Transposition of Superior Cerebellar Artery for Microvascular Decompression in Trigeminal Neuralgia Using an In Situ Superior Petrosal Vein Sling Technique

BACKGROUND: Several microvascular decompression technical variations for the treatment of medically refractory trigeminal neuralgia have been proposed that can be categorized generally as interposition and transposition techniques. These latter approaches, so-called slinging techniques, have been increasing in popularity, because they can possibly reduce the long-term recurrence rates by preventing the formation of fibrosis and granulomas at the decompression site. We have reported a technique for transposition of the superior cerebellar artery for microvascular decompression in trigeminal neuralgia using the superior petrosal vein as an in situ sling to anchor and reroute the artery away from the nerve. METHODS: We have presented a technical report with illustrative intraoperative images and video from 2 cases of trigeminal neuralgia in which the superior petrosal vein was used as a simple and straightforward in situ sling for transposition of the superior cerebellar artery. RESULTS: The technique was applied successfully in 2 patients with complete and immediate remission of trigeminal neuralgia, without surgical morbidity. CONCLUSION: The most frequent neurovascular conflict in trigeminal neuralgia involves the superior cerebellar artery, and the strategic location of the superior petrosal vein relative to this neurovascular complex allows for its use as a natural in situ sling that reroutes the artery and prevents its recoil against the nerve. This technique can be added to the increasing armamentarium of transposition techniques for microvascular decompression, with the advantage of simplicity and no requirement for a complex prosthesis to secure the transposition.