Management of penetrating injuries of the internal carotid artery.

Penetrating injury of the extracranial carotid arteries has until recently remained relatively uncommon, with some 250 cases being reported in the past 10 years. Internal carotid trauma represents approximately 20% of this total, and the management of these injuries high in the neck is controversial. Use of the Fogarty balloon catheter for control of distal retrograde bleeding is recommended.