution of blood and the location of aneurysms, the aneurysm rupture was the most likely to be considered. Based on the involvement of the lesion in the distal blood supply, only the aneurysm was clamped during the operation. It used to be consider that PAM is safety, because of the presentation and natural history of previously reported cases. Through the cases we reported, we have doubted about "the benign natural history" and discussed its treatment. PAM can promote the formation of aneurysms and should be reviewed regularly. The surgical indications for PAM patients with aneurysm formation need to be further clarified. Management of PAM patients with ruptured aneurysm is the same as that of ruptured aneurysm. Whether there are indications needed to treat simple arterial malformations remains to be further elucidated with the multicenter, randomized controlled studies on this disease.
Aneurysm, Ruptured/surgery* ; Angiography, Digital Subtraction ; Cerebral Angiography ; Humans ; Intracranial Aneurysm/surgery* ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage/etiology*

The authors have reviewed and analyzed 105 cases of unruptured cerebral aneurysms in 94 patients from the medical records of 407 patients who had aneurysm sugery consecutively since the advent of microsurgery at the Department of Neurosurgery of Yonsei University. This study was done to define the clinical characteristics of intact intracranial aneurysms and to determine the principles of their management. There was no surgical mortality among 75 cases of intact intracranial aneurysms in 68 patients. Two cases of morbidity were not directly related to the surgery of intact aneurysms. As a result of the analysis of the cases, it was concluded that all symptomatic aneurysms should be treated immediately after the diagnosis, because they tend to be large in size and prone to rupture. If asymptomatic multiple unruptured aneurysms are accessible during surgery for a ruptured aneurysm, they should be treated at the same time. The decision for the treatment of unruptured aneurysms located opposite to ruptured ones or detected incidentally, should be made at the surgeon's discretion. The authors' belief is that intact intracranial aneurysms should be corrected regardless of their size when detected in young patients, in hypertensive patients, in hypertensive patients, or in patients with such high flow lesions as arteriovenous malformation.
Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Human ; Intracranial Aneurysm/surgery* ; Male ; Middle Age ; Postoperative Complications/etiology ; Prognosis ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage/surgery

Simultaneous occurrence of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) and hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is very rare and only two cases have been previously reported in the literatures. We present a case of 68-yr-old man with a history of untreated hypertension, who suffered from sudden onset of headache followed by right hemiparesis. Computed tomographic (CT) scan revealed SAH in the basal cistern and remote ICH at the left putamen. Cerebral angiography showed a saccular aneurysm at the anterior communicating artery. No other vascular anomaly could be found at left putaminal area. Nine days after the ictal attack of SAH, the neck of aneurysm was clipped via the left frontotemporal craniotomy. Because of the ICH at the left frontal lobe and intraventricular hematoma on postoperative CT, we performed hematoma removal and external ventricular drainage 3 hours after the first operation. Postoperative neurological status had been improved to be drowsy and he was discharged in a severely disabled state 4 weeks after surgery. We suggest that the rupture of aneurysm possibly caused a rapid increase in blood pressure and subsequently resulted in hypertensive ICH.
Aged ; Aneurysm, Ruptured/*complications/radiography/surgery ; Carotid Arteries/radiography ; Humans ; Intracranial Hemorrhage, Hypertensive/*complications/radiography/surgery ; Male ; Putaminal Hemorrhage/*complications/radiography/surgery ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage/*etiology/radiography/surgery ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Recently, it was reported that fenestration of the lamina terminalis (LT) may reduce the incidence of shunt-dependent hydrocephalus in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). The authors investigated the efficacy of the LT opening on the incidence of shunt-dependent hydrocephalus in the ruptured anterior communicating artery (ACoA) aneurysms. The data of 71-ruptured ACoA aneurysm patients who underwent aneurysmal clipping in acute stage were reviewed retrospectively. Group I (n=36) included the patients with microsurgical fenestration of LT during surgery, Group II (n=35) consisted of patients in whom fenestration of LT was not feasible. The rate of shunt-dependent hydrocephalus was compared between two groups by logistic regression to control for confounding factors. Ventriculo-peritoneal shunts were performed after aneurysmal obliteration in 18 patients (25.4%). The conversion rates from acute hydrocephalus on admission to chronic hydrocephalus in each group were 29.6% (Group I) and 58.8% (Group II), respectively. However, there was no significant correlation between the microsurgical fenestration and the rate of occurrence of shunt-dependent hydrocephalus (p>0.05). Surgeons should carefully decide the concomitant use of LT fenestration during surgery for the ruptured ACoA aneurysms because of the microsurgical fenestration of LT can play a negative role in reducing the incidence of chronic hydrocephalus.
Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Hydrocephalus/etiology/*prevention & control ; Hypothalamus/surgery ; Intracranial Aneurysm/complications/*surgery ; Male ; Microsurgery/*methods ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage/etiology/*surgery ; Treatment Outcome ; Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt/*methods

OBJECTIVETo evaluate clinical strategy and effect of early-mid-phase microsurgery for ruptured cerebral anterior circulating aneurysm.

METHODSSeventy-five patients presenting with anterior circulating aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) underwent early-mid-phase (within 3 days or 3-10 days) microsurgical clipping at Huashan Hospital between January 2001 and August 2004. Glasgow outcome scale (GOS) was conducted to evaluate patients' outcomes.

