Extracranial-Intracranial Microsurgical Bypass Using a Y-Shaped Vein Graft From the Hand

Abstract

While extracranial-intracranial (EC-IC) bypass is commonly performed by neurosurgeons with specific expertise in cerebrovascular surgery, they can also be performed together with microvascular plastic surgeons. At our institution, some EC-IC bypass cases have evolved to be performed by neurosurgeons and plastic surgeons in a combined approach. Given the plastic surgeons’ expertise and volume of experience in performing microvascular surgery, their skills are utilized in performing the donor vessel dissection as well as the bypass itself. This paper outlines a Canadian perspective on collaboration between plastic surgeons and neurosurgeons in performing EC-IC bypass along with a case report illustrating the use of a dorsal hand Y-shaped vein graft for EC-IC bypass, which has not been described in the literature to date.