Usefulness of dural surface tracing of the cortical vessels with indocyanine green videoangiography just prior to dural opening for various cerebrovascular diseases

BACKGROUND: Indocyanine green (ICG) videoangiography can be used to delineate the locations of the cortical vessels just prior to dural opening, allowing safe and optimal dural opening. The present clinical series demonstrates the adjunct use of ICG videoangiography to optimize dural opening for the treatment of various cerebrovascular diseases. METHODS: A total of 45 patients underwent surgery for superficial temporal artery-middle cerebral artery bypass (40), arteriovenous malformation (2), and dural arteriovenous fistula (3) between January 2012 and December 2016. After the dura had been exposed, ICG (0.25 mg/kg) was administered intravenously from the peripheral vein as a bolus just prior to dural opening. The operating microscope equipped with a fluorescent filter was used to examine the illuminated field of interest, and real-time flow assessment of the underlying cortical vessels and/or dural sinus was performed. The target recipient arteries for anastomosis or vascular malformations were visualized through the dura and marked using a pyoktanin pen on the dura mater. RESULTS: The optimal dural opening was performed for anastomosis, and safety was ensured by locating the vascular malformations through the dura mater in all cases. The cortical vessel injury was avoided in all cases. No complication was related to this procedure. CONCLUSIONS: Dural surface tracing of the cortical vessels with ICG videoangiography just prior to dural opening is a useful technique, which allows optimal and safe dural opening for treatment of various cerebrovascular diseases.