World Neurosurg
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This study aims to examine the risk factors that can cause intraoperative rupture (IOR), and especially, the role of surgical experience. To our knowledge, this is the first study to analyze the effect of the surgeon's experience on the IOR rate in 2 different perspectives. ⋯ Increased surgical experience reduces the IOR rate from 10%-11% to 4%-5% after an average of 250 aneurysm operations. However, this rate does not decrease further with more experience. To our knowledge, a learning curve regarding IOR is presented for the first time in the literature.
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The neurointerventional field is moving towards transradial access (TRA). Among the favorable indications for TRA is for posterior circulation/vertebrobasilar interventions. For some neurointerventions, a triaxial system (guide catheter, distal access catheter [DAC], and microcatheter) is typically used for optimal support. We describe application of a new technique in which we forgo use of the guide catheter, using the DAC only for coaxial access via the radial approach and its potential advantages. ⋯ TRA with a distal access catheter provides support equivalent to a triaxial system with a coaxial construct in the posterior circulation. This has the advantage of using a smaller system in the radial and vertebrobasilar artery without losing stability. This technique can be used effectively and safely for a variety of posterior circulation neuroendovascular interventions.
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Case Reports
Beware the wandering needle: inadvertent intramedullary injection during an attempted cervical medial branch block.
A 27-year-old man developed sudden neck pain, severe quadriparesis, and right shoulder allodynia during an outpatient cervical medial branch block procedure. Cervical spine imaging revealed evidence of an interlaminar needle trajectory with abnormal signal in the right hemicord at the level of C4, consistent with intramedullary injection and contusion. Following a 48-hour stay in the intensive care unit, during which hemodynamic vasopressor support was administered to optimize spinal cord perfusion, the patient exhibited almost complete neurologic recovery with resolution of the neuropathic pain. He was eventually discharged home and underwent outpatient physical therapy for a mild residual right hemiparesis.
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Direct visualization of the aneurysm neck and its related branches during microsurgical clipping of supraclinoid internal carotid artery (SICA) aneurysms using a standard pterional approach may be difficult, especially when aneurysms are posteriorly projected. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of an anterior temporal approach for clipping posterior-projecting SICA aneurysms. ⋯ The anterior temporal approach is safe and effective for clipping SICA aneurysms with posterior projection, with a high preservation rate of the related branches.