Cerebral Aneurysms Repair Using Direct Carotid Artery Cutdown: A Case Series

Abstract

Background: Cerebral Aneurysms (CA) including dissecting pseudoaneurysms are treated endovascularly through a trans-radial or trans-femoral approach. When these options are not available, a trans-carotid approach via Direct Carotid Artery Cutdown (DCAC) may be used as the last option. However, the safety and feasibility of DCAC is not well studied or defined in these contexts. Our objective is to present our four unique patients who were treated by the DCAC approach for their cerebral aneurysm and/or internal carotid artery dissecting pseudoaneurysm using flow diversion.

Method: This is a report of a case series and retrospective review.

Results: Patient 1; A 75-year-old woman with known left internal carotid artery (ICA) petrocavernous aneurysm that enlarged from 6 mm to 10 mm resulting in double vision and headaches. Trans-femoral approach failed due to the tortuosity in the common carotid artery (CCA). A multidisciplinary team was formed; A vascular surgeon began the surgery followed by FD by a neuroendovascular surgeon. A 6 French sheath was placed on the right common carotid artery via DCAC then brought to right ICA by vascular surgeon, and a neuroendovascular surgeon confirmed the placement with digital subtraction angiography (DSA). The DSA confirmed a large 10 x 8 x 5mm broad-based aneurysm. Flow diversion was performed with pipeline flex measuring 5 x 30mm. Patient was discharged home and achieved baseline modified Rankin Scale (mRS )1 which sustained in 5 years with aneurysm obliteration. Patient 2; A 65- year-old woman with multiple symptomatic left ICA-Para-ophthalmic artery aneurysm measuring 9 mm. Both femoral and radial arteries were occluded and underwent DCAC and flow diversion with pipeline flex of 4x30 mm using the similar technique described above. Patient discharged home in 48 hours with National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) of 0 and achieved her baseline mRS. However, this patient refused to have any further follow-up studies done. Patient 3; A 67-year-old man with aortic arch endograph with stent graft after previous aortic dissection and diagnosed with bilateral internal carotid artery dissecting pseudoaneurysm (ICADP) by computed topographic angiography (CTA). The right ICADP measured 19 x 15 x 20 mm, was multilevel, extending from skull base to the internal carotid artery (ICA) origin. The left ICADP was 16 x 9 x 22 mm with inflow-zone stenosis. The DSA was attempted but failed due to the aortic stent. The right ICADPA was repaired first using Surpass streamline (Stryker Neurovascular, Irving, CA) device measuring 4 x 50 mm x2 and 5 x 40 mm covering the entire dissecting artery. Patient was discharged home in 48 hours. Three months after the first procedure, using similar technique the left ICADPA was treated with a 5 x 50 mm Surpass evolve flow diverter. Patient achieved mRS 0. In 24-months follow up CTA demonstrated complete resolution of left ICDAP, but occlusion of the right ICA without impairing his mRS 0. Patient 4; a 76-year-old-woman with tinnitus, headaches and dizziness; DSA demonstrated RICA dissecting large 16 x 8 mm pseudoaneurysm. Trans-femoral approach failed and underwent DCAC, and flow diversion with a single surpass evolve flow diverter 4.5 x3 0 mm. Patient was discharged with NIHSS 0 and achieved her baseline mRs 0.