FIBROMUSCULAR DYSPLASIA OF INTERNAL CAROTID ARTERIES

  • 1 January 1977
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 81  (1) , 105-110
Abstract
Patients (7) with fibromuscular dysplasia of the internal carotid arteries were surgically treated. One lesion was treated by graduated dilatation with Bake''s dilators combined with resection, end-to-end anastomosis, and vein patching of a tortuous segment. All other lesions were treated by graduated dilatation with an arterial dilator-shunt. All of these patients were asymptomatic presently. One patient was operated upon because of symptoms related to the previously unoperated side as well as mild symptoms related to the previous operation. Two other patients with arteriographic evidence of fibromuscular dysplasia were followed clinically. One was asymptomatic and one had minimal symptoms. Both were treated with acetylsalicylic acid in hopes of preventing microembolization from these lesions. Important technical considerations treating this condition were meticulous dissection of the internal carotid artery as near to the base of the skull as possible, confining the arteriotomy to the region of the carotid bulb and straightening the carotid artery while passing the dilator under direct vision. A technique for routine shunting in these patients is available.