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Superficial temporal artery (STA) to middle cerebral artery (MCA) bypass surgery for internal carotid artery (ICA) occlusive disease necessarily requires sufficient external carotid artery (ECA) blood flow. Surgical bypass is therefore precluded if there is common carotid artery (CCA) occlusion. Here we present two such cases: one patient had a CCA occlusion and the other had an ICA occlusion and ECA stenosis. Both had failed medical management, and were therefore treated with angioplasty and stenting of the ECA, followed by STA-MCA bypass. We describe the clinical and radiologic outcomes of these cases, and remark on the potential pitfalls associated with this novel approach., Competing Interests: None declared., (Thieme. All rights reserved.)

Background: In intra-arterial chemotherapy for retinoblastoma, a backflow from unreachable external carotid artery branches in the ophthalmic artery can be challenging., Objective: To describe a new endovascular technique using Gelfoam pledgets to temporarily occlude distal branches of the external carotid artery to reverse the competitive backflow into the ophthalmic artery in order to perform intra-arterial chemotherapy via the ostium of the ophthalmic artery in selected cases., Methods: We queried our prospectively collected database of 327 consecutive patients treated for retinoblastoma by intra-arterial chemotherapy and identified those employing Gelfoam pledgets. We describe this new technique with emphasis on feasibility and safety., Results: We treated 11 eyes with 14 infusions of intra-arterial chemotherapy using Gelfoam pledgets to occlude the distal branches of the external carotid artery. We report no perioperative complications due to this occlusion technique. At the ophthalmologic follow-up 1 month after the injection of Gelfoam pledgets, all cases showed tumor regression or stable disease. Two injections into the same eye as the rescue intra-arterial chemotherapy infusion resulted in a transient exudative retinal detachment, and one injection in a heavily pretreated case was followed by iris neovascularization and retinal ischemia. None of the pledget injections led to irreversible vision-threatening intraocular complications., Conclusions: Intra-arterial chemotherapy in retinoblastoma using Gelfoam to transiently occlude the distal branches of the external carotid artery and reverse the backflow into the ophthalmic artery seems feasible and safe. Larges series will help to confirm the effectiveness of this new technique., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Background: The aim of this study was to clarify when and from which blood vessels indirect revascularization develops after combined revascularization surgery for moyamoya disease and how the donor vessels that undergo direct revascularization change in the medium to long term. In particular, we focused on the middle temporal artery (MTA), which has not received much attention in indirect revascularization surgery for moyamoya disease until now., Methods: We targeted 20 sides that were suitable for evaluating the diameter of the external carotid artery system involved in combined revascularization surgery among moyamoya disease patients who underwent a composite revascularization procedure utilizing a 'U'-shaped skin incision encircling the parietal branch of the superficial temporal artery (STA) at our institution from 2018 to 2023. We identified the STA parietal branch, MMA, DTA, and MTA in the TOF source MR images acquired preoperatively and three and six months after surgery; measured the long and short diameters of each blood vessel; approximated the blood vessel shape as an ellipse, and calculated its cross-sectional area., Results: The cross-sectional areas of the MMA, DTA, and MTA involved in indirect revascularization significantly increased compared to presurgery three months after surgery, and this trend continued six months after surgery, but no significant change was observed between three and six months after surgery. There were no cases in which the MTA was clearly confirmed before surgery in the TOF reconstructed images, but the MTA was clearly confirmed in 55% (11/20 cases) of hemispheres three months after surgery and in 85% (17/20 cases) of hemispheres six months after surgery. The crosssectional area of the STA parietal branch, which was the donor for direct revascularization, had increased by more than 150% compared to before surgery in 55% (11/20 cases) of hemispheres three months after surgery., Conclusions: Indirect revascularization can be expected three months after combined revascularization surgery for moyamoya disease. The MTA, which has not received much attention in terms of indirect revascularization for moyamoya disease patients thus far, was found to be a useful blood flow source for indirect revascularization in combined revascularization surgery for patients with moyamoya disease. Whether or not the cross-sectional area of the superficial temporal artery used as a donor for direct revascularization increased in the medium to long term varied on a case-by-case basis., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The ascending pharyngeal, accessory meningeal, and lingual arteries branch from the proximal segment of the external carotid artery. These branches give rise to smaller branches that contribute blood supply to the pharyngeal mucosa, parapharyngeal tissue, middle ear, submandibular tissues, tongue, and dura mater of the middle and posterior fossa. These arteries may also supply the cranial nerves and have potential anastomotic channels that function with the internal carotid and vertebral arteries. M igration of embolic material into the vasa nervorum and potential anastomoses may cause complications. Therefore, knowledge of these functional anatomies is crucial for neuro-interventionalists.

Background: Fragmentation, disconnection, or entrapment of an in-use microcatheter during neuro-endovascular procedures is a known risk. Often a benign entity, retained catheters are not infrequently observed, but severe complications including thrombus, thromboembolic events, pseudoaneurysm, and limb ischemia have been described, necessitating retrieval. This technical case report demonstrates the safe use of an external carotid artery (ECA) approach for ligation and removal of a retained microcatheter after middle meningeal artery (MMA) embolization. This article also demonstrates the use of live intraoperative fluoroscopy as a surgical adjunct to ensure that the catheter is fully removed without any injury, shearing, or breakage during removal., Methods: A 66-year-old male patient presented with bilateral subdural hematomas to an outside hospital. He subsequently underwent evacuation of the hematomas followed by a right-sided MMA embolization, complicated by Onyx (Medtronic, Minneapolis, MN) entrapment of the microcatheter in the MMA. The patient was asymptomatic, but there was significant concern about continuing antiplatelet/anticoagulation therapy in the presence of the subdural hematoma. We proceeded with an open surgical approach for catheter retrieval. As the catheter was withdrawn, intraoperative fluoroscopy demonstrated complete removal without any retained fragments., Results: The patient recovered without event and was discharged on postoperative day 1. On follow-up the patient continued to do well without any complications from the fragment that remained in the external carotid circulation., Conclusions: This case and accompanying video demonstrates the effective use of open ECA surgical approach to retrieve the retained microcatheter after an MMA embolization. This approach allowed for safe and effective removal of the microcatheter while significantly reducing complication risks., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The perfusion territory of the external carotid artery is often underestimated; however, this blood vessel forms abundant "dangerous anastomoses" with the internal carotid and vertebral arteries. An understanding of these vascular anastomoses is crucial to ensure safe cerebrovascular interventions. There are several important aspects of the middle meningeal artery that should be considered, including anastomoses with the anterior(frontal)branch and ophthalmic artery through the sphenoidal artery(recurrent meningeal artery)and meningolacrimal artery. Additionally, the blood supply to the facial nerve via branches of the petrosal branch, such as the superior tympanic artery, and the formation of the facial arcade by the superior tympanic and stylomastoid arteries, which often originate from the posterior auricular artery, is significant. The occipital artery demonstrates rich anastomoses with vessels, such as the ascending pharyngeal and vertebral arteries, forming what is known as the pharyngo-occipital system.

