External Carotid Occlusion as a Cause of Recurrent Ischemia after Carotid Endarterectomy

Neurosurgery ◽  
1982 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 518-521 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roger W. Countee ◽  
Thurairasah Vijayanathan ◽  
Shu Z. Wu
Keyword(s):  
Carotid Artery ◽  
Internal Carotid Artery ◽  
Carotid Endarterectomy ◽  
Carotid Arteries ◽  
Internal Carotid ◽  
External Carotid Artery ◽  
External Carotid ◽  
Complete Relief ◽  
Avoidable Complication ◽  
Common Carotid Arteries

Abstract Our experiences with a patient who developed recurrent hemispheric transient ischemic attacks 3 1/2 years after ipsilateral carotid endarterectomy are described. Although repeat arteriography demonstrated smooth and unobstructed common and internal carotid arteries and a normal intracranial circulation, there was complete occlusion of the external carotid artery at its origin, which appeared as a stump or diverticulum at the origin of the internal carotid artery. This stump was filled with atherothrombotic debris and served as a source of emboli to the adjacent and patent internal carotid artery. Excision of the stump effected complete relief of the recurrent ischemic symptoms. The pernicious potential of an external carotid obstruction when adjacent to a patent internal carotid artery should be recognized. To prevent this avoidable complication of carotid endarterectomy, we recommend that the origin of the external carotid artery be treated with the same standards of technical perfection as those customarily applied to the internal and common carotid arteries during this procedure.

scholarly journals Congenital absence of internal carotid artery with intercavernous anastomosis: Case report and systematic review of the literature

2016 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 473-480 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ibrahim Ilker Oz ◽  
Ismail Serifoglu ◽  
Omer Yazgan ◽  
Zuhal Erdem
Keyword(s):  
Carotid Artery ◽  
Internal Carotid Artery ◽  
Collateral Circulation ◽  
Carotid Arteries ◽  
Internal Carotid ◽  
External Carotid Artery ◽  
External Carotid ◽  
Review Of The Literature ◽  
Rare Congenital Anomaly ◽  
Internal Carotid Arteries

The absence of an internal carotid artery is a rare congenital anomaly. In the absence of the internal carotid artery, collateral circulations develop through the circle of Willis, persistent embryonic arteries or transcranial collaterals of the external carotid artery. Six pathways of collateral circulation have been described. Intercavernous anastomosis is between cavernous segments of the bilateral internal carotid arteries and is rarely seen. Patients with an absence of the internal carotid artery can be completely asymptomatic. However, these patients can present with subarachnoid hemorrhage or stroke accompanying cerebral aneurysm or abnormal collateral. We combined our case with 33 previous publications to form a retrospective series including 35 cases of unilateral internal carotid artery agenesis with intercavernous anastomosis.

Retromandibular Fossa Approach to the High Cervical Internal Carotid Artery: An Anatomic Study

2008 ◽  
Vol 62 (suppl_5) ◽  
pp. ONS363-ONS370 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yusuf Izci ◽  
Roham Moftakhar ◽  
Mark Pyle ◽  
Mustafa K. Basşkaya
Keyword(s):  
Carotid Artery ◽  
Internal Carotid Artery ◽  
Internal Carotid ◽  
Average Length ◽  
Cranial Nerves ◽  
External Carotid Artery ◽  
External Carotid ◽  
Digastric Muscle ◽  
High Cervical ◽  
Cervical Internal Carotid Artery

Abstract Objective: Access to the high cervical internal carotid artery (ICA) is technically challenging for the treatment of lesions in and around this region. The aims of this study were to analyze the efficacy of approaching the high cervical ICA through the retromandibular fossa and to compare preauricular and postauricular incisions. In addition, the relevant neural and vascular structures of this region are demonstrated in cadaveric dissections. Methods: The retromandibular fossa approach was performed in four arterial and venous latex-injected cadaveric heads and necks (eight sides) via preauricular and postauricular incisions. This approach included three steps: 1) sternocleidomastoid muscle dissection; 2) transparotid dissection; and 3) removal of the styloid apparatus and opening of the retromandibular fossa to expose the cervical ICA with the internal jugular vein along with Cranial Nerves X, XI, and XII. Results: The posterior belly of the digastric muscle and the styloid muscles were the main obstacles to reaching the high cervical ICA. The high cervical ICA was successfully exposed through the retromandibular fossa in all specimens. In all specimens, the cervical ICA exhibited an S-shaped curve in the retromandibular fossa. The external carotid artery was located more superficially than the ICA in all specimens. The average length of the ICA in the retromandibular fossa was 6.8 cm. Conclusion: The entire cervical ICA can be exposed via the retromandibular fossa approach without neural and vascular injury by use of meticulous dissection and good anatomic knowledge. Mandibulotomy is not necessary for adequate visualization of the high cervical ICA.

