“Cutoff Clipping” Technique as a Tentative Clipping Alternative for Large Aneurysms: A Preliminary Study

BACKGROUND: Intraoperative rupture of an aneurysm is potentially devastating. The thin-walled regions (TIWRs) of an aneurysm are associated with rupture risk. This study aimed to describe the feasibility and concerns of the “cutoff clipping” technique for TIWRs disposition of certain complex aneurysms. METHODS: Three cases were reported to illustrate the “cutoff clipping” technique which was applied to clip a large aneurysm. This study emphasized the exposure and clipping of the aneurysm fundus. The fundus was dissected according to the TIWRs size threshold the author proposed and was clipped transversely by a temporary clip to achieve size reduction and blood flow disconnection. The authors called this the “cutoff clipping” technique. After the cutoff clip was placed, the neck of the aneurysm was further dissected and clipped. RESULTS: After successfully placing the cutoff clip, the surgeon achieved to reduce the size of the fundus, decrease the TIWRs proportion, and disconnect the blood flow from the neck to the distal thin-walled dome. Sequentially, three aneurysms were clip-ligated without complications. CONCLUSION: The “cutoff clipping” technique applied under suitable conditions is a potential choice to dissect and clip a complex aneurysm with an adhesive neck and thin-walled dome.