Interposition Intracranial-Intracranial Bypass Based on Anterior Cerebral Artery A1 Donor Anastomosis: Technical Advances, Outcomes, and Literature Review

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The bypass technique is important for treating complex intracranial aneurysms and is infrequently performed. Intracranial-intracranial (IC-IC) bypass has shown many advantages in recent years. OBJECTIVE: To review the techniques and outcomes of bypass based on anterior cerebral artery (ACA) A1 donor anastomosis in patients with intracranial aneurysm. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical and imaging data, surgical strategy, and follow-up outcomes of 7 patients treated from 2019 to 2022. Neurological function was assessed by the modified Rankin Scale (mRS). A literature review was performed using PubMed. RESULTS: All 7 patients (3 male patients and 4 female patients; mean age, 50.4 ± 15.5 years) underwent aneurysm trapping or clipping using interposition IC-IC bypass based on ACA-A1 donor anastomosis. There were 6 middle cerebral artery (MCA) aneurysms and 1 posterior cerebral aneurysm in the series. One IC-IC bypass failed and was changed to extracranial-intracranial bypass. Three patients with MCA M1 aneurysm showed perforator-related infarction after the operation. The modified Rankin Scale score was 0 in 4 patients, 2 in 2 patients, and 1 in 1 patient. The long-term graft patency rate was 100%. CONCLUSION: Interposition IC-IC bypass based on ACA-A1 donor anastomosis provides an effective way to achieve blood flow reconstruction in the treatment of complex aneurysms. This technique provides better caliber and volume compatibility and diminishes neck incision. Perforator-related infarction was the main complication because of involvement of the MCA M1 aneurysm location. Proximal clipping is preferred to avoid perforator-related infarction.