The superior sagittal sinus (SSS), a major dural sinus, has three parts. The anterior third receives the prefrontal afferent veins (Figure 32–1). It is generally admitted that its sacrifice is well tolerated. Actually, severe mental disorders, personality changes, or loss of recent memory with a general slowing of thought processes and activity, or even akinetic mutism, may occur if sacrificed. The mid-third receives the voluminous cortical veins of the central group. Interruption of this portion entails high risks of (bilateral) hemiplegia and akinesia. The posterior third, as well as the torcular Herophili, which receives the straight sinus, drains a considerable amount of blood. Interruption would inevitably provoke potentially fatal intracranial hypertension.

Figure 32–1 Anatomical variations of major venous sinuses. A, Superior sagittal sinus (SSS) drained by both lateral sinuses (LSs), asymmetrically in 20% of cases or asymmetrically in 55%. When asymmetrical (“unbalanced system”), the predominant LS draining is usually the right one. B, SSS and straight sinus (StS) draining through one LS, here the left because the right transverse sinus (TS) is absent. Ligation or injury of the left LS would entail the risk of interrupting SSS drainage of the right sigmoid sinus (SS), the risk of interrupting drainage of the superior petrosal sinus (SPS) and the vein of Labbé (VL). C, In 25% of cases, one TS entirely drains the SSS, and the other entirely drains the StS. In cases of “split system,” sacrifice of either LS would be extremely dangerous. D, Angiogram (DSA), AP view, showing a split system, with SSS draining to the right LS, and StS to the left (arrow); this configuration is the most common. F, falx; IJV, internal jugular vein; T, tentorium.

The lateral sinuses (LS) ensure symmetric drainage in only 20% of the cases. In extreme cases, one LS (most often the right one) may drain the SSS in totality and the other the straight sinus.

The transverse sinus (TS) may be atretic on one side, the remaining sigmoid sinus (SS) draining the inferior cerebral veins (i.e., the Labbé system). The SS drains the posterior fossa; it receives the superior and the inferior petrosal sinuses. When the sigmoid segment of the LS is atretic, the TS with its affluents drains toward the opposite side.

All of these anatomical configurations have surgical implications and must be taken into account before considering interrupting sinuses.⁹^–¹¹

The Deep Veins of the Brain

The deep veins of the brain drain toward the venous confluent of Galen (Figure 32–2). The term venous confluent is appropriate since, in addition to the two internal cerebral veins, the Galenic system receives the two basilar veins of Rosenthal, and also veins from the corpus callosum, the cerebellum (mainly the vermian precentral vein), and the occipital cortex.

Figure 32–2 Deep cerebral veins and landmarks of the interventricular venous confluent (IVC). DSA by carotid injection, venous phase, lateral view. The interventricular venous confluent (circle) is formed by confluence of the septal vein (2), caudate vein (3, 4), and thalamo-striate vein (5). Confluence gives rise to the internal cerebral vein (1). On the lateral view, the confluent has an almost constant situation and corresponds to the interventricular foramen of Monro. This point may contribute a useful anatomical imaging reference. Confluence of internal cerebral veins and basilar veins (B) gives the Galen vein (G).

A good knowledge of deep veins is important for surgery in the lateral ventricles, third ventricle, and pineal region. There is general agreement that the sacrifice of the vein of Galen or of one of its main tributaries should be considered high risk, although animal experiments and a few reported clinical observations have shown otherwise.

Regarding the precentral vermian vein, it is generally accepted, and we agree, that its sacrifice to approach the pineal region is without danger.¹^–³

The Superficial Veins

Any of the superficial veins of a certain caliber presumably have a functional role. The superficial veins belong to three “systems”: the midline afferents to the SSS, the inferior cerebral afferents to the TS, and the superficial sylvian afferents to the cavernous sinus (Figure 32–3). These three systems are strongly interconnected, but there is considerable variability among patients. The main anastomotic veins are Trolard to the SSS, Labbé to the TS, and great superficial sylvian, all of them bearing important surgical implications.

