Elective carotid resection for squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck

Patients with squamous cell carcinoma adherent to the carotid artery have a very poor prognosis, but some can be salvaged by aggressive surgical resection. Preoperative four vessel arteriography with intracranial views is mandatory to detect coexisting arteriosclerotic disease which may limit collateral perfusion of the ipsilateral cerebral hemisphere. Matas-type occlusive tests performed preoperatively are potentially dangerous and do not provide quantitative information that can be obtained intraoperatively by measuring internal carotid artery stump pressures. If the stump pressure is 50 mm Hg or greater, carotid reconstruction is unnecessary. A stump pressure of less than 50 mm Hg is an indication for reconstruction if the pharynx has not been entered during resection. If mucosal entry will be necessary and the stump pressure is less than 50 mm Hg, resection should not be carried out because of the increased risk of graft complications. Somatosensory evoked potentials predict cerebral tolerance to temporary interruption of flow but do not necessarily predict tolerance to permanent interruption of flow. Autogenous vein is the graft material of choice for reconstruction. In those patients not reconstructed, low-dose heparinization started before operation and continued for 10 days may lessen the likelihood of delayed stroke from embolization of a propagated thrombus in the carotid stump.