[By-pass from sub-clavian to carotid artery. A rescue procedure in the treatment of common carotid artery hemorrhage (author's transl)].

Rupture of a carotid artery in an infected or irradiated environment is a tragic event that frequently causes immediate death. Plain ligature, when possible, for these patients in a state of shock, leads to cerebral ischemia in 65% of cases. This can be prevented, if one operates soon enough by an extra-anatomic by-pass, avoiding the infected or irradiated area, between the subclavian artery and the homolateral carotid artery. (Study of 2 cases). Such a procedure could be used preventively when the risk for the carotid is highest (particularly septic surgery followed by irradiation).