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Brain involvement in extracranial internal carotid artery aneurysms
G Ghilardi1, N Massetto, C Cattalini
1Clinica Chirurgica Generale, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy. giorgio.ghilardi@unimi.it
VASA. Zeitschrift Fur Gefasskrankheiten
|April 4, 2001
Summary
Surgical intervention for extracranial internal carotid artery aneurysms (EICAA) can lead to central nervous system complications. Prompt surgical management of smaller EICAA may reduce these risks, as larger aneurysms correlate with more severe symptoms.
Area of Science:
- Vascular Surgery
- Neurology
- Cerebrovascular Disease
Background:
- Extracranial internal carotid artery aneurysms (EICAA) lack prospective study data.
- This study aimed to assess central nervous system (CNS) complications from surgical EICAA intervention.
Observation:
- Seven male patients (mean age 70) with atherosclerotic/dysplastic EICAA were prospectively studied.
- Six patients had preoperative neurological symptoms, severity correlated with aneurysm size (>3cm diameter).
- One postoperative stroke occurred; no perioperative deaths or new neurologic events during follow-up.
Findings:
- Aneurysm size significantly correlates with the severity of preoperative neurological symptoms.
- Surgical intervention for EICAA resulted in one postoperative stroke.
- All operated internal carotid arteries remained patent postoperatively with no new neurological events during follow-up.
Implications:
- Early surgical intervention for smaller EICAA may mitigate severe CNS complications.
- Reduced embolization risk in smaller aneurysms suggests a favorable surgical outcome.
- Further research into EICAA management strategies is warranted.