Background: The external carotid artery (ECA) is a major artery of the head and neck. Although numerous studies describe the variability of ECA branches, the course variation of the ECA was seemingly overlooked. It was aimed to study the morphological possibilities of the retromandibular segment of the ECA., Method: A retrospective study was performed on 60 computed tomography angiograms of 26 male and 31 female adult patients. Three types of retromandibular ECA were defined: type 1 - the ECA has a straight course deep to the anatomical plane of the ramus of the mandible; type 2 - the ECA makes a retromandibular loop directed laterally, extending externally to the anatomical plane of the ramus of the mandible; and type 3 - the retromandibular loop directed laterally reaches just behind the posterior margin of the ramus of the mandible., Results: Type 1 was found in just 43.33%, type 2 in 18.33%, and type 3 in 38.33% of 120 sides cases. On the right, type 1 was significantly associated with the male gender, and type 3 with the female gender (Pearson Chi2=10.9, p=0.004). On the left, there were no statistically significant associations (Pearson Chi2=3.5, p=0.153). In 20 cases, the retromandibular course of the ECA was asymmetrical; in 21 cases, type 1 was recorded bilaterally; in 5 cases, type 2 was bilaterally symmetrical; and in 14 cases, type 3 was found bilaterally., Conclusion: These previously undocumented types of ECA are relevant during parotid surgery and should be investigated preoperatively on a case-by-case basis., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors have no conflict of interest to declare., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.)

We report the first case of a juvenile nasal angiofibroma (JNA) fed by multiple arteries from the internal carotid artery (ICA), removed without complications by temporarily blocking the ICA with two balloons. An early adolescent with JNA underwent preoperative embolisation of feeding arteries arising from the external carotid artery (ECA) (University of Pittsburgh Medical Centre classification IV). Endoscopic resection was attempted once but discontinued due to massive bleeding (7000 mL). 17 months later, the JNA had grown to fill both nasal cavities. Repeated preoperative embolisation of the feeders from the ECA was performed, followed by surgery combined with endoscopic and external incision. Intraoperatively, two balloons were inserted into the right ICA, which were inflated at the proximal and distal sites of the feeder vessels to cut-off blood flow to the tumour. The tumour was almost completely resected with 6270 mL of blood loss and no postoperative neurological deterioration., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2024. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Background: Vascular abnormalities, including dissections and aneurysms, can be found in patients with autosomal dominant kidney disease (ADPKD). While intracranial aneurysms have been reported in 10%-25% of ADPCKD, occurrences at other locations are exceedingly rare., Method: This is a first case report of a patient with ADPCKD who presented with a rupture of the left external carotid artery pseudoaneurysm., Conclusion: Rupture of a carotid artery aneurysm is rare with potentially high morbidity. An endovascular and surgical approach are effective strategies for successful management that depends on etiology, location, and surgeon experience., Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Objective: The objective of this retrospective study was to establish a novel system for evaluating collateralization of the external carotid artery in patients with moyamoya disease (MMD) following direct and indirect revascularization surgeries., Methods: The authors conducted a retrospective analysis of 456 patients diagnosed with MMD who underwent direct and indirect revascularization procedures at Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, between January 2015 and May 2023. Using a newly proposed digital subtraction angiography (DSA)-based evaluation system, the authors assessed collateralization angiogenesis objectively and in a standardized manner., Results: The authors' findings indicated that there was no significant difference in collateralization angiogenesis between patients undergoing direct or indirect cerebral revascularization (p = 0.702). However, after cerebral revascularization, patients with ischemic MMD exhibited significantly higher collateralization angiogenesis compared with those with hemorrhagic MMD (p = 0.007). Children with MMD demonstrated higher angiogenesis levels than adults (p < 0.001), but subgroup analysis showed age-specific variations. In adults, collateralization angiogenesis was significantly greater in those with ischemic MMD (p = 0.006), whereas in children, no significant difference was noted between ischemic and hemorrhagic MMD (p = 0.962). Furthermore, regardless of MMD type, direct and indirect revascularization methods yielded similar collateralization angiogenesis (p = 0.962 and p = 0.963, respectively). Importantly, the Matsushima grading system revealed significant differences in angiogenesis in patients with ischemic MMD (p < 0.001)., Conclusions: The newly introduced DSA-based evaluation system offers an objective and standardized method for assessing collateralization angiogenesis in MMD. This study supports the efficacy of both direct and indirect revascularization surgical procedures and highlights distinct pathophysiological processes of ischemic and hemorrhagic disease subtypes. These findings contribute to a better understanding of surgical outcomes and aid in the selection of appropriate treatment strategies for patients with MMD.

Purpose: One of the most devastating complications of facial filler injection is sudden ischemic blindness. However, its mechanisms and predisposing factors are poorly understood. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of external carotid artery (ECA) to ophthalmic artery (OA) anterograde flow in patients with internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis and in a control population without carotid disease., Methods: In this cross-sectional cohort study, two groups of patients who underwent catheter cerebral angiography over a 5-year period were identified: patients with symptomatic ICA stenosis and a control group of patients with refractory epistaxis undergoing embolization. Angiograms were reviewed by an interventional neuroradiologist. The primary outcome measure was the presence of ECA to OA flow, defined as choroidal blush before filling of the circle of Willis. Secondary outcome measures included the percentage and location of ICA stenosis and ECA anastomotic branches involved., Results: The study included 149 patients with ICA stenosis and 69 control patients. ECA to OA flow was more prevalent in patients with ICA stenosis (34.9%) compared to controls (2.9%) ( p  < .001). Logistic regression demonstrated that for each 10% increase in ICA stenosis over 70%, there was 2.8 times increased risk of ECA to OA flow ( p  < .001)., Conclusions: ECA to ICA anterograde flow can be demonstrated in approximately 3% of control patients and in over 1/3 of patients with symptomatic carotid stenosis. This provides a plausible pathway for small filler particles to pass with blood flow from the facial to the ophthalmic circulation.

