Management Outcomes of Aneurysms of Vertebral Artery and its Branches

Ahn, Jae Sung; Kim, Joon Soo; Kim, Jeong Hoon; kwon, Yang; Kwun, Byung Duk

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
Aneurysms of vertebral artery and its branches make up approximately 3% of all intracranial aneurysms. As the aneurysm have an intimate relationship with lower cranial nerves and medulla, surgical management of the aneurysms are one of the challenging neurosurgical problems. The authors analyzed the management outcomes for aneurysms arising from vertebral artery and its branches.
METHODS
At the authors' institution between May 1989 and Jan. 2000, 42 patients were treated with transcranial and endovascular surgery for aneurysms of vertebral artery and its branches. The medical records and neuroimaging studies of the patients were reviewed retrospectively.
RESULTS
Forty two patients were comprised of 28 female and 14 male patients aged from 26-80 year old(mean:51.8). Of the 42 patients, 37 patients(88%) had subarachnoid hemorrhage. Of the 37 patients with subarachnoid hemorrahge, 35 patients(95%) were in good neurological status(Hunt Hess grade I-III), 2 patients(5%) in poor grade(H-H grade VI-V) before operation. Location of the aneurysm were 16 in vertebral artery, 12 in vertebro-PICA junction, and 14 in the peripheral PICA. Twenty nine patients were treated with transcranial surgery and 13 patients with endovascular surgery. The management outcome of the transcranial surgery was:Glasgow outcome scale(GOS) I and II ; 24, GOS III ; 2, GOS IV ; 1 and GOS V (death) ; 2. The causes of mortality related to transcranial surgery were rebleeding after failure in clipping in one and suspected brainstem infarct in one. Morbidity was attributed to vasospasm(3), lower CN palsy(7, including temporary dysfunction) and pseudomeningocele(1). The management outcome of the endovascular surgery was:Glasgow outcome scale(GOS) I-II ; 9, GOS III ; 1, GOS IV ; 1, and GOS V (death) ; 2. The causes of mortality related to endovascular surgery were sepsis from pneumonia(1) and vasospasm(1). There were one cerebellar infarct and one lateral medullary syndrome.
CONCLUSION
Excellent and good surgical results can be expected in 80% of the patients with aneurysms of vertebral arery and its branches. The outcomes of endovascular surgery in treating vertebral artery aneurysm were satisfactory and endovascular surgery may offer a therapeutic alternative especially in vertebral dissecting aneurysm.