While the majority of cerebral revascularization advancements were made in the last century, it is worth noting the humble beginnings of vascular surgery throughout history to appreciate its progression and application to neurovascular pathology in the modern era. Nearly 5000 years of basic human inquiry into the vasculature and its role in neurological disease has resulted in the complex neurosurgical procedures used today to save and improve lives. This paper explores the story of the extracranial-intracranial approach to cerebral revascularization.
Keywords: CCA = common carotid artery; COSS = Carotid Occlusion Surgery Study; EC-IC = extracranial-intracranial; ELANA = excimer laser-assisted nonocclusive anastomosis; ICA = internal carotid artery; JAM = Japan Adult Moyamoya; MCA = middle cerebral artery; PICA = posterior inferior cerebellar artery; STA = superficial temporal artery; SV = saphenous vein; bypass surgery; cerebral revascularization; dissection; extracranial-intracranial; microsurgery; moyamoya; neurosurgical history; rCBF = regional cerebral blood flow.