Extracranial carotid aneurysms: report of six cases and review of the literature.

Ligation of atherosclerotic extracranial carotid aneurysms was described nearly 200 years ago, but resection and direct reconstruction of these unusual lesions currently are associated with less risk for perioperative neurologic complications as well as with durable late results. During an interval in which carotid endarterectomy was performed in over 1500 patients at The Cleveland Clinic, only six patients underwent surgical management of cervical carotid aneurysms. Aneurysm resection was performed in conjunction with reanastomosis of the internal carotid artery in two patients but required saphenous vein interposition grafts in four others. A temporary carotid shunt was employed routinely and was threaded through the harvested vein before its insertion whenever graft replacement was necessary. Although one vein graft required revision because of early thrombosis, no operative deaths or permanent strokes occurred in this small series. Each patient has remained asymptomatic throughout a maximum follow-up period of 6 years postoperatively.