[Surgery of extracranial aneurysms of the carotid artery. Analysis of 8 cases].

This article reviews the clinical manifestations, operative techniques, results and complications associated with the treatment of 8 aneurysms of the extracranial carotid artery encountered over a 13-year period. The etiology was atherosclerosis in 4 cases, congenital in two, posttraumatic in one and mycotic in another case. All patients were operated on because of symptomatic disease. Six patients had resection and reconstruction with end-to-end anastomosis, one with a patch of the saphenous vein. One patient had aneurysmorrhaphy and the last one had reconstruction with Gore Tex graft interposition. Two patients had a hemiparesis prior to the operation; this manifestation disappeared slowly in both patients but residual neurological deficit is still present in one of them 9 months postoperatively. One patient developed transient neurological symptomatology after the operation. We conclude that accessible aneurysms of the extracranial carotid artery can be operated with acceptable morbidity and mortality. Operative management is the treatment of choice because these lesions are attended by a high incidence of neurological complications if left untreated.