Dynamic Computed Tomography Angiography in Suspected Brain Death: A Noninvasive Biomarker

2014 ◽  
Vol 65 (4) ◽  
pp. 352-359 ◽  
Author(s):  
Santanu Chakraborty ◽  
Reem A. Adas
Keyword(s):  
Blood Flow ◽  
Cerebral Blood Flow ◽  
Carotid Artery ◽  
Internal Carotid Artery ◽  
Brain Death ◽  
Internal Carotid ◽  
External Carotid Artery ◽  
External Carotid ◽  
Ancillary Test ◽  
Organ Harvesting

Purpose Neurologic determination of death or brain death is primarily a clinical diagnosis. This must respect all guarantees required by law and should be determined early to avoid unnecessary treatment and allow organ harvesting for transplantation. Ancillary testing is used in situations in which clinical assessment is impossible or confounded by other factors. Our purpose is to determine the utility of dynamic computed tomographic angiography (dCTA) as an ancillary test for diagnosis of brain death. Materials and Methods We retrospectively reviewed 13 consecutive patients with suspected brain death in the intensive care unit who had dCTA. Contrast appearance timings recorded from the dCTA data were compared to findings from 15 controls selected from patients who presented with symptoms of acute stroke but showed no stroke in follow-up imaging. Results The dCTA allows us to reliably assess cerebral blood flow and to record time of individual cerebral vessels opacification. It also helps us to assess the intracranial flow qualitatively against the flow in extracranial vessels as a reference. We compared the time difference between enhancement of the external and internal carotid arteries and branches. In all patients who were brain dead, internal carotid artery enhancement was delayed, which occurred after external carotid artery branches were opacified. Conclusion In patients with suspected brain death, dCTA reliably demonstrated the lack of cerebral blood flow, with extracranial circulation as an internal reference. Our initial results suggest that inversion of time of contrast appearance between internal carotid artery and external carotid artery branches at the skull base could predict a lack of distal intracranial flow.

Orbital Vascular And Lymphatic Systems

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Jordan ◽  
Louise Mawn ◽  
Richard L. Anderson
Keyword(s):  
Carotid Artery ◽  
Internal Carotid Artery ◽  
Cavernous Sinus ◽  
Ophthalmic Artery ◽  
Internal Carotid ◽  
External Carotid Artery ◽  
External Carotid ◽  
Sympathetic Nerve Fibers ◽  
Carotid Canal ◽  
Cervical Ganglion

The anatomy of the orbital vascular bed is complex, with tremendous individual variation. The main arterial supply to the orbit is from the ophthalmic artery, a branch of the internal carotid artery. The external carotid artery normally contributes only to a small extent. However, there are a number of orbital branches of the ophthalmic artery that anastomose with adjacent branches from the external carotid artery, creating important anastomotic communications between the internal and external carotid arterial systems. The venous drainage of the orbit occurs mainly via two ophthalmic veins (superior and inferior) that extend to the cavernous sinus, but there are also connections with the pterygoid plexus of veins, as well as some more anteriorly through the angular vein and the infraorbital vein to the facial vein. A working knowledge of the orbital vasculature and lymphatic systems is important during orbital, extraocular, or ocular surgery. Knowing the anatomy of the blood supply helps one avoid injury to the arteries and veins during operative procedures within the orbit or the eyelid. Inadvertent injury to the vasculature not only distorts the anatomy and disrupts a landmark but also prolongs the surgery and might compromise blood flow to an important orbital or ocular structure. Upon entering the cranium, the internal carotid artery passes through the petrous portion of the temporal bone in the carotid canal and enters the cavernous sinus and middle cranial fossa through the superior part of the forame lacerum . It proceeds forward in the cavernous sinus with the abducens nerve along its side. There it is surrounded by sympathetic nerve fibers (the carotid plexus ) derived from the superior cervical ganglion. It then makes an upward S-shaped turn to form the carotid siphon , passing just medial to the oculomotor, trochlear, and ophthalmic nerves (V1). After turning superiorly in the anterior cavernous sinus, the carotid artery perforates the dura at the medial aspect of the anterior clinoid process and turns posteriorly, inferior to the optic nerve.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document