Abstract:
This study attempts to analyse the intra-operative anatomical
findings of the recurrent artery of Heubner in 48 patients with Anterior
Communicating Artery Aneurysm who were operated on at
the Neurosurgical Department of Atatiirk University Medical
School, Erzurum, T/irkiye. All patients underwent radical surgery
for aneurysm by the right pterional approach. The findings were
recorded during surgical intervention and through the dias and videotapes
of the operations. The artery of Heubner originated from
the junction of the A 1 and A 2 segments of the anterior cerebral
artery (ACA) in 58%, from the A 2 segment of ACA in 23%, and
from the A 1 segment of ACA 4%. It was asymmetrically taking off
in 13% and hypoplastic in 2% of the cases.
Three types of recurrent artery courses were defined. The type
I or the superior course was seen in 71%, the type II or the anterior
course was found in 25% and type III or the posterior course was
recorded in 4% of patients.
We concluded that the recognition of the anatomical variations
of the recurrent artery of Heubner and the detailed knowledge of
the microvascular relationships of the anterior communicating artery
(ACoA) complex, will allow neurosurgeons to construct a better and
safer microdissection plan, to save time, and so prevent postoperative
neurological deficit.
