Background
Giant intracranial aneurysms (GIAs) require complex treatment strategies including clipping, coiling, stenting, parent artery occlusion, bypass, or combined procedures. Neurovascular hybrid operating rooms (h-OR) combine a conventional operating theatre with high-resolution digital subtraction angiography (DSA). We describe a one-step combined surgical and endovascular treatment in a h-OR for a paediatric internal carotid artery giant aneurysm that can be an optimal solution to manage challenging cases, such as giant aneurysms.
Case Description
An 11-year-old boy presented with rapid onset right hemiparesis and left eyelid ptosis. A three months history of headache associated with sporadic vomit was reported. A giant, unruptured, left internal carotid artery aneurysm (ICA) was detected on imaging. The patient underwent surgical trapping of the aneurysm. Intraoperative DSA showed residual backflow from the posterior communicating artery (PComA) and coils were placed to completely exclude the aneurysm. At 18 months follow up, the patient showed a complete recovery and MRI showed a progressive reduction of the sac aneurysm.
Conclusions
Due to their morphologic variability, intracranial giant aneurysms may require a different procedural strategy instead of direct clipping or coiling. The introduction of h-OR allows combined treatments to be performed simultaneously in the same room setting. The present case shows that combined treatment in a neurovascular h-OR can be an optimal solution to manage challenging cases, such as giant aneurysms, reducing operative time with the added benefit of selecting an appropriate strategy adjustment in a multidisciplinary effort.
