Microsurgery for stroke.

Stroke remains a major problem in the Western world but microneurosurgical procedures are applicable only to a minority of victims, namely those with intracranial carotid occlusion and those with aneurysms or arteriovenous malformations. The operating microscope has made the technical approach to these feasible. However, questions remain as to the validity of the extracranial-intracranial bypass in carotid occlusion and the timing of aneurysm surgery. These questions tend to overshadow the technical advances following on from use of the operating microscope.