Surgical Resection and Clipping of an Atherosclerotic Partially Calcified Middle Cerebral Artery Trifurcation Aneurysm with Clipping of an Anterior Communicating Artery Aneurysm: 2-Dimensional Operative Video.

It is estimated within the western population that 10%-13% of patients possess multiple intracranial aneurysms1 and are linked to certain risk factors. Thrombotic aneurysms are a rare subgroup of complex aneurysms characterized by an organized intraluminal thrombus.2,3 They differ from typical saccular aneurysms in terms of morphology, natural history, symptomatology, and difficulty in treatment with conventional strategies.2,4 The risk of rupture is poorly characterized and assumed to be comparable with that of nonthrombotic aneurysms.2 A subset of thrombotic aneurysms can be treated surgically with conventional clipping, and direct clipping has been associated with the best surgical outcome.2 Despite its safety, endovascular treatment is associated with a high risk of recurrence and retreatment compared with surgical treatment,5 with recanalization rates up to 5× higher compared with nonthrombosed aneurysms.6,7 A 64-year-old male presented with headaches and dizziness for 6 months. He was neurologically intact. Imaging revealed a calcified thrombosed right middle cerebral artery aneurysm and an anterior communicating artery aneurysm, both of which underwent clipping. The patient consented to the procedure. Preservation of blood flow in branch arteries in thrombosed aneurysms is challenging. Thrombectomy and clip reconstruction in such cases can occlude the branch vessels, compromising blood flow. Achieving adequate proximal control and meticulous dissection of the branches is necessary before reconstruction. We present a 2-dimensional video demonstrating the surgical steps of clipping and reconstruction of the giant thrombosed middle cerebral artery aneurysm. Complete occlusion was achieved, and the patient tolerated the operation well with an uneventful postoperative course.