The purpose of this research was to demonstrate the effectiveness and clinical outcome of an external carotid artery-radial artery graft-posterior cerebral artery (ECA-RAG-PCA) bypass in the treatment of complex vertebrobasilar artery aneurysms (VBANs) in a single-center retrospective study. An ECA-RAG-PCA bypass may be a last and very important option in the treatment of complex VBANs when conventional surgical clipping or endovascular interventions fail to achieve the desired outcome. This study retrospectively analyzed the clinical presentation, case characteristics, aneurysm location, size and morphology, choice of surgical strategy, complications, clinical follow-up, and prognosis of the patients enrolled. The data involved were analyzed by the appropriate statistical methods. A total of 24 patients with complex VBANs who met the criteria were included in this study. Eighteen (75.0%) were male and the mean age was 54.1 ± 8.83 years. The aneurysms were located in the vertebral artery, the basilar artery, and in the vertebrobasilar artery with simultaneous involvement. All patients underwent ECA-RAG-PCA bypass surgery via an extended middle cranial fossa approach, with 8 (33.3%) undergoing ECA-RAG-PCA bypass only, 3 (12.5%) undergoing ECA-RAG-PCA bypass combined with aneurysm partial trapping, and 12 (50.0%) undergoing ECA-RAG-PCA bypass combined with proximal occlusion of the parent artery. The average clinical follow-up was 22.0 ± 13.35 months. The patency rate of the high-flow bypass was 100%. At the final follow-up, 15 (62.5%) patients had complete occlusion of the aneurysm, 7 (29.2%) patients had subtotal occlusion of the aneurysm, and 2 (8.3%) patients had stable aneurysms. The rate of complete and subtotal occlusion of the aneurysm at the final follow-up was 91.7%. The clinical prognosis was good in 21 (87.5%) patients and no procedure-related deaths occurred. Analysis of the good and poor prognosis groups revealed a statistically significant difference in aneurysm size (P = 0.034, t-test). Combining the results of this study and the clinical experience of our center, we propose a surgical algorithm and strategy for the treatment of complex VBANs.The technical approach of ECA-RAG-PCA bypass for complex VBANs remains important, even in an era of rapid advances in endovascular intervention. When conventional surgical clipping or endovascular intervention has failed, an ECA-RAG-PCA bypass plays a role that cannot be abandoned and is a very important treatment option of last resort., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Introduction: Utilization an in-situ pedicle of the external carotid artery (ECA) as an arterial donor can allow for the successful augmentation or replacement of flow to a large vascular territory. We propose a mathematical model for quantitatively analyzing and grading the suitability of donor and recipient bypass vessels based on a set of anatomical and surgical variables in order to predict which pair has the greatest possibility for success. Using this method, we analyze all of the potential donor-recipient pairs for each ECA donor vessel-including the superficial temporal (STA), middle meningeal (MMA), and occipital (OA) arteries., Methods: The ECA pedicles were dissected in frontotemporal, middle fossa, subtemporal, retrosigmoid, far lateral, suboccipital, supracerebellar, and occipital transtentorial approaches. For each approach, every potential donor-recipient pair was identified, and donor length and diameter were measured as well as depth of field, angle of exposure, ease of proximal control, maneuverability, and length and diameter of the recipient segment. Anastomotic pair scores were determined by adding the weighted donor and recipient., Results: The best overall anastomotic pairs were OA-vertebral artery (V3, 17.1) and STA-insular (M2, 16.3) and STA-sylvian (M3, 15.9) segments of the middle cerebral artery. Other strong anastomotic combinations were OA- telovelotonsillar (15) and OA- tonsilomedullary (14.9) segments of the posterior inferior cerebellar artery, and MMA-lateral pontomesencephalic segment of the superior cerebellar artery (14.2)., Conclusions: This novel model for anastamotic pair scoring can serve as a useful clinical tool for selecting the optimal donor, recipient, and approach combination that can help facilitate a successful bypass., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: Congenital external carotid-internal carotid artery (EC-ICA) anastomosis is a cervical arterial variation that was initially reported, based on anatomic dissection, from Japan in 2000. The purpose of this report is to show the characteristic radiological findings of this extremely rare cervical arterial variation., Methods: We analyzed nine cases, including six previously reported cases and three cases that we recently experienced. Three of the six previously reported cases were from Japan, and the remaining three cases were from Korea. MR angiography (4), CT angiography (2), catheter angiography (2) and autopsy (1) were used as diagnostic modalities., Results: The study population included eight men and one woman. Anastomosis was seen on the left side in seven cases and the right side in two cases, and it was located at the level of the C1/2-C2/3 intervertebral space. In all cases, ECA was larger than the ICA at the level of their origins. In four cases, the ICA was extremely small in caliber. In one case, the ICA may have been occluded postnatally, and its configuration was similar to that of the nonbifurcating cervical carotid artery (CCA). With the exception of this occluded case, the carotid bifurcation and EC-ICA anastomosis formed a large arterial ring in all cases., Conclusion: EC-ICA anastomosis can be regarded as a variant of the nonbifurcating CCA because if the most proximal segment of the small ICA is occluded, nonbifurcating CCA may form. EC-ICA anastomosis is located between the C1/2-C2/3 intervertebral space and may be formed by the remnants of the proatlantal artery I., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag France SAS, part of Springer Nature.)

A 62-year-old man was presented with transient ischemic attack 1 day after percutaneous coronary intervention. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated fresh cerebral infarction in the left hemisphere. Digital subtraction angiography showed left Riles type 1A common carotid artery occlusion (CCAO). Blood flow in the internal carotid artery (ICA) was derived from the external carotid artery, which came through the anastomosis between the left occipital artery and a muscular branch of left vertebral artery. We performed short jump graft from CCA to ICA using saphenous vein, followed by ligation of CCA. The graft remained patent at the 1-year follow-up., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Austria, part of Springer Nature.)

Objectives: This study describes an alternative carotid bifurcation endarterectomy technique in which the external carotid artery is used as a suture patch., Methods: Charts of ten patients with atherosclerotic carotid stenosis that were treated using the neobulb technique between 2002 and 2019 were reviewed., Results: No major surgical adverse event was observed in the postoperative assessments. No postoperative common or internal carotid stenosis was observed in the mid- or long-term follow-up., Conclusions: The neobulb technique allows carotid endarterectomy closure without a synthetic or venous patch, using the external carotid artery as an autologous patch, while preserving distal flow into the external carotid artery branches.

