The spelling of the medical term "Extracranial Intracranial Arterial Bypass" is a mouthful, but it makes sense when breakdown into its phonetic transcription /ˌɛkstrəˈkreɪniəl ˌɪntrəˈkreɪniəl ɑrˈtɪriəl ˈbaɪpæs/. The prefix "extra-"means "outside of", while "intra-" refers to something "inside". "Cranial" relates to the skull or head, and "arterial" means "related to the arteries". Lastly, "bypass" indicates that there is an alternate route being taken. All together, it means the redirection of an artery outside the skull, into the skull.
Extracranial Intracranial Arterial Bypass (EC-IC bypass) refers to a surgical procedure that involves rerouting blood flow in the brain by creating a new pathway. This bypass is performed when the natural blood supply to the brain becomes obstructed, usually due to narrowed or blocked blood vessels.
The procedure involves taking a blood vessel, typically from the scalp or neck, and connecting it to a blood vessel within the brain. This allows blood to bypass the blocked or narrowed artery, promoting adequate blood flow to the brain. The blood vessels used in the bypass procedure are carefully selected to ensure their suitability for the task.
EC-IC bypass surgery is primarily performed to treat conditions such as moyamoya disease, a rare vascular disorder causing narrowing of the blood vessels in the brain, or to prevent stroke in patients with large intracranial aneurysms.
The surgery is typically performed under general anesthesia and involves making an incision in the scalp to expose the blood vessels. The surgeon then carefully connects the donor and recipient blood vessels using microscopic sutures. Once the connection is established, blood flow is redirected through the bypass vessel, effectively bypassing the obstructed vessel.
EC-IC bypass surgery is a complex procedure that requires a skilled neurosurgeon with specialized training in cerebrovascular diseases. Post-operative recovery typically involves close monitoring to ensure optimal results and may include physical therapy and medication.