• Midline afferent veins are met during interhemispheric approaches. Sacrifice of the midline central group is risky.^1,^2,¹²

• Inferior cerebral veins that channel into the basal sinuses are met in the skull base approaches. Necessary respect of the Labbé vein, especially in the dominant hemisphere, is mandatory to avoid posterior hemispheric infarction.^1,^2,⁴

• The superficial sylvian vein is formed by anastomosis of the temporosylvian veins. This sylvian system is connected with the midline veins upward, and the juxtabasal temporal veins downward. It enters predominantly the cavernous sinus, either directly or through the sphenoparietal sinus. Sacrificing the superficial sylvian vein is risky when it is of large caliber and poorly anastomosed.^1,^2,⁴

Figure 32–3 Superficial veins involved in (supratentorial) skull base approaches. Three groups of veins can be distinguished—middle afferent frontal, inferior cerebral (i.e., the Labbé system), and anterior sylvian (ASV). These three groups can be delimited by three “triangles”: the triangle that corresponds to the frontal veins is delineated by the three following landmarks—interventricular venous confluent (IVC), bregma (B), and anterior limit of anterior cranial fossa (A); the triangle corresponding to the inferior group is delineated by the IVC, torcular (T), and jugular foramen (JF); and the triangle corresponding to the anterior sylvian group is delineated by IVC and A and JF landmarks. Skull base approaches must be designed so that prominent venous drainage(s) is respected.

Intracranial approaches, especially skull base ones, must be prepared taking into account the organization of the superficial venous system (see Figure 32–3).^7,^13,¹⁴

Veins of the Posterior Fossa

Sacrifice would expose the cerebellum to swelling or infarction. The conventional statement that the superior petrosal vein, especially when voluminous, can be interrupted without danger needs to be reconsidered. Our experience is that this venous complex should be respected.¹

Avoidance of venous occlusions during surgery

The role played by venous occlusions during surgery in the occurrence of postoperative hemorrhagic infarcts is undeniable.¹^–^3,⁷ Retraction of the brain provokes local congestion by compressing the cortical venous network, reduction in venous flow by stretching the bridging veins, and thrombosis of veins if compression of the retractor is prolonged.¹⁵ Excessive brain retraction can be avoided by specially designed approaches and limited opening of the dura, obeying two principles, including the minimally invasive opening and bone removal associated with craniotomy at the base of the skull. Keyhole approaches or limited opening of the dura prevent excessive retraction and consequently avulsing veins.

A bridge vein acting as a limitation may occur. To be preserved, the vein has to be dissected free from the arachnoid and cortex at a length of 10 to 20 mm.¹⁶ When an important vein ruptures, its reconstruction may be considered either by resuturing or by using the silicone tubing technique.¹⁷

Wounds made in a vein wall are common. Rather than coagulating the vein, hemostasis can be attempted by simply wrapping the wall with a small piece of Surgicel (Johnson and Johnson Medical, Viroflay, France). If this is insufficient, a very localized microcoagulation with a sharp bipolar forceps or by placing a single suture with a 10-0 nylon thread is recommended. In cases with a large defect, a patching repair can be performed.^18,¹⁹ In all cases, whatever the technique used, hemostasis quality has to be checked by jugular compression at the neck.

Tumors invading the major dural sinuses

The study of long-term results in our series of 100 consecutive patients affected by meningiomas involving a major dural sinus, and in whom we attempted radical removal and venous repair,²⁰ led us to the following conclusions. The low recurrence rate of 4% in our series, followed over a 3- to 23-year period (mean 8 years), supports resecting not only the tumor portion outside the sinus, but also the fragment invading the sinus. When radical removal is attempted, we consider venous reconstruction mandatory when the sinus is incompletely occluded, and potentially useful even in cases with complete occlusion. The goal is to restore the flow that might be compromised by impairment of the compensatory collateral channels (Figure 32–4). The traditional belief that radical removal of meningiomas with a totally occluded sinus is not dangerous must be reconsidered.²¹^–²⁴ In our series, the three patients who died (all three from brain swelling) had a meningioma that totally occluded the sinus and was wholly removed without any restoration of the sinus circulation.²⁰