Transection of the Vestigial Anterior Communicating Artery Limb during Microsurgical Clip Ligation of a Large, Ruptured Anterior Communicating Artery Trifurcation Aneurysm

TL;DR

A rare case of a complex brain aneurysm is treated using microsurgery after identifying and transecting a vestigial artery.

Contribution

Demonstrates a novel surgical approach for treating a large, ruptured trifurcation aneurysm by transecting a vestigial anterior communicating artery limb.

Findings

Transection of a vestigial AComm limb allowed full visualization and clipping of a complex aneurysm.

Intraoperative imaging confirmed complete aneurysm occlusion and patency of all three A2 segments.

Microsurgical clip ligation successfully treated two aneurysms through a single approach.

Abstract

Unrecognized anatomic variants of the anterior communicating artery (AComm) complex can increase periprocedural risk during aneurysm treatment. A trifurcated AComm complex remains rare, with an incidence below 1%. Furthermore, vestigial AComm limbs may be difficult to appreciate on preoperative imaging. This video illustrates the intraoperative identification of a vestigial AComm limb and its transection to visualize and effectively clip a large, ruptured AComm trifurcation aneurysm. A middle-aged female presented with subarachnoid hemorrhage secondary to an 11-mm AComm aneurysm and was also found to have a small left anterior choroidal artery aneurysm. Preoperative imaging confirmed the presence of three A2 segments, but it was unclear if the left and right A1–A2 junctions communicated. Given her young age, aneurysm neck morphology, and the ability to treat both aneurysms through a single approach, microsurgical clip ligation was recommended. Following exposure of AComm complex, a small vestigial limb was identified, obscuring complete visualization of the aneurysm neck. Multiple fenestrated clip constructs were attempted but either occluded the A2 origin involved in the aneurysm neck or resulted in residual dome filling. The vestigial limb was transected, and the uninvolved A1–A2 junction was transposed to visualize the aneurysm neck, allowing for successful clipping fully. Intraoperative indocyanine green and postoperative angiography confirmed complete aneurysm occlusion and patency of all three A2s. Preoperative recognition of anatomic variants and their intraoperative confirmation can obviate complications in aneurysm surgery.