Comprehensive Anatomic Assessment of the Pterional Orbitopterional and Orbitozygomatic Approaches for Basilar Apex Aneurysm Clipping

Department

neurosurgery

Document Type

Article

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The pterional approach, along with its orbitopterional and orbitozygomatic extensions, isamong the most commonsurgical approaches for tackling challenging aneurysms of the basilar artery apex (BAX). There is general consensus that the orbitozygomatic approach provides the best exposure for these lesions. However, there is little objective evidence to support approach selection for surgical treatment of BAX aneurysms. OBJECTIVE: To compare different features regarding surgical treatment of BAX aneurysms between the pterional, orbitopterional, and orbitozygomatic approaches. METHODS: The pterional, orbitopterional, and orbitozygomatic approacheswere sequentially completed on 10 cadaveric specimens. The visibility of perforators, lengths of exposure, and safe clipping for major BAX branches, surgical area of exposure, and the surgical freedom for the BAX target were assessed. RESULTS: The orbitopterional approach provided significantly greater values than the pterional approach in all variables, except for exposure of the bilateral P1 posterior cerebral artery (PCA) perforators.When compared to the orbitopterional approach, the orbitozygomatic approach did not provide a statistically significant increase in (1) surgical freedom through the carotid-oculomotor triangle, (2) area of exposure, (3) ipsilateral, and (4) contralateral P1 PCA perforator visibility, and (5) ipsilateral PCA exposure and (6) clipping lengths. CONCLUSION: The orbitopterional approach provides significantly greater surgical exposure to BAX than the pterional approach. The orbitopterional approach is less invasive while providing similar surgical access to the BAX compared to the orbitozygomatic. The results of this study show that the orbitopterional approach may be optimal for the treatment ofmost BAX aneurysms, particularly to reduce morbidity resulting from the full orbitozygomatic approach.

Publication Date

2018

Publication Title

Operative Neurosurgery

ISSN

2332-4252

Volume

15

Issue

5

First Page

538

Last Page

550

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1093/ons/opx265

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