Superior thyroid artery cannulation for monitoring carotid artery operation

Superior thyroid artery cannulation during carotid endarterectomy and coupling the cannula to a three-way stopcock with an anaeroid manometer allows the surgical team in the operating field to monitor mean pressures and to draw blood samples for gas analysis from the common, the internal, or the external carotid artery. The technique has been applied in 118 patients without related complications.