Deep hypothermic circulatory arrest for the management of complex anterior and posterior circulation aneurysms.

Giant aneurysm surgery continues to be a technically difficult task with high operative morbidity. Recent advances in cardiac surgery have fueled interest in the technique of deep hypothermic circulatory arrest for the treatment of giant and complex intracranial aneurysms. Fourteen patients with giant intracranial aneurysms operated on with the technique of deep hypothermic circulatory arrest are presented. All 14 aneurysms were successfully treated. There were 2 intraoperative strokes: 1 resulted in severe disability and 1 resulted in mild disability. No significant neurological complications were related to the technique of cardiopulmonary bypass with deep hypothermic circulatory arrest. This initial experience indicates that patients with giant and complex intracranial aneurysms might benefit from a surgical approach that included the use of deep hypothermic circulatory arrest.