Microsurgerical treatment of PCA aneurysms via subtemporal approach monitored by microvascular doppler(10 cases report)

Objective To summarize the clinical features of intracranial aneurysms of posterior cerebral artery (PCA), and the surgical approaches and operative skills to treat them. Method The aneurysms arose from the P1 segment in 3 patients, the P2 segment in 5 patients and the P3 segment in 2 patients. Aneurysms on P1 segment were surgically treated via subtemporal associated pterional approach. Aneurysms on P2 and P3 segment were surgically treated via subtemporal approach. 7 aneurysms were successfully treated by clipping the aneurysmal neck,2 aneurysms were shaped and 1 aneurysm was isolated. 3 giant aneurysms were resected. Microvascular Doppler was conducted to examine the blood flow of aneurysms and parent arteries. Results 6 of 10 patients had postoperative good recovery. Temporal oculomotor palsy occurred in 2 patients, syntropic hemiablepsia occurred in 1 patients,light hemiplegia in 1 patient. All these patients were recovery with treatment. 1 oculomotor palsy and 1 syntropic hemiablepsia preoperation recovered postoperation after three months. Conclusions The microsurgery is one of the major methods for treating aneurysm of PCA. The subtemporal approach in treating aneurysm of PCA is simple,safe and good exposure. Microvascular doppler is a feasible, safe, and very reliable technique in aneurysm surgery. Key words: Posterior cerebral artery; Intracranial aneurysm; Microsurgery; Microvascular doppler