Objective: Common carotid artery occlusion (CCAO) is a rare cause of cerebrovascular events. Symptomatic lesions are resistant to medical treatment and revascularization is often required, but there is no consensus on the treatment of CCAO at present. Riles type 1A CCAO is most likely to benefit from revascularization because it has patent outflow tract (internal carotid artery) which was supplied by patent external carotid artery (ECA) from collateral circulation. We described a novel surgical technique improved on the basis of the carotid endarterectomy (CEA) for treatment of Riles type 1A CCAO., Methods: We rigorously screened ten patients with symptomatic Riles type1A CCAO for surgery from January 2017 to May 2019 and performed a full preoperative assessment of the inadequate collateral circulation compensation. Moreover, we retrospectively reviewed our experience of the segmented CEA in the treatment of them in our single center., Results: Segmented CEA was performed on the left side in four cases and on the right side in six cases. The technical success rate of the procedure was 100%. Primary suture was used in nine cases. Only one patient (right CCAO) who had a history of neck radiotherapy was treated by the patch CEA. The mean temporary blocking time during surgery was 52.8 ± 9.15 min. The mean temporary blocking time for treating the upper segment of the common carotid artery (CCA) was 11.1 ± 2.64 min. In the postoperative period, cerebral perfusion on the ipsilateral site improved in all patients, myocardial infarction occurred in one patient, and recurrent laryngeal nerve damage occurred in another. No ischemic events or re-occlusion or restenosis (> 50%) of the treated CCA occurred during the mean follow-up of 32.6 ± 9.3 months. The preoperative mean modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score was 1.9 (range, 1-3; median, 2). At last follow-up for all patients, the mRS score was 1 (range, 0-3; median, 1)., Conclusion: Segmented CEA, which utilizes the compensatory effect of collateral circulation, is an effective and safe technique to treat patients suffering from Riles type 1A CCAO with hemodynamic cerebrovascular compromise., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Austria, part of Springer Nature.)

Purpose: Understanding the anatomical variations involving bifurcation of the common carotid artery, positioning of external and internal carotid arteries, and branching of the external carotid artery are of vital importance in neck surgeries such as carotid endarterectomies (CEA)., Methods: The neck of a 51-year-old female donor body was dissected to demonstrate the arterial network., Results: Bifurcation of the common carotid artery occurred at the level of the C6-C7 intervertebral disc, significantly inferior to the generally accepted and taught anatomical location at the level of intervertebral disc between C3 and C4 vertebrae. When the arteries were followed superiorly after the bifurcation, a unique second variation was observed: translocation of the external and internal carotid arteries. The external carotid artery was located posterolaterally and the internal carotid artery was located more medially. Finally, a third variation was discovered in the form of a common thyrolingual trunk that gave rise to superior thyroid and lingual arteries rather than these arising independently from the external carotid artery., Conclusions: We report a unique triple variation within the major arteries of the neck that has not been previously reported in surveyed literature. This case report may provide useful information for cardiovascular surgeons performing CEA and for otolaryngologists performing prophylactic arterial ligation following transoral robotic surgery for oropharyngeal cancer resection., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag France SAS, part of Springer Nature.)

Common carotid artery occlusion (CCAO) is a rare phenomenon associated with the development of neurological symptoms. In CCAO, diversion of blood flow from the external carotid artery (ECA) to the internal carotid artery (ICA) via the carotid bulb (CB) may occur. This pathway activation has been called "carotid steal". Starting from a particular case we describe the ECD finding of a complete occlusion of CCA with patency of ICA and ECA. In case of occlusion of CCA, inversion of the ECA flow may occur, towards the ICA, and it can be damped by a significant stenosis crossed in retrograde direction that may concur to maintain the pressure balance between the two circulations. Usually, this particular compensation can guarantee normal flow velocities in middle cerebral arteries without signs of activation of anterior collateral pathways. In this review we underline the protective role of ECA and we propose a new definition for this phenomenon. The ECA may provide blood to the cerebral circulation through several anastomotic secondary channels. Finally, only with an extensive knowledge of hemodynamic information of all intracranial and extracranial arteries, including ECA, we can estimate cerebral ischemic risk of the patient and choose the correct management of this occlusion., (© 2021. Società Italiana di Ultrasonologia in Medicina e Biologia (SIUMB).)

Objective: Placing an extracranial-intracranial (EC-IC) high-flow bypass using a radial artery (RA) graft plus internal carotid artery (ICA) trapping or ligation is an option for treating patients expected to be at high risk for complications by direct surgical treatment of the ICA. We focused on the anastomosis between the external carotid artery (ECA) and the RA graft in the cervical region and present adverse events and salvage procedures., Methods: EC-IC high-flow bypass procedures using an RA graft were performed to treat 87 consecutive patients. The ECA diameter at the midpoint of the planned ECA-RA anastomosis and the non-branched length of the ECA were measured on preoperative angiograms. To study adverse events related to ECA-RA anastomoses, we reviewed the patients' surgical records and intraoperative videos., Results: In 11 patients (12.6%) we encountered adverse events during anastomosis between the ECA and RA. The rate of ECA dissection was significantly higher in male patients (4 of 17; 23.5%) than female patients (3 of 70; 4.3%) (P = 0.012). Logistic regression analysis revealed that male sex, individuals with diabetes mellitus, and patients whose non-branching length of the ECA was short (16.1 ± 6.7 mm) were at high risk of ECA problems. We set the cutoff point at 17.5 mm (the area under the receiver operator characteristic curve was 0.72)., Conclusions: Our findings indicate that patients, especially male patients, treated by EC-IC high-flow bypass using an RA graft are at increased risk for adverse events when the ECA length at the site of the planned anastomosis is shorter than 17.5 mm., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

A rare clinical case of recurrent nosebleeds associated with Randu-Osler disease, in which drug, hemostatic, transfusion therapy and combined nasal tamponade were ineffective, required ligation of the external carotid arteries on both sides, is presented.

Background: Donor vessel quality can impact the outcome of extracranial-intracranial (EC-IC) bypass. External carotid artery (ECA) disease may produce embolism into the anastomosis and cerebral territory and possibly reduce flow in the superficial temporal artery (STA). Previously reported remedies to ECA stenosis include ECA endarterectomy, stenting, and angioplasty. Clinical presentation A middle-aged patient with chronic left MCA occlusion, progressive ischemic symptoms on maximal medical therapy, and imaging confirmation of compromised hemodynamic reserve was evaluated for EC-IC bypass. Angiography demonstrated severe ECA origin stenosis. An ECA-ICA transposition was performed, primarily to eliminate the risk of emboli and secondarily to possibly improve the STA flow. The patient sustained an excellent radiological and clinical outcome, and the STA donor cut-flow was increased modestly by 22% (45 to 55 mL/min)., Conclusion: This case is the first report of an ECA to internal carotid artery transposition as an option in the management of ECA stenosis in preparation for an STA-MCA bypass for the purpose of flow augmentation., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Austria, part of Springer Nature.)

