Temporary balloon test occlusion of the internal carotid artery: experience in 500 cases.
OBJECTIVE
To describe experience with 500 temporary balloon occlusions of the internal carotid artery, with particular emphasis on the techniques and complications.


METHODS
Temporary occlusion of the internal carotid artery was accomplished endovascularly using various balloon-catheter combinations. These temporary balloon occlusions were combined, when possible, with cerebral blood flow analysis with stable xenon-enhanced CT.


RESULTS
Complications related to this procedure occurred in 16 (3.2%) patients. Eight (1.6%) patients had asymptomatic complications. There were 8 who experienced neurologic changes. Six (1.2%) of these were transient; two (0.4%) were permanent. There were no deaths.


CONCLUSIONS
Temporary balloon occlusion of the internal carotid artery, believed helpful in identifying patients at risk of stroke during abrupt carotid artery sacrifice, can be performed with an acceptably low complication rate.
Mathis
J M
JM
Division of Neuroradiology, University of Pittsburgh (Pa) Medical Center, USA.
Barr
J D
JD
Jungreis
C A
CA
Yonas
H
H
Sekhar
L N
LN
Vincent
D
D
Pentheny
S L
SL
Horton
J A
JA
D000784:Aortic Dissection / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D017541:Aneurysm, False / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000502:physiology; D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply*; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D002341:Carotid Artery Thrombosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D002343:Carotