Reconstructive internal carotid artery surgery over forty years (October 20, 1951-1991)

The background and history of internal carotid reconstruction are presented. High-lights in the early development of this technique include the research of John Ramsay Hunt, Moniz, and Leriche, and the surgical techniques of Carrel and Guthrie. Miller Fisher published his extensive studies on cerebrovascular disease and carotid occlusion in 1951. Pioneering operations by Carrea and Molins in Argentina, Strully, Hurwitt, and Blankenberg in New York and DeBakey in Houston soon followed. DeBakey's technique became the standard technique for the surgical treatment of occlusive carotid lesions. Eastcott, Pickering and Rob published the first paper describing a carotid reconstruction in The Lancet in 1954. Recently two large multicenter trials have reinforced the benefit of carotid surgery under proper indications and in experienced hands.