Carotid cross-over bypass. Cerebral revascularization after ligation of common carotid artery.

A rationale is presented for extra-anatomic carotid cross-over bypass to maintain or restore blood flow to the internal carotid artery distal to sites of disruption and ligation of a common carotid artery. Anatomic evidence indicates that the attachment of the carotid sheath to the hyoid bone is a barrier to spread of infection cephalad to that level. A patient with infected and disrupted right common carotid artery associated with an esophageal fistula was treated by double ligation of the artery. Contralateral hemiplegia 48 hours later forced consideration of cerebral revascularization. Left carotid angiography demonstrated patent cerebral vessels on the right, with retrograde filling of the right internal carotid artery to the bifurcation. These findings were interpreted as consistent with technical feasibility of external carotid to external carotid cross-over vein bypass in a suprahyoid location, avoiding reconstruction in an infected area and resulting in prompt recovery of function.