Surgical management of traumatic intracranial pseudoaneurysms: A report of 12 cases

Aims: To investigate the characteristics and surgical treatment of traumatic intracranial pseudoaneurysms. Materials and Methods: Twelve patients with traumatic intracranial pseudoaneurysms were operated on in our hospital between 2000 and 2006. Their clinical characteristics, radiological features and surgical techniques were analyzed retrospectively. Four traumatic cavernous segment pseudoaneurysms underwent trapping of the internal carotid artery and others underwent "neck reinforcement and clipping" or "crevasse clipping". Results: Nine patients were excellent or good and two patients were poor when they discharged. One patient died of postoperative cerebral infarction. Nine patients underwent follow-up (three months to seven years) and rebleeding was not seen in them. Conclusions: The surgical treatment of traumatic intracranial pseudoaneurysms is risky and difficult and individualized surgical option is necessary. Understanding the compensation of intracranial blood circulation, preoperative "Matas test" if it is necessary, perioperative hemodynamics testing and the application of revascularization techniques, will help reduce surgical risk and achieve a good surgical outcome.