[Ophthalmic artery aneurysms].
INTRODUCTION: Ophthalmic artery aneurysms are infrequent lesions and they have very specific particularities. OBJECTIVE: to present the anatomoclinical and surgical characteristic of our patients with ophthalmic aneurysms and to analyze our surgical results. PATIENT AND METHODS: 604 patients with intracranial aneurysms were operated on between January 1982 and December 2004. There were 50 patients with ophthalmic artery aneurysms. Average age was 52 years, 80% were women, 60% harbored multiple aneurysms and 20% were giant lesions. 12% had bilateral ophthalmic aneurysms. 20% of ophthalmic aneurysms were incidental. 50% had ophthalmological manifestations; however, this presentation occurred in 100% of the patients with large and giant aneurysms. Initially, 12% of ophthalmologic disorders were missed. We utilized unilateral or bilateral pterional approach associated to others in multiple aneurysms. We performed retrograde decompression- suction technique modified for large and giant aneurysms. RESULTS. Thirty patients (60%) obtained a complete recovery, fourteen patients (28%) an incomplete recovery and two were seriously disabled. There were not patients in vegetative state. There were four deaths (8%). 50% of postoperatory deficits disappeared and 64% of ophthalmologic disorders improved three months later. CONCLUSION: Microsurgical method allowed to treat unique, multiple, bilateral, large and giant ophthalmic aneurysms with good recovery of neurological and visual deficits.