Carotid stenting near the bifurcation carina is associated with adverse events, especially in-stent restenosis, thrombosis, and side branch occlusion in clinical data. This study is aimed at determining the potential biomechanical mechanisms for these adverse events after carotid stenting. The patient-specific carotid models were constructed with different stenting scenarios to study the flow distribution and hemodynamic parameters, such as wall shear stress (WSS), flow velocity, relative residence time (RRT), and oscillating shear index (OSI) in the carotid bifurcation. The results suggested that the existing stents surely reduced blood flow to the external carotid artery (ECA) but enhanced local flow disturbance both in ECA and stented internal carotid artery (ICA), and the inner posterior wall of the stented ICA and the outer posterior wall of ECA might endure a relatively low level of WSS and remarkably elevated OSI and RRT. In addition, the implanted stent leads to more ECA adverse flow than ICA after stenting. While disturbed flow near the strut increased as stent length increased, blood flow and areas of local flow disturbance in ECA slightly decreased as stent length increased. In conclusion, the results revealed that ECA might be in relatively high levels of abnormal local hemodynamics after stenting, followed by stented ICA, leading to potential adverse events after intervention., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests., (Copyright © 2021 Zhenmin Fan et al.)

The existence of carotid basilar anastomoses has been well documented embryologically, anatomically, and, in the case of the persistent trigeminal and hypoglossal arteries, angiographically. Conversely, anomalous origins of the vertebral arteries (VA) are not very common with an incidence ranging from 3% to 8%. Multiple variations of the VA origin have been reported in the literature, including arising from the aortic arch, from the common, internal, or external carotid arteries and subclavian branches.1 There are only four cases reported in the literature of VA origin from the external carotid artery.2-5 We report the fifth case in which the anomalous origin was identified during the investigation of an acute ischemic stroke. Video 1 emphasizes the importance of anatomical knowledge prior to endovascular or surgical interventions. It also highlights technical nuances of carotid artery stenting in a patient with anomalous VA origin from the external carotid artery. neurintsurg;13/10/974/V1F1V1Video 1., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2021. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Objective: To examine the relationship between trap location and cerebral infarction in the anterior choroidal artery (AChA) region and associated risks in ruptured internal carotid artery blood blister-like aneurysm (BLA) treatment with high-flow bypass and lesion trapping., Methods: We included 26 patients diagnosed with BLAs and treated with high-flow bypass and trapping. We examined clinical characteristics including age, aneurysm trap location, final prognosis, cerebral infarction on postoperative magnetic resonance imaging, and modified Rankin Scale score at discharge. We also searched the literature for similar studies., Results: The modified Rankin Scale score at discharge was 0-2 in 20 patients, 3-5 in 2 patients, and 6 in 2 patients. In 19/26 patients (73.1%), the trapped segment was between the posterior communicating (PcomA) and the ophthalmic arteries. In 2 patients (7.7%), the trapped segment included the PcomA and the AChA; in 4 patients (15.4%), the trapped segment was within the PcomA. In these patients, the PcomA was occluded, and blood from the high-flow bypass flowed out to the AChA alone. No patient showed cerebral infarction. Our systematic review identified 70 patients. Of all 96 patients, 12 had AChA cerebral infarction; however, the infarction affected the prognosis of only 2 patients., Conclusions: When treating BLAs with high-flow bypass and lesion trapping, the frequency of AChA cerebral infarction is low even when the PcomA is occluded, leaving the AChA as the only outflow vessel during high-flow bypass. However, PcomA occlusion may be associated with risks when treating patients with advanced arteriosclerosis near C1-2., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: Carotid body tumors (CBTs) are rare head and neck neoplasms, we aimed to propose a modification to the Shamblin's classification of CBTs., Materials and Methods: This retrospective study included 105 patients (116 CBTs) operated at our institution from March 2013 to July 2020. CBTs were divided by a modified Shamblin's classification into five subtypes (type I-V) based on the radiographic features. Correlations between modified classification and intraoperative bleeding, internal carotid artery (ICA) bypass and postoperative neural complications, as main outcomes, as well as other outcomes were analyzed., Results: Surgeries for type V and type I CBTs had the most (median: 700 ml, IQR: 375-1575 ml) and least (median: 20 ml, IQR: 20-50 ml) bleeding, respectively. Intraoperatively, ICA bypass was needed in 41.7% (10/24) type V, 18.2% (8/44) type IV and 5.9% (1/17) type III lesions, but not in other subtypes (p = .001). Postoperatively, overall cranial nerve deficits (CND) were found most frequently in type V tumors (17/24, 70.8%) (p = .016). Permanent CND were found in 33.3% (8/24) type V and 4.5% (2/44) type IV lesions, but not in other subtypes (p = .001). Other outcomes including external carotid artery ligation, operation time, blood transfusion, postoperative intensive unit care and postoperative hospitalization also showed significant difference among different subtypes. Patients recovered uneventfully during a follow-up of 23.5 ± 16.2 months except for one ipsilateral recurrence at 42 months after surgery., Conclusions: The modified classification was correlated with surgical outcomes of CBTs and will be helpful for making surgical plans., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declared that there is no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Objective/hypothesis: To investigate the endovascular intervention or extracranial/intracranial (EC/IC) vascular bypass in the management of patients with head and neck cancer-related carotid blowout syndrome (CBS)., Study Design: Retrospective case series., Methods: Retrospective analysis of clinical data of patients with head and neck cancer-related CBS treated by endovascular intervention and/or EC/IC vascular bypass, analysis of its bleeding control, neurological complications, and survival results., Results: Thrity-seven patients were included. Twenty-five were associated with external carotid artery (ECA); twelve were associated with internal or common carotid artery (ICA/CCA). All patients with ECA hemorrhage were treated with endovascular embolization. Of the 12 patients with ICA/CCA hemorrhage, 9 underwent EC/IC bypass, 1 underwent endovascular embolization, and 3 underwent endovascular stenting. For patients with ECA-related CBS, the median survival was 6 months, and the 90-day, 1-year, and 2-year survival rates were 67.1%, 44.7%, and 33.6%, respectively; the estimated rebleeding risk at 1-month, 6-month, and 2-year was 7.1%, 20.0%, and 31.6%, respectively. For patients with ICA/CCA-related CBS, the median survival was 22.5 months, and the 90-day, 1-year, and 2-year survival rates were 92.3%, 71.8%, and 41.0%, respectively; the estimated rebleeding risk at 1 month, 6 months, and 2 years is 7.7%,15.4%, and 15.4%, respectively. ICA/CCA-related CBS patients have significantly longer survival time and lower risk of rebleeding, which may be related to the more use of EC/IC vascular bypass as a definite treatment., Conclusions: For patients with ICA/CCA-related CBS, if there is more stable hemodynamics, longer expected survival, EC/IC vascular bypass is preferred., Level of Evidence: 4 Laryngoscope, 131:1548-1556, 2021., (© 2021 The American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc.)

