Effectiveness of Intraoperative Indocyanine Green Videoangiography in Avoiding Failure in Proximal Clipping for Dissecting Vertebral Artery Aneurysm Associated with Double Origin of the Posterior Inferior Cerebellar Artery

Abstract

Background: Double origin of the posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) is rarely reported but is associated with cerebral aneurysm and dissection. Such aneurysms and dissections with unusual anatomic dispositions present the surgeon or physician with difficulties during treatment.

Case description: A 65-year-old man presented with severe subarachnoid hemorrhage caused by a left dissecting VA, which was treated with proximal clipping. No aberrant origin of the PICA was recognized on initial imaging. Dissecting VA was confirmed from mural discoloration and obliterated by clip application proximal to the dissection. However, the dissecting VA that should have been eliminated from the circulation was still depicted on indocyanine green videoangiography. Meticulous inspection revealed an aberrant branch connecting the VA with the PICA. Termination of the dissecting VA was accomplished by division of the aberrant stem of the PICA and was confirmed by indocyanine green videoangiography.

Conclusions: Despite its rarity, the possibility of a double origin of the PICA should be considered when treating a dissecting VA. Missing a small aberrant origin of the PICA would lead to treatment failure but can be detected by indocyanine green videoangiography during open direct surgery.

Keywords: Dissecting vertebral artery; Double origin of PICA; Indocyanine green.