Background: Recent advancements in microsurgical techniques and instrumentation have allowed the development of the keyhole approach in aneurysm surgery.
Objective: To compare the safety, efficacy, and 1-year clinical outcome of supraorbital keyhole and standard pterional approaches for ruptured anterior circulation aneurysms.
Methods: A total of 87 patients underwent surgical clipping, 40 through the pterional and 47 through the supraorbital keyhole approach. Baseline demographics, operative time, procedural complications, and 1-year patient outcome were retrospectively compared.
Results: The 2 groups were comparable with respect to baseline characteristics, with the exception of a higher proportion of small aneurysms (<7 mm) in the supraorbital group (70.2% vs. 37.5%, P = .002). Total operative time was significantly shorter in the supraorbital group (205 minutes, P < .001) compared with the pterional group (256 minutes). The rate of procedural complications was lower in patients treated through the pterional (17.5%) vs the supraorbital approach (23.4%, P = .4). Intraoperative aneurysm ruptures occurred more frequently in the supraorbital group (10.6% vs. 2.5%). No patient experienced early or late rebleeding in either group. One year after treatment, 75% (30/40) of patients achieved a favorable outcome (Glasgow outcome scale IV or V) in the pterional group vs 76.6% (36/47) in the supraorbital group (P = .8).
Conclusion: The rate of procedural complications may be higher with the supraorbital keyhole approach, but overall patient outcomes appear to be comparable. The pterional approach is a simple, reliable, and efficient procedure. The keyhole approach may be an acceptable alternative for neurosurgeons who have gained sufficient experience with the technique, especially for small noncomplex aneurysms.