Background: An indication for selective shunting during carotid endarterectomy (CEA) is based on monitoring during a procedure. Cerebral oximetry (CO) using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) may be a simple technique, but its relevance during CEA, especially with respect to cutoff values indicating shunt implantation, still needs to be elucidated., Methods: One hundred twenty five patients underwent CEA under local anesthesia (LA) and were monitored clinically throughout the whole procedure. The patients were also monitored using bilateral NIRS probes during surgery. The NIRS values were recorded and evaluated before and after selective cross-clamping, firstly by the external carotid artery (ECA), followed by the internal carotid artery (ICA). The decrease in the ipsilateral CO values, with respect to the indication of shunting, was only analyzed after selective cross-clamping of the ICA. The decision to use an intraluminal shunt was solely based on the neurological status evaluation after ICA cross-clamping., Results: One hundred five patients (85%) were stable throughout the CEA, while 20 patients (15%) clinically deteriorated during surgery. The mean drop in the CO after selective ICA clamping in clinically stable patients was 6%, while in patients with clinical deterioration, the NIRS decreased by 14.5% (p < 0.05). When the cutoff value for selective shunting was set as a 10% decrease of the ipsilateral CO after selective ICA clamping, the sensitivity of the technique was 100% and the specificity 83.0%., Conclusions: Our study showed that a 10% decrease in the ipsilateral brain tissue oximetry after selective cross-clamping the ICA provides a reliable cutoff value for selective shunting during CEA. Despite the availability of a variety of monitoring tools, the NIRS may be an easy, reliable option, especially in the scenario of acute CEA in general anesthesia.

Objective: To assess the feasibility of balloon catheter occlusion of the internal carotid artery (ICA), external carotid artery (ECA), and maxillary artery (MA) in standing horses., Study Design: Experimental and clinical cases series., Animals: Eight healthy horses (phase 1) and 11 clinical cases (phase 2)., Methods: Occlusions were performed on standing horses under sedation and local anesthesia. In phase 1, four horses underwent bilateral ICA balloon catheter occlusion, and four horses underwent balloon catheter occlusion of the ECA and MA. In phase 2, horses were treated by occlusion of ICA (n = 7), ECA (n = 2), or ECA and ICA (n = 2)., Results: Internal carotid artery occlusion was successful in seven of eight and seven of nine arteries in phases 1 and 2, respectively. The procedures lasted 53 and 50 minutes, respectively, and catheters were inserted over 13 ± 0.7 cm (mean ± SD). External carotid artery occlusion was successful in seven of seven and four of four arteries in phases 1 and 2, respectively, with mean durations of 31 and 26 minutes, respectively, and a mean distance of catheter insertion of 11.9 cm. Maxillary artery occlusion was successful in five of seven arteries (phase 1), with a mean surgical duration of 47 minutes and a mean distance of catheter insertion of 42.8 cm., Conclusion: Balloon catheter occlusion of the ICA, ECA, and MA was achieved in most standing horses., Clinical Significance: Balloon catheter occlusion in standing horses provides an alternative to prevent or treat hemorrhage related to guttural pouch mycosis, particularly in horses in which general anesthesia might pose a risk., (© 2021 The American College of Veterinary Surgeons.)

Objective: Preoperative embolization of juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma (JNA) is usually performed by the occlusion of branches of the external carotid artery (ECA). However, a significant proportion of JNAs also receive blood from the internal carotid artery (ICA). The objective of this study was to report on the feasibility and clinical impact of superselective embolization of ICA branches in complex cases of JNA., Methods: This was a single-center retrospective study of all patients operated on for JNA between 2000 and 2018. The patients treated with embolization of branches of the ICA were identified. The results in terms of complications, intraoperative blood loss, and rate of residual disease were analyzed and compared to those of a control group of patients treated only with embolization of ECA branches and matched by age, stage, angiographic pattern, surgical approach, and previous surgery., Results: Ninety-two patients were included. Embolization of branches of the ICA was attempted in 14 cases of advanced or recurrent tumors and was ultimately possible in nine cases. There were no complications after embolization. The mean intraoperative blood loss was 1428 mL. Residual disease was found in three cases (33%). There was no significant difference compared with the control group (mean intraoperative blood loss = 1355 mL, residual disease = 4 (44%); all P > .05)., Conclusion: In this retrospective study, we report the feasibility of superselective embolization of ICA branches in selected cases of JNA. There was no observed benefit of this technique in terms of intraoperative bleeding or decreased risk of residual disease., Level of Evidence: 4 Laryngoscope, 131:E775-E780, 2021., (@ 2020 The American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc.)

Background: Robotic-assistance in endovascular intervention represents a nascent yet promising innovation., Objective: To present the first human experience utilizing robotic-assisted angiography in the extracranial carotid circulation., Methods: Between March 2019 and September 2019, patients with extracranial carotid circulation pathology presenting to Houston Methodist Hospital were enrolled., Results: A total of 6 patients met inclusion criteria: 5 underwent diagnostic angiography only with robotic-assisted catheter manipulation, while 1 underwent both diagnostic followed by delayed therapeutic intervention. Mean age was 51 +/- 17.5 yr. Mean anesthesia time was 158.7 +/- 37.9 min, mean fluoroscopic time was 22.0 +/- 7.3 min, and mean radiation dose was 815.0 +/- 517.0 mGy. There were no technical complications and no clinical deficits postprocedure. None of the cases required conversion to manual neurovascular intervention (NVI)., Conclusion: Incorporating robotic technology in NVI can enhance procedural technique and diminish occupational hazards. Its application in the coronary and peripheral vascular settings has established safety and efficacy, but in the neurovascular setting, this has yet to be demonstrated. This study presents the first in human feasibility experience of robotic-assisted NVI in the extracranial carotid circulation., (Copyright © 2020 by the Congress of Neurological Surgeons.)

