RESUMEN
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Aneurysms of the posterior cerebral circulation constitute a burdensome condition with high mortality and morbidity. In the modern era, there has been a trend toward favoring an endovascular approach over microsurgery for aneurysm cases. Nevertheless, this transition has yet to be mirrored in low-to-middle-income countries where endovascular therapy may not be widely available. Herein, we aim to illustrate our experience treating these challenging conditions in patients from low-income backgrounds and discuss the relevance of the clinical setting in the treatment decision. METHODS: The authors conducted a retrospective review of the health records of patients who received microsurgical treatment for aneurysms in the posterior circulation, including the basilar artery (BA), posterior cerebral artery (PCA), and posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) in an institution providing treatment to people of low-income backgrounds. Epidemiological data, microsurgical technique, and neurological function were retrieved and analyzed. RESULTS: Surgical clipping was employed for 12 patients (75% female) harboring 15 aneurysms (87% in the posterior circulation and 62% ruptured at presentation). Aneurysms were predominately located in the BA (69%), followed by the PCA (15%) and PICA (15%). Among neurological complications, 25% of patients developed oculomotor nerve palsy. The mortality rate was 17% owing to complications such as cerebral vasospasm, infarction, and severe intracranial hypertension. At the 6-month follow-up, 90% of patients had a good clinical outcome (modified Rankin scale scores of 0-2). CONCLUSION: The present case series illustrates the manifest role of microsurgical techniques for posterior circulation aneurysms, particularly in a scenario where endovascular techniques are not easily accessible. Importantly, this clinical setting pressure could exhort trainees to strive for microsurgical mastery and gain a competitive advantage.
Asunto(s)
Aneurisma Intracraneal , Microcirugia , Pobreza , Humanos , Femenino , Microcirugia/métodos , Aneurisma Intracraneal/cirugía , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Estudios Retrospectivos , Adulto , Anciano , Resultado del Tratamiento , Procedimientos Neuroquirúrgicos/métodos , Aneurisma Roto/cirugíaRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: The microscope is important in neurosurgery, but it is not exempt from limitations. The exoscope has emerged as an alternative because it offers better 3-dimensional (3D) visualization and better ergonomics. We present our initial experience in vascular pathology using 3D exoscopy at the Dos de Mayo National Hospital to show the viability of the 3D exoscope in vascular microsurgery. We also provide a review of the literature. METHODS: In this work, the Kinevo 900 exoscope was used in 3 patients with cerebral (2) and spinal (1) vascular pathology. We evaluated the image quality, equipment management, ergonomics, educational utility, and 3D glasses and recorded the characteristics of the cases. We reviewed the experience of other authors as well. RESULTS: Three patients underwent surgery: 1 occipital cavernoma, 1 cerebral dural fistula, and 1 spinal dural fistula. Excellent 3D visualization with Zeiss Kinevo 900 exoscope (Carl Zeiss, Germany), surgical comfort, and educational utility occurred, and there were no complications. CONCLUSIONS: Our experience and that of other authors suggests that the 3D exoscope shows excellent visualization, better ergonomics, and an innovative educational experience. Vascular microsurgery can be performed safely and effectively.