RESUMO
Aim: the purpose of this study was to analyze the etiology, the mode of presentation; surgical management of a series of extracranial internal carotid artery aneurysms [EICAA]
Patients and methods: this study includes 20 patients 8 men and 2 females with aneurysms involving the extracranial internal carotid artery presenting to Kasr El-Eini hospital during the period from January 2000 to December 2003
Results: the etiology was trauma in 4 patients [40%], atherosclerosis in 4 patients [40%], Behcet's disease in 1[l0%] patient and mycotic aneurysm in 2 patient [10%]. As regards the management interposition grafting was applied in 8 [80%] of the 10 cases saphenous interposition graft was applied in 5 cases [50%] and in 3 [30%] cases polytetrafluoroethylene [PTFE] graft was used. Two cases were treated by ligation [20%]. Clinical results showed minimal complications in two patients one with haematoma, and other with hypoglossal nerve affection. Follow up Duplex was done for 8 cases within the 2 years following surgery and proved no stenosis or occlusion in the repaired artery
Conclusion: EICAA are rare and have variable causes. Safety and long-term reliability of appropriate surgical approach warrant broad surgical indications, because of the risk of embolization and rupture of these aneurysms