Giant carotid aneurysms. Treatment by detachable balloons

Six patients with giant aneurysms of the internal carotid artery have undergone detachable balloon occlusion of the aneurysm. The aneurysm lumen was successfully obliterated in all cases by either occluding the neck of the aneurysm, trapping the aneurysm or occluding the parent vessel just proximal to the origin of the aneurysm. One patient, who was in poor clinical condition pre-operatively suffered a hemiplegia 6 hours after the procedure. No other permanent complications occurred. This procedure offers a satisfactory alternative to surgery in selected patients.