Background and Importance: Conventional microsurgical treatment for symptomatic internal carotid artery (ICA) occlusion is revascularization with superficial temporal artery (STA) to middle cerebral artery bypass. However, in rare cases where the common carotid artery, external carotid artery (ECA), or both are also occluded, other microsurgical treatment options must be considered., Clinical Presentation: We present the case of a 52-yr-old woman with common carotid artery occlusion and weak ICA flow from collateral connections between the vertebral artery, occipital artery, and ECA. She had ischemic symptoms and a history of stroke. The patient's STA was unsuitable as a donor vessel due to its small caliber and poor flow, and we instead performed an interpositional bypass from the subclavian artery to the ICA using a radial artery graft., Conclusion: This case illustrates the successful use of the subclavian artery to ICA bypass technique with an interpositional radial artery graft. The surgical anatomy of the subclavian arteries is reviewed, and the technical details of subclavian artery to radial artery graft to ICA interpositional bypass are presented., (Copyright © 2020 by the Congress of Neurological Surgeons.)

Introduction: We describe the 5-year oncological and functional outcomes of transoral laser microsurgery, neck dissection (TLM + ND) and adjuvant radiotherapy (PORT) used to treat patients with oropharyngeal carcinoma. The effectiveness of external carotid artery (ECA) ligation in reducing post-operative bleeding, and fibrin glue following ND in reducing wound drainage and length of hospital stay is reported., Materials and Methods: This retrospective case review of consecutive patients undergoing TLM between 2006 and 2017 used the Kaplan-Meier Estimator and Log-Rank Test for univariate, time-to-event analyses, and Cox-Proportionate Hazard modelling for multivariate analysis., Results: 264 consecutive patients were included. Mean follow-up was 49.4 months. 219 (82.9%) patients received PORT. Five-year overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), and disease-specific survival (DSS) rates were 74.9%, 73.7%, and 86.2%, respectively. Five-year locoregional control was 89.4%. 65.5% of cases were Human papillomavirus associated (HPV+), for whom OS, DFS and DSS was 85.6%, 84.7% and 92.7%, respectively, and demonstrated significantly higher OS (hazard ratio (HR) 0.28, CI 0.16-0.49, p < 0.0001), DFS (HR 0.28, CI 0.17-0.47, p < 0.0001) and DSS (HR 0.2, CI 0.09-0.44, <0.001). Post-operative oropharyngeal bleeding occurred in 23 patients (8.7%), of which 5 were major/severe, in patients without ECA ligation. Fibrin glue significantly reduced neck drain output (p < 0.001), and length of hospital stay (p < 0.001). One-year gastrostomy dependence rate was 2.3%., Conclusions: TLM + ND + PORT results in favourable 5-year survival and locoregional control rates, and low feeding tube dependency rates. ECA ligation and fibrin glue appear to reduce major post-operative haemorrhage, wound drainage and length of hospital stay., Competing Interests: Declarations of competing interest None., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd, BASO ~ The Association for Cancer Surgery, and the European Society of Surgical Oncology. All rights reserved.)

Knowledge of variant course and branching pattern of the facial artery gains importance in the surgeries of upper neck and face. The authors report a unilateral anomalous course and a redundant loop of right facial artery as seen in an adult male cadaver. The right facial artery had its origin from the external carotid artery. It pierced through the submandibular salivary gland and formed a redundant loop at the base of the mandible. Its further course and branching pattern was normal. This case could be important for radiologists, plastic surgeons and craniofacial surgeons.

Background: Cervical carotid artery injuries entail high morbidity and mortality and are technically challenging to repair. This retrospective study describes the management and outcomes of cervical carotid injuries sustained during the recent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan., Methods: The Department of Defense Trauma Registry was queried to identify US military personnel who sustained battle-related cervical carotid injury between January 2002 and December 2015. Retrospective chart reviews of the military Electronic Health Record were performed on patients identified. Demographics, injury characteristics, surgical management, and outcomes were reviewed. Statistical analysis was performed to identify associations between injury and management factors, as well as stroke and mortality., Results: In total, 67 patients (100% male; age, 25 ± 7 years) were identified with cervical carotid artery injuries. Fifty-six patients (84%) sustained a common carotid artery (CCA) or internal carotid artery (ICA) injury, and 11 patients (16%) had an isolated external carotid artery (ECA) injury. The anatomic distribution of injury was as follows: CCA, 26 (38.8%); ICA, 24 (35.8%); CCA and ICA 2 (3%); ICA and ECA 3 (4.5%); and CCA, ICA, and ECA 1 (1.5%). Of the 56 CCA or ICA injuries, 39 underwent vascular repair, 9 (16%) were managed with ligation, 1 was treated with a temporary vascular shunt but succumbed to injuries before vascular repair, and 7 (13%) were treated nonoperatively. Seven (23%) of 30 ICA injuries were ligated compared with 2 (7.7%) of 26 injuries isolated to the CCA (p = 0.02). Compared with repair, ligation of the CCA/ICA was associated with a higher rate of stroke (89% vs. 33%, p = 0.003) and increased mortality without statistical significance (22% vs. 10%, p = 0.3). Every patient who underwent ICA ligation had a stroke (7/7). There was no difference in Injury Severity Score between the ligation and repair groups (23.8 ± 10.6 vs. 24.7 ± 13.4, p = 0.9). At a mean follow-up of 34.5 months, 10 of 17 stroke survivors had permanent neurologic deficits., Conclusion: In modern combat, penetrating injuries involving the cervical carotid arteries are relatively infrequent. In this experience, isolated ICA injuries were three times more likely to be ligated than those involving the CCA. As a surgical maneuver, ICA ligation resulted in stroke in all cases., Level of Evidence: Retrospective cohort analysis, level III.

