Surgical treatment for pseudo-occlusion of the internal carotid artery.

OBJECTIVES Carotid artery pseudo-occlusion is a rare condition and its natural history and clinicopathological characteristics are not well defined. We reported our 7-year experience in the surgical treatment of carotid artery pseudo-occlusion to determine the real benefit of the surgical option. METHODS From January 2006 to December 2013, 1414 patients were treated for high-grade stenosis of the internal carotid artery, 33 (2.3%) presented with a carotid pseudo-occlusion (26 males and 7 females, mean age: 70 ± 10). Nineteen patients were symptomatic, and 14 asymptomatic. Carotid artery pseudo-occlusion was identified by duplex scan (segmental occlusion at the origin of internal carotid artery with very thin distal flow) and the diagnostic confirmation was obtained by angio-computed-tomography (CT) scan. The operation was performed under general anaesthesia and constant Electroencephalography (EEG) monitoring. The follow-up was performed by duplex scan at discharge, 30 days, 6 months and yearly. RESULTS Politetrafluoroetilene (PTFE) patch endarterectomy, eversion endarterectomy and carotid bypass were performed in 20 (61%), 10 (30%) and 3 patients (9%), respectively. No mortality or stroke was observed in postoperative period. Four patients presented with an asymptomatic postoperative thrombosis of the internal carotid artery. No restenosis was observed. CONCLUSIONS Surgical treatment for carotid artery pseudo-occlusion is safe and effective.