Carotid Artery Aneurysms

Abstract

We present the treatment of 17 extracranial carotid artery aneurysms in 16 patients (1 patient had bilateral lesions). There were 15 (93.75%) male patients and 1 (6.25%) female patient, with an average age of 64.8 years. Two (11.8%) aneurysms involved the common carotid artery and 15 (88.2%) the internal carotid artery. Two (11.8%) aneurysms presented with rupture, 3 (17.6%) as an asymptomatic mass, 2 (11.8%) with cranial nerve compression, 6 (35.3%) with transient ischemic attack, and 4 (23.5%) with stroke. The following surgical procedures were performed: extirpation with 8 mm Dacron graft replacement, 5 (29.4%) cases; extirpation with end-to-end anastomosis, 8 (47.1%) cases; extirpation with saphenous vein graft replacement, 3 (17.6%) cases; and ligature of the internal carotid artery, 1 (5.9%) case. One (5.9%) patient died postoperatively owing to stroke. Including this case, 3 (17.6%) patients had a postoperative stroke, whereas 2 (11.8%) patients had transient cranial nerve damage. Sixteen surviving patients were followed from 2 months to 15 years (mean 5 years, 3 months). During this period, 1 patient died 5 years postoperatively owing to a myocardial infarction, whereas all other patients were alive and free of neurologic symptoms. Extracranial carotid artery aneurysms are rare. However, they are of medical importance because of their location, differential diagnosis, natural history, complications, and treatment.