Objectives: Treating aortic arch aneurysms with conventional open surgical and endovascular stent graft procedures is challenging due to the complex anatomy of the arch and the arteries arising from it that nourish the brain. Cerebral protection is of the utmost importance during the treatment of thoracic aneurysms involving the aortic arch., Methods: Between May 2014 and November 2018, 7 patients with thoracic aortic aneurysms involving the aortic arch who underwent aortic arch cervical debranching with our technique were reviewed retrospectively. Because all the patients being considered for conventional surgical aortic arch replacement had serious comorbidities, they were selected to receive hybrid therapy. The mean age of the patients was 71.2 ± 9.4 years. One patient was a woman and 6 patients were men. One patient was given general anaesthesia; the remaining 6 patients had a regional block. A crossover temporary bypass was performed between the external carotid arteries with a 6-mm polytetrafluoroethylene graft for cerebral protection in all patients. Thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) was successfully performed in all patients except 1 following debranching., Results: Neurological complications did not occur during the procedures. Patients were followed for a mean of 18.3 ± 4.9 months. One female patient died of exacerbating chronic obstructive pulmonary disease within the first follow-up year. Three other patients died: 1 died of natural causes; 1 died of pneumonia followed by multiorgan failure; and 1 died of myocardial infarction during the mid-term follow-up period. The remaining patients are still being followed and are event free., Conclusions: Endovascular treatment of thoracic aortic diseases involving the aortic arch is facilitated when the aortic arch is debranched. Our cerebral protection method with a temporary crossover bypass between the external carotid arteries provides continuous pulsatile blood flow to the brain; hence, neurologically, it is a reliable procedure. The follow-up results of the patients who underwent aortic arch cervical debranching followed by TEVAR depended on their comorbidities., (© The Author(s) 2020. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. All rights reserved.)

Background: Moyamoya disease (MMD) is a rare cause of cerebral hemorrhage and ischemia. Spontaneous development of collateral supply from the external carotid artery (ECA) may limit the use of donor arteries used in standard direct bypass techniques., Objective: To identify the technical feasibility of side-to-side (S-S) superficial temporal artery to middle cerebral artery (STA-MCA) bypass and demonstrate the application of fourth generational bypass techniques in the treatment of MMD., Methods: S-S bypass was performed in order to maintain distal outflow in the donor STA. Fourth generation bypass techniques, including atypical anastomosis construction and intraluminal suturing were utilized., Results: The novel S-S STA-MCA bypass was performed, with patent flow in both recipient MCA and endogenous ECA-ICA collaterals supplied by the distal STA. Technical nuances, including proper alignment of donor vessel, tension reduction, and S-S anastomosis construction with intraluminal suturing technique are essential for successful bypass. Unique flow properties of this bypass were identified, resulting in flow augmentation to the recipient territory compared to standard end-to-side (E-S) techniques., Conclusion: Fourth generational bypass techniques can be successfully applied to MMD, allowing for novel bypass construction. S-S anastomosis can result in potentially beneficial flow properties compared to standard E-S constructions., (Copyright © 2019 by the Congress of Neurological Surgeons.)

The standard superficial temporal artery to middle cerebral artery (STA-MCA) bypass depends on adequate antegrade flow in the STA. In the setting of occlusion of the common or external carotid arteries, revascularization requires modification of the standard bypass procedure. A patient with prior history of irradiation for head and neck carcinoma presented with an ischemic injury and fluctuating neurologic deficit not responsive to medical therapy. His left common carotid artery was occluded, but angiographic evaluation demonstrated retrograde filling of his left STA. Reverse STA-MCA bypass was performed, taking advantage of spontaneous collateralization which allowed for retrograde filling of the STA.

Objective: Carotid endarterectomy (CEA) is currently the gold standard in the operative management of carotid artery stenosis. While eversion and patch CEAs vary greatly in technique, various studies have determined equivalence with regard to clinical outcomes. However, the hemodynamic differences following each procedure are not known. This study aimed to investigate any early hemodynamic differences between eversion and patch CEAs., Methods: All CEAs performed at our institution from March 2012 to June 2018 were aggregated in a retrospective database by querying the 35301 CPT code from the electronic medical record system. Variables collected included gender, age, laterality of CEA, type of procedure, and pre- and post-operative duplex ultrasound (DUS) date and quantitative findings. Exclusion criteria included any procedure with incomplete data, a post-operative DUS > 90 days following the procedure, CEAs with concomitant bypass(es), isolated external carotid artery (ECA) endarterectomies, and re-do CEAs., Results: One hundred and seventy-one CEAs were performed in 161 unique patients. There were 101 males and 60 females, with an average age of 69.7 (38-96; ± 9.36). 63 CEAs were excluded from analysis: 51 due to incomplete data, eight with a > 90 day post-operative DUS, 2 isolated ECA endarterectomies, 1 CEA with a carotid-subclavian bypass, and 1 re-do CEA secondary to an infected patch. Twenty-seven eversion and 81 patch CEAs were included in analysis. There was no difference in procedure laterality or gender between the two cohorts (p > 0.05); however, patients who received an eversion CEA were older on average (73.3 vs 67.5; p = 0.002). Pre-operative peak systolic velocities (PSV) of the proximal internal carotid artery (ICA), distal ICA, and distal common artery (CCA) were all similar (p > 0.05). Post-operative DUS was performed at 17.0 and 12.9 days in the eversion and patch CEA cohorts, respectively (p = 0.12). Post-operative PSV and change in PSV were similar for all three aforementioned segments (p > 0.05)., Conclusion: Although eversion and patch CEAs vary greatly in technique and post-procedure anatomy, there was no significant difference in post-operative PSV or change in PSV at or around the carotid bifurcation.

Objective: Retinal artery occlusion (RAO) is rarely seen as a complication in patients undergoing carotid artery stenting (CAS); hence, its characteristics have not been documented in detail. This study aimed to investigate the incidence of this complication and the related risk factors, focusing on differences in ophthalmic artery (OA) supply (whether by the external or internal carotid artery [ECA or ICA]) prior to CAS procedures., Materials and Methods: We retrospectively examined 342 patients who underwent CAS for severe and/or symptomatic carotid artery stenosis between January 2009 and December 2017. Cumulative medical records and radiologic data were assessed. RAO was confirmed by photography and fluorescent angiography of the fundus, which were performed by an ophthalmologist. In all patients, distal filter systems of various types were applied as cerebral protection devices (CPDs) during procedures. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to identify the risk factors for RAO after CAS., Results: Symptomatic RAO was observed in six patients (1.8%), of which five (6.8%) were ECA-dominant group members (n = 74). In a binary logistic regression analysis, OA supply by the ECA (odds ratio [OR], 9.705; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.519-62.017; p = 0.016) and older age (OR, 1.159; 95% CI, 1.005-1.336; p = 0.041) were identified as significant risk factors in patients with RAO after CAS. ECA-supplied OA was also associated with the severity of ipsilateral ICA stenosis ( p = 0.001) and ulcerative plaque ( p = 0.021)., Conclusion: In procedures performed using ICA distal filtering CPD systems, RAO as a complication of CAS (performed for severe stenosis) showed a relationship to ECA-supplied OA. For older patients, simultaneous use of ICA-ECA CPDs might help prevent such complications., Competing Interests: The authors have no potential conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2019 The Korean Society of Radiology.)