Shadi Al-Afif, Josef M Lang, Arif Abdulbaki, Thomas Palmaers, Dirk Scheinichen, Omar Abu-Fares, Elvis J Hermann, Joachim K Krauss
{"title":"The safety and utility of the semi-sitting position for clipping of posterior circulation aneurysms.","authors":"Shadi Al-Afif, Josef M Lang, Arif Abdulbaki, Thomas Palmaers, Dirk Scheinichen, Omar Abu-Fares, Elvis J Hermann, Joachim K Krauss","doi":"10.1007/s00701-024-06229-1","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The semi-sitting position offers advantages for surgeries in the posterior cranial fossa. However, data on its safety and effectiveness for clipping aneurysms in the posterior cerebral circulation are limited. This retrospective cohort study evaluates the safety and effectiveness of using the semi-sitting position for these surgeries.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We conducted a retrospective study of 17 patients with posterior cerebral circulation aneurysms who underwent surgical clipping in the semi-sitting position in the Department of Neurosurgery at Hannover Medical School over a 10-year period.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The mean age at surgery was 62 years (range, 31 to 75). Fourteen patients were admitted with subarachnoid hemorrhage and 3 patients had incidental aneurysmas. Fifteen patients had PICA aneurysms, and two had aneurysms of the vertebral artery and the superior cerebellar artery, respectively. The median diameter of the aneurysms was 5 mm (range 3-17 mm). Intraoperative venous air embolism (VAE) occurred in 4 patients, without affecting the surgical or clinical course. VAE was associated with a mild decrease of EtCO2 levels in 3 patients and in 2 patients a decrease of blood pressure occurred which was managed effectively. Surgical procedures proceeded as planned in all instances. There were no complications secondary to VAE. Two patients died secondary to respiratory problems (not related to VAE), and one patient was lost to follow-up. Eleven of fourteen patients were partially or completely independent (Barthel index between 60 and 100) at a median follow-up duration of 13.5 months (range, 3-103 months).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The semi-sitting position is a safe and effective technique for the surgical clipping of aneurysms in the posterior cerebral circulation. The incidence of VAE is comparable to that seen in tumor surgery. However, it is crucial for the surgical and anesthesiological team to be familiar with potential complications and to react immediately in case of an occurrence of VAE.</p>","PeriodicalId":7370,"journal":{"name":"Acta Neurochirurgica","volume":"166 1","pages":"341"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9000,"publicationDate":"2024-08-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11333526/pdf/","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Acta Neurochirurgica","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00701-024-06229-1","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"CLINICAL NEUROLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background: The semi-sitting position offers advantages for surgeries in the posterior cranial fossa. However, data on its safety and effectiveness for clipping aneurysms in the posterior cerebral circulation are limited. This retrospective cohort study evaluates the safety and effectiveness of using the semi-sitting position for these surgeries.
Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of 17 patients with posterior cerebral circulation aneurysms who underwent surgical clipping in the semi-sitting position in the Department of Neurosurgery at Hannover Medical School over a 10-year period.
Results: The mean age at surgery was 62 years (range, 31 to 75). Fourteen patients were admitted with subarachnoid hemorrhage and 3 patients had incidental aneurysmas. Fifteen patients had PICA aneurysms, and two had aneurysms of the vertebral artery and the superior cerebellar artery, respectively. The median diameter of the aneurysms was 5 mm (range 3-17 mm). Intraoperative venous air embolism (VAE) occurred in 4 patients, without affecting the surgical or clinical course. VAE was associated with a mild decrease of EtCO2 levels in 3 patients and in 2 patients a decrease of blood pressure occurred which was managed effectively. Surgical procedures proceeded as planned in all instances. There were no complications secondary to VAE. Two patients died secondary to respiratory problems (not related to VAE), and one patient was lost to follow-up. Eleven of fourteen patients were partially or completely independent (Barthel index between 60 and 100) at a median follow-up duration of 13.5 months (range, 3-103 months).
Conclusion: The semi-sitting position is a safe and effective technique for the surgical clipping of aneurysms in the posterior cerebral circulation. The incidence of VAE is comparable to that seen in tumor surgery. However, it is crucial for the surgical and anesthesiological team to be familiar with potential complications and to react immediately in case of an occurrence of VAE.
期刊介绍:
The journal "Acta Neurochirurgica" publishes only original papers useful both to research and clinical work. Papers should deal with clinical neurosurgery - diagnosis and diagnostic techniques, operative surgery and results, postoperative treatment - or with research work in neuroscience if the underlying questions or the results are of neurosurgical interest. Reports on congresses are given in brief accounts. As official organ of the European Association of Neurosurgical Societies the journal publishes all announcements of the E.A.N.S. and reports on the activities of its member societies. Only contributions written in English will be accepted.