F.4 Anatomical assessment and comparative analysis of ventricular access points in pterional approach: a cadaveric study

Abstract

Background: In early-stage transsylvian aneurysm surgery, achieving brain relaxation is crucial for the safe exposure of aneurysms; however, in cases of tight, hemorrhagic brains, ventricular drainage is often required. Although Paine/Samson initially proposed a ventricular access point in the frontal horn of the lateral ventricle, and numerous points and techniques have been described since, their consistency and success rates have not undergone rigorous evaluation through comparative cadaveric anatomical studies. Methods: We injected 2 cc agar-agar solutions with distinct colors into the lateral ventricles of twelve cadaveric brains, utilizing four described points, followed by refrigeration at 4°C for one hour for each injection. Next, the brains were sectioned in the coronal plane at 2 cm intervals for evaluation. We assessed the efficacy of the injections in reaching the ventricles and measured the ventricular dimensions, in addition to calculating the Evans’ index for each brain. Results: Injections at Paine/Samson’s point achieved a 100% success rate, followed by Hyunn’s point with a 91.6% success rate. The success rates at Temporal point and Park point were 83.3% and 58.3%, respectively. Conclusions: We emphasize the significance of direct ventricle puncture technique and our findings indicate that the classical Paine/Samson point is the most reliable among the evaluated methods.