False aneurysm after carotid endareterectomy

To the Editor:— A case of false aneurysm of the carotid artery secondary to dehiscence of silk sutures holding a Dacron patch is presented. Symptoms of cerebral dysfunction secondary to probable embolization from the false aneurysm have focused our attention on this diagnosis as a possible cause of recurrent symptoms in patients who have previously had carotid artery surgery. False aneurysms have been reported after vascular reconstruction to the lower extremities. 1 To the best of our knowledge, false aneurysms after carotid artery reconstruction have not been previously described. This presentation reports a symptomatic false aneurysm of the carotid artery which occurred six years after carotid endarterectomy. Report of a Case:— A 56-year-old man was admitted to the San Francisco Veterans Administration Hospital on April 10, 1968, with acute hemiparesis on the right side and dysarthria. Several months prior to admission the patient had had an episode of transient right