Microsurgical neurovascular anastomosis: the example of superficial temporal artery to middle cerebral artery bypass. Technical principles.

The superficial temporal artery to the middle cerebral artery (STA-MCA) bypass is a good example of cerebrovascular anastomosis. In this article, we describe the different stages of the procedure: patient installation, superficial temporal artery harvesting, recipient artery exposure, microsurgical anastomosis, and closure of the craniotomy. When meticulously performed, with the observance of important details at each stage, this technique offers a high rate of technical success (patency>90%) with a very low morbi-mortality (respectively 3% and 1%). Some anesthetic parameters have to be considered to insure perioperative technical and clinical success. STA-MCA bypass is a very useful technique for the management of complex or giant aneurysms where surgical treatment sometimes requires the sacrifice and revascularization of a main arterial trunk. It is also a valuable option for the treatment of chronic and symptomatic hemispheric hypoperfusion (Moyamoya disease, carotid or middle cerebral artery occlusion).