Min Jai Cho1, Chang Wan Oh1, O-Ki Kwon1, Hyoung Soo Byoun2, Si Un Lee1, Tackeun Kim1, Young Seob Chung3, Seung Pil Ban1, Jae Seung Bang4. 1. Department of Neurosurgery, Neurovascular Center, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seongnam, Korea. 2. Department of Neurosurgery, Hallym University Hangang Sacred Heart Hospital, Seoul, Korea. 3. Department of Neurosurgery, Seoul National University Boramae Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. 4. Department of Neurosurgery, Neurovascular Center, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seongnam, Korea. Electronic address: nsbang@snubh.org.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To compare 2 craniotomy approaches (unilateral and bilateral) in terms of anatomic and clinical parameters and surgical outcomes. METHODS: Between January 2011 and December 2014, 19 patients with bilateral unruptured middle cerebral artery (MCA) aneurysm were treated with unilateral craniotomy (group 1), and 10 patients were treated with bilateral mini-craniotomy (group 2). We compared demographic data, characteristics of aneurysms, radiologic and clinical parameters, postoperative complications, and surgical outcomes between the 2 groups. RESULTS: No statistically significant differences in aneurysm characteristics were found between the 2 groups. Radiologic parameters did not have any influence on surgical outcomes or the incidence of postoperative complications. Group 1 had a higher incidence of olfactory dysfunction (11 of 19; 58%) and residual neck at the contralateral aneurysm (10 of 19; 53%), whereas no patients in group 2 had olfactory dysfunction or residual neck at the contralateral aneurysm. All patients in group 2 had good surgical outcomes (modified Rankin scale score 0). The length of hospital stay was similar in the 2 groups. CONCLUSIONS: Bilateral mini-craniotomy for the treatment of bilateral MCA aneurysms was associated with better surgical outcomes and fewer complications. Bilateral mini-craniotomy does not require as much retraction of the frontal lobe to apply a clip completely at the contralateral aneurysm. Therefore, it represents a safe and effective therapeutic option for unruptured bilateral MCA aneurysms.
OBJECTIVE: To compare 2 craniotomy approaches (unilateral and bilateral) in terms of anatomic and clinical parameters and surgical outcomes. METHODS: Between January 2011 and December 2014, 19 patients with bilateral unruptured middle cerebral artery (MCA) aneurysm were treated with unilateral craniotomy (group 1), and 10 patients were treated with bilateral mini-craniotomy (group 2). We compared demographic data, characteristics of aneurysms, radiologic and clinical parameters, postoperative complications, and surgical outcomes between the 2 groups. RESULTS: No statistically significant differences in aneurysm characteristics were found between the 2 groups. Radiologic parameters did not have any influence on surgical outcomes or the incidence of postoperative complications. Group 1 had a higher incidence of olfactory dysfunction (11 of 19; 58%) and residual neck at the contralateral aneurysm (10 of 19; 53%), whereas no patients in group 2 had olfactory dysfunction or residual neck at the contralateral aneurysm. All patients in group 2 had good surgical outcomes (modified Rankin scale score 0). The length of hospital stay was similar in the 2 groups. CONCLUSIONS: Bilateral mini-craniotomy for the treatment of bilateral MCA aneurysms was associated with better surgical outcomes and fewer complications. Bilateral mini-craniotomy does not require as much retraction of the frontal lobe to apply a clip completely at the contralateral aneurysm. Therefore, it represents a safe and effective therapeutic option for unruptured bilateral MCA aneurysms.