Extracranial-Intracranial Arterial Bypass to a Single Branch of the Middle Cerebral Artery in the Management of a Traumatic Aneurysm

This case required the clipping of a single branch of the middle cerebral artery for the treatment of a traumatic aneurysm. To ensure an adequate blood supply distal to the occlusion, we anastomosed the superficial temporal artery to that branch of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) distal to the aneurysm. Despite the low flow required to irrigate only one branch of the MCA, the anastomosis remained patent. This case demonstrates the feasibility of performing small vessel anastomoses in spite of low flow demand.