Surgical strategy to minimize ischemia during trapping/resection of giant extracranial carotid artery aneurysm stratified by collateral evaluation

BACKGROUND: Extracranial carotid artery aneurysm (ECAA) is a rare clinical entity, and no standard treatment strategy has been established for this condition. METHODS: Data from three patients who underwent surgical treatment of enlarging giant ECAAs were retrospectively reviewed. Based on the collateral status, as evaluated by preoperative digital subtraction angiography (DSA), surgical strategy was stratified into (1) high flow bypass followed by cervical ICA (internal carotid artery) ligation, when the collateral status was judged as poor/fair or (2) direct cervical repair with patch application after aneurysmal wall resection when the collateral status was judged as robust. Postoperative results were evaluated by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). RESULTS: Postoperative follow-up (day 0 to 1, as well as midterm at approximately 6 months) confirmed completely trapped aneurysm with successful robust bypass and robust anterograde flow of the reconstructed cervical carotid artery on magnetic resonance angiography with no additional ischemic lesions on diffusion weighted imaging and T2-weighted imaging when compared with preoperative imaging in all three patients. Postoperatively, there was no stroke event during the midterm follow-up at 6 months. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical results of ECAAs treated by a surgical strategy stratified based on collateral status, as evaluated by preoperative DSA, were favorable, without postoperative ischemic event, and with satisfactory mid-term MRI results.