The advent of flow diverter (FD) stents has apparently reduced the role of microneurosurgery for paraclinoid aneurysms despite sparse high-quality evidence about their long-term effects.
The present study critically reviews the overall results of a microneurosurgical series of 57 paraclinoid aneurysms.
Of these aneurysms, 47.4% were regular in size while 19.3 were giant. Barami type I was predominant. In 21 aneurysms a hemorrhagic onset occurred. Pterional approach with intradural anterior clinoidectomy was preferred by far. Clipping was possible in 91.2% of aneurysms and a high-flow bypass was the choice in five cases. An mRS of 0–2 was achieved in 77.3% of patients, typically <50 years old.
Visual field appeared improved or unchanged in 36.3% and 63.6% of the symptomatic patients, respectively. In 76.1% of incidental aneurysms, campimetry was unaffected by surgery.
A complete aneurysm exclusion was achieved in 93% of cases using a single procedure. No recurrences were documented on an average follow-up of 54.1 ± 34 months.
Microneurosurgery is still a valuable, definitive, and durable option for Barami type Ia, Ib, or II paraclinoid aneurysm, especially in patients <50 years old and visually symptomatic. Conditions other than these are ideal candidates for FD stents.
Copyright 2021, The Author(s).