Impact of aneurysm shape and neck configuration on cerebral infarction during microsurgical clipping of intracranial aneurysms

J Neurosurg 132:1539–1547, 2020

Cerebral infarction is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality related to microsurgical clipping of intracranial aneurysms. The objective of this study was to determine the impact of aneurysm shape and neck configuration on cerebral infarction after aneurysm surgery.

METHODS The authors retrospectively reviewed consecutive cases of ruptured and unruptured aneurysms treated with microsurgical clipping at their institution between 2010 and 2018. Three-dimensional reconstructions from preoperative computed tomography and digital subtraction angiography were used to determine aneurysm shape (regular/complex) and neck configuration (regular/irregular). Morphological and procedure-related risk factors for cerebral infarction were identified using univariate and multivariate statistical analyses.

RESULTS Among 243 patients with 252 aneurysms (148 ruptured, 104 unruptured), the overall cerebral infarction rate was 17.1%. Infarction tended to occur more often in aneurysms with complex shape (p = 0.084). Likewise, aneurysms with an irregular neck had a significantly higher rate of infarction (37.5%) than aneurysms with regular neck configuration (10.1%, p < 0.001). Aneurysms with an irregular neck were associated with a higher rate of intraoperative rupture (p = 0.003) and temporary parent artery occlusion (p = 0.037). In the multivariate analysis, irregular neck configuration was identified as an independent risk factor for infarction (OR 4.2, 95% CI 1.9–9.4, p < 0.001), whereas the association between aneurysm shape and infarction was not significant (p = 0.966).

CONCLUSIONS Irregular aneurysm neck configuration represents an independent risk factor for cerebral infarction during microsurgical clipping of both ruptured and unruptured aneurysms.

Impact of aneurysm shape on morbidity after clipping of unruptured intracranial aneurysms

Acta Neurochirurgica (2018) 160:2169–2176

Complex aneurysm shape is a predominant risk factor for aneurysm rupture but its impact on clinical outcome after clipping remains unclear. The objective of the present study was to compare complications and morbidity after clipping of unruptured single-sac aneurysms (SSAs) and aneurysms with multiple sacs (MSAs).

Methods A retrospective, single-center study was conducted for patients that were treated between 2010 and 2018. We analyzed
surgical parameters, treatment-related complications, and morbidity, defined as any increase in the modified Rankin scale at 3-
month follow-up.

Results We identified 101 patients (mean age: 52.9 ± 10.5 years) that underwent clipping for 57 SSAs and 44 MSAs. The two
groups were comparable regarding aneurysm size and neck width. Clipping of MSAs was associated with a longer operation time
(p = 0.008) and increased use of intraoperative indocyanine green (p = 0.016) than SSAs. Complications occurred more often in
the MSA group (29.5%) than in the SSA group (14.0%; p = 0.057). Morbidity was significantly higher in the MSA group
(20.5%) than in the SSA group (3.5%, p = 0.009). In the univariate analysis, the odds of morbidity were 7.1 times greater for
MSAs than for SSAs (95% CI 1.4–34.7).

Conclusions Morbidity after microsurgical clipping is significantly increased in MSAs as compared to SSAs. This may be
attributed to a more difficult clip placement with stronger manipulation of the aneurysm dome and the surrounding brain tissue.