Temporary clipping in intracranial aneurysm surgery

Abstract

Background: Neurosurgery's challenging area involves addressing intracranial aneurysms, given the high morbidity and mortality rates associated with them. Safe clipping, a technique that involves the intraoperative temporary occlusion of the arterial supply, is generally used. However, a focused review on the evolution of temporary clipping in intracranial aneurysms hasn't been previously carried out. Methods: We performed a comprehensive literature search on PubMed Medline and Google Scholar, using the combination of terms: [Temporary clip* AND (Cerebral OR Intracranial) Aneurysm]. Results: From an initial pool of 579 results, we excluded unrelated papers, narrowing it down to 25 relevant studies. These ranged from retrospective and prospective studies on the outcome favorability or radiological evidence, to analyses on potential independent prognostic factors, and articles related to the history and evolution of temporary clipping. Conclusion: Temporary arterial occlusion in aneurysm surgery has evolved significantly since its inception in the early 20th century, marked by innovations in instruments and temporary clips. Despite these advancements, the utility and safety of temporary clips continue to be topics of discussion, particularly due to concerns regarding possible complications and their influence on long-term results.

Keywords

• history
• clipping
• intracranial aneurysms
• temporary clipping