Aneurysm of the posterior cerebral artery: report of eleven cases--surgical approaches and procedures

Abstract

Eleven cases of an aneurysm of the posterior cerebral artery are reported. All 11 aneurysms were saccular, and 3 were either giant or large. The aneurysms arose from the P1 segment in three patients, the P1-P2 junction in three patients, the P2 segment in three patients, and from the P3 segment in two patients. In all, 10 patients underwent surgery. All P1 and P1-P2 junction aneurysms were treated with the pterional approach. Three P2 and two P3 aneurysms were managed by the subtemporal approach. Two small aneurysms in the series were treated by coating the aneurysmal dome, two by clipping the afferent artery, and all other saccular type aneurysms were treated by clipping the aneurysmal neck. Seven patients had either an excellent or good outcome; two had poor results; and one patient died. The operative approaches and procedures are also discussed in relation to the anatomy of posterior cerebral artery aneurysms.