[A carotid resection in cervical tumors without a vascular reconstruction]

From 1979 to 1988, 15 cases, consisting of 12 carotid body paragangliomas, 1 vagal body paraganglioma, 1 aneurysm of the internal carotid artery, and 1 recurrent metastatic carcinoma of the neck, were given a simple carotid resection without a vascular reconstruction, since the lesions were fixed to the carotid artery. The collateral cerebral cross-flow was promoted preoperatively with the use of compressing exercises of the carotid artery and controlled by computerized rheoencephalography. There was no operative mortality, though a transient postoperative cerebral complication did occur in one female patient, from which she recovered in one month. Of this series of 15 patients, one died from a malignant lesion and 14 survived for 3 months to 9 years without cerebrovascular complications.