How I do it: Endoscopic microvascular decompression with vertebral artery transposition for trigeminal neuralgia caused by vertebrobasilar dolichoectasia

Viktoriia Kuts-Karpenko; Fuminari Komatsu; Yoko Kato

doi:10.1007/s00701-026-06940-1

How I do it: Endoscopic microvascular decompression with vertebral artery transposition for trigeminal neuralgia caused by vertebrobasilar dolichoectasia

Viktoriia Kuts-Karpenko
, Fuminari Komatsu
, Yoko Kato

Neurosurgery

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Background: Vertebrobasilar dolichoectasia (VBDE) is an uncommon cause of trigeminal neuralgia (TN), in which an ectatic vertebral artery (VA) compresses the root entry zone (REZ), while perforators may limit safe transposition. Methods: Fully endoscopic microvascular decompression with VA transposition was performed. Preservation of all arterial branches was achieved and confirmed endoscopically. Conclusion: In VBDE-related TN, VA transposition may be the preferred decompressive strategy because of the characteristics of the ectatic vessel. Endoscopy offers a wide-angle view of the REZ, facilitating safe mobilization under full visualization of branch vessels.

Original language	English
Article number	178
Journal	Acta Neurochirurgica
Volume	168
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s00701-026-06940-1
Publication status	Published - 12-2026

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Surgery
Clinical Neurology

Access to Document

10.1007/s00701-026-06940-1

Cite this

@article{7afc68607e434c1a9993b3ed2b78a6c9,

title = "How I do it: Endoscopic microvascular decompression with vertebral artery transposition for trigeminal neuralgia caused by vertebrobasilar dolichoectasia",

abstract = "Background: Vertebrobasilar dolichoectasia (VBDE) is an uncommon cause of trigeminal neuralgia (TN), in which an ectatic vertebral artery (VA) compresses the root entry zone (REZ), while perforators may limit safe transposition. Methods: Fully endoscopic microvascular decompression with VA transposition was performed. Preservation of all arterial branches was achieved and confirmed endoscopically. Conclusion: In VBDE-related TN, VA transposition may be the preferred decompressive strategy because of the characteristics of the ectatic vessel. Endoscopy offers a wide-angle view of the REZ, facilitating safe mobilization under full visualization of branch vessels.",

keywords = "Endoscopic keyhole surgery, Root entry zone, Transposition, Vertebral artery, Vertebrobasilar dolichoectasia",

author = "Viktoriia Kuts-Karpenko and Fuminari Komatsu and Yoko Kato",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} The Author(s) 2026.",

year = "2026",

month = dec,

doi = "10.1007/s00701-026-06940-1",

language = "English",

volume = "168",

journal = "Acta Neurochirurgica",

issn = "0001-6268",

publisher = "Springer",

number = "1",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - How I do it

T2 - Endoscopic microvascular decompression with vertebral artery transposition for trigeminal neuralgia caused by vertebrobasilar dolichoectasia

AU - Kuts-Karpenko, Viktoriia

AU - Komatsu, Fuminari

AU - Kato, Yoko

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © The Author(s) 2026.

PY - 2026/12

Y1 - 2026/12

N2 - Background: Vertebrobasilar dolichoectasia (VBDE) is an uncommon cause of trigeminal neuralgia (TN), in which an ectatic vertebral artery (VA) compresses the root entry zone (REZ), while perforators may limit safe transposition. Methods: Fully endoscopic microvascular decompression with VA transposition was performed. Preservation of all arterial branches was achieved and confirmed endoscopically. Conclusion: In VBDE-related TN, VA transposition may be the preferred decompressive strategy because of the characteristics of the ectatic vessel. Endoscopy offers a wide-angle view of the REZ, facilitating safe mobilization under full visualization of branch vessels.

AB - Background: Vertebrobasilar dolichoectasia (VBDE) is an uncommon cause of trigeminal neuralgia (TN), in which an ectatic vertebral artery (VA) compresses the root entry zone (REZ), while perforators may limit safe transposition. Methods: Fully endoscopic microvascular decompression with VA transposition was performed. Preservation of all arterial branches was achieved and confirmed endoscopically. Conclusion: In VBDE-related TN, VA transposition may be the preferred decompressive strategy because of the characteristics of the ectatic vessel. Endoscopy offers a wide-angle view of the REZ, facilitating safe mobilization under full visualization of branch vessels.

KW - Endoscopic keyhole surgery

KW - Root entry zone

KW - Transposition

KW - Vertebral artery

KW - Vertebrobasilar dolichoectasia

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105046287891

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105046287891#tab=citedBy

U2 - 10.1007/s00701-026-06940-1

DO - 10.1007/s00701-026-06940-1

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:105046287891

SN - 0001-6268

VL - 168

JO - Acta Neurochirurgica

JF - Acta Neurochirurgica

IS - 1

M1 - 178

ER -

How I do it: Endoscopic microvascular decompression with vertebral artery transposition for trigeminal neuralgia caused by vertebrobasilar dolichoectasia

Abstract

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this