Abstract
A 69-year-old male presented with a sudden onset severe headache after an episode of heavy coughing one morning. He was a heavy smoker and his medical history included chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). He was taken to the nearest hospital and underwent CT-scanning because of persistent headache. The CT revealed subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) in the anterior interhemispheric fissure, suggestive of an aneurysmal etiology. His clinical condition was graded as Hunt and Hess II. Emergent CT-angiography revealed multiple cerebral aneurysms including one arising from the distal anterior cerebral artery (DACA). A V-shaped aneurysm of the left anterior A3 segment (pericallosal artery) measuring 4 × 3 × 3 mm was identified as the most likely rupture site. Further aneurysms included an incidental 2 × 2 mm aneurysm of the left middle cerebral artery (MCA), a 3 × 2 mm left posterior communicating artery (PcomA) aneurysm and a 5 × 5 mm aneurysm of the basilar artery. DSA demonstrated a DACA aneurysm at the bifurcation of the callosomarginal artery (A3 segment of the distal ACA) on a single inferior A3 to A2 trunk, with a bilobar, V-shaped configuration. The aneurysm was wide-necked and it was not clear whether the associated callosomarginal artery was running adjacent to, or efferent from, this aneurysm. The decision to recommend emergent microsurgical clipping was based on an interdisciplinary risk-benefit analysis. Microsurgery was performed via a focused interhemispheric approach with aneurysm exclusion and vessel wall reconstruction aided by temporary clipping of the proximal A3 segment, with the patient’s head in a neutral position. The postoperative course was complicated by delayed weaning from the ventilator due to longstanding nicotine abuse, marked COPD and pulmonary emphysema. Forty-one days after the initial presentation, the patient was discharged without neurological deficit. Management aspects of DACA aneurysms including their characteristics and challenges are the main topic of this chapter.
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Rauter, H., Resch, A., Kretschmer, T. (2019). Anterior Cerebral Artery Aneurysm: Ruptured Distal Azygos Anterior Cerebral Artery Aneurysm; Interhemispheric Approach,Positioning of Head, Rationale Interhemispheric Approach, Positioning of Head, Rationale for Open Surgery. In: Henkes, H., Lylyk, P., Ganslandt, O. (eds) The Aneurysm Casebook. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-70267-4_105-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-70267-4_105-1
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