The Vertebral Artery

1. Front Matter

   Pages I-VIII

   PDF

2. Introduction

   • Bernard George, Claude Laurian

   Pages 1-5

3. Anatomy

   • Bernard George, Claude Laurian

   Pages 6-17

4. Congenital Abnormalities

   • Bernard George, Claude Laurian

   Pages 18-22

5. Wall Lesions

   • Bernard George, Claude Laurian

   Pages 23-42

6. Arteriovenous Malformations

   • Bernard George, Claude Laurian

   Pages 43-57

7. Tumor

   • Bernard George, Claude Laurian

   Pages 58-76

8. External Compression

   • Bernard George, Claude Laurian

   Pages 77-89

9. Trauma

   • Bernard George, Claude Laurian

   Pages 90-96

10. Infancy and Childhood

    • Bernard George, Claude Laurian

    Pages 97-101

11. Pathophysiology

    • Bernard George, Claude Laurian

    Pages 102-113

12. Pre-Operative Investigations

    • Bernard George, Claude Laurian

    Pages 114-128

13. Approach to the Cervical V. A.

    • Bernard George, Claude Laurian

    Pages 129-150

14. Techniques of V. A. Surgery

    • Bernard George, Claude Laurian

    Pages 151-182

15. Personal Experience

    • Bernard George, Claude Laurian

    Pages 183-230

16. Conclusion

    • Bernard George, Claude Laurian

    Pages 231-232

17. Back Matter

    Pages 233-259

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Our common interest in surgery of the vertebral artery was born in 1976, when as residents in the same hospital, we attended an attempt by two senior surgeons to treat an aneurysm of the vertebral artery at the C 3 level. Long discussions had preceded this unsuccessful trial, to decide if surgery was indicated and to choose the surgical route. Finally a direct lateral approach was performed, but access was difficult and correct treatment was impossible, resulting in only partial reduction of the aneurysmal pouch. Following this experience, we decided to seek a regular and well defined approach for exposition of the vertebral artery. Review of the literature indicated some surgical attempts, but the descriptions did not give the impression of safety and reproducibility. No landmark on the described surgical route appeared sufficiently reliable. Henry's anatomical work (1917) gave the only accurate description on vertebral artery anatomy, and it became the basis for our work. When the same patient was referred again one year later, after a new stroke in the vertebro-basilar system, we had behind us repetitive experience on cadavers of an original approach to the distal vertebral artery.

• Stent
• anatomy
• aneurysm
• arteries
• artery
• atherosclerosis
• pathophysiology
• physiology
• radiology
• stroke
• surgery
• trauma
• tumor

• Department of Neurosurgery, Hôpital Lariboisière, Paris, France

  Bernard George

• Department of Vascular Surgery, Hôpital Saint Joseph, Paris, France

  Claude Laurian

Policies and ethics