Bilateral aneurysms of the internal carotid artery; successful surgical approach in one stage

When intracranial aneurysm is suspected, carotid arteriogram should be done not only on the suspected side but always on both sides. Without surgical intervention the prognosis of bilateral aneurysms is notoriously poor. With the aid of hypothermic anesthesia it is now possible to operate on both sides in a single procedure. This was demonstrated in a case in which both carotid arteries were simultaneously occluded twice during the surgical repair of bilateral carotid aneurysms. Occlusion was done once for eight minutes and once for ten minutes, without clinical evidence of brain damage.