RESULTSOf 81 intracranial aneurysms, 77 lesions were clipped successfully, and 4 were wrapped. Good outcome was achieved in 53 cases, mild disability in 9 cases, severe disability in 7 cases, persistent vegetative state in 3 cases, and 3 patients (4%) died after surgery. The difference of GOS was statistically significant between patients in Hunt and Hess Grade I-III and Grade IV-V. However, there was no significant difference between early surgery and metaphase surgery.

CONCLUSIONSEarly-mid-phase microsurgery for ruptured cerebral anterior circulating aneurysm is considered the feasible opinion.

Acute Disease ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Aneurysm, Ruptured ; complications ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Intracranial Aneurysm ; complications ; surgery ; Male ; Microsurgery ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Neurosurgical Procedures ; methods ; Retrospective Studies ; Rupture, Spontaneous ; complications ; surgery ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage ; etiology ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo simulate the surgical approaches for intracranial aneurysms using three-dimensional CT angiography (3D-CTA) and assess the value of 3D-CTA in early microneurosurgery for ruptured intracranial aneurysms.

METHODSForty-eight patients with spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage due to ruptured intracranial aneurysm were confirmed by early operation. All the patients were classified according to Hunt-Hess, including 11 of grade I, 29 of grade II, and 8 of grade III. CTA was performed before the operation and surgical simulation was conducted. The preoperative findings on CTA and the intraoperative findings were compared and the clinical value of cerebral 3D-CTA was analyzed.

RESULTSPre-operative 3D-CTA clearly displayed the location, size and shape of the aneurysms, the axis direction of the aneurysm apex and the width of aneurysm neck. The spatial relation between the parent aneutysm artery, the aneurysm, the peripheral vessels and the bony structures were also demonstrated. These findings were basically consistent with the intraoperative findings. The Glasgow outcome score was 5 in 41 patients, 4 in 4 patients, 3 in 2 patients, and 2 in 1 patient upon discharge from the hospital.

CONCLUSIONSPreoperative 3D-CTA examination can simulate the surgery for ruptured aneurysms to help improve the surgical success rate.

Adult ; Aged ; Aneurysm, Ruptured ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Cerebral Angiography ; methods ; Computer Simulation ; Female ; Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Intracranial Aneurysm ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Radiography, Interventional ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage ; diagnostic imaging ; etiology ; surgery ; Tomography, Spiral Computed

OBJECTIVETo investigate risk factors for the occurrence of shunt-dependent hydrocephalus in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH).

METHODSA cohort of 136 consecutive patients who were treated for ruptured aneurysms within 72 h after onset of aSAH from January 2011 to January 2013 were retrospectively analyzed. Lumbar drainage was performed during the surgery in all patients. The risk factors of shunt-dependent hydrocephalus were analyzed.

RESULTSOf 136 patients, 23 (16.91%) underwent shunt operation to treat shunt-dependent hydrocephalus. Univariate analysis showed that Hunt-Hess grade at admission (P<0.01), Fisher grade (P<0.01), the presence of intraventricular hemorrhage (P<0.01), location of ruptured aneurysm (P=0.001), and the average daily volume of cerebrospinal fluid drainage (CSF) (P=0.047) were associated with shunt-dependent hydrocephalus.

CONCLUSIONThe aSAH patients with poor Hunt-Hess grade at admission, high Fisher grade, the presence of intraventricular hemorrhage, ruptured aneurysm in posterior circulation, and abnormal average daily volume of CSF are more likely to develop shunt-depended hydrocephalus.

Adult ; Aged ; Aneurysm, Ruptured ; complications ; Arteriovenous Shunt, Surgical ; adverse effects ; Female ; Humans ; Hydrocephalus ; etiology ; prevention & control ; Intracranial Aneurysm ; complications ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage ; etiology ; surgery

BACKGROUNDIntracranial vessel injury is a severe complication of transsphenoidal surgery (TSS) for lesions of sellar region. The purpose of this study was to improve recognition of the complication.

METHODSThe clinical data of 400 cases of TSS for sellar region from 1964 to 2004 were reviewed retrospectively. Ten patients with complications of intracranial vessel injury were included in this study, 7 underwent transsphenoidal microsurgery and 3 underwent endoscopic TSS. Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) occurred in 8 cases, hemorrhage of cavernous sinus in one, and post-operative cerebral hemorrhagic infarction caused by thrombosis of injured right internal carotid artery in one. The clinical data of all the patients were analyzed.

RESULTSThe SAH resulted from hemorrhage of residues of tumor in 2 patients and from damaged sellar and arachnoidea in 6 patients. The cause of hemorrhage of anterior intercavernous sinus was malformation of anterior intercavernous sinus. The reason of thrombus of internal carotid artery was manipulation of operation. Three patients died and six patients were cured. One patient lived with hemiplegia.

CONCLUSIONSThe cause of intracranial vessels injury of TSS is complicated. Detailed anatomic knowledge of seller and skilled operation is helpful to reduce the complication.

Adult ; Cerebral Infarction ; diagnosis ; etiology ; prevention & control ; Female ; Humans ; Intracranial Hemorrhages ; diagnosis ; etiology ; prevention & control ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications ; diagnosis ; etiology ; prevention & control ; Retrospective Studies ; Sella Turcica ; surgery ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage ; diagnosis ; etiology ; prevention & control ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed