Cervical carotid artery aneurysms and pseudoaneurysms. Treatment by balloon embolization therapy

The treatment of high cervical carotid artery aneurysms and pseudoaneurysms is often difficult due to relative surgical inaccessibility. We are currently managing such lesions by detachable balloon embolization therapy. In 7 patients with acute cervical carotid pseudoaneurysms, the carotid artery was occluded by a trapping procedure above and below the lesion using detachable silicone balloons. In 3 patients with aneurysms that had well organized walls, a detachable balloon was placed directly within the aneurysm, inflated to exclude it from the circulation, and then detached. The carotid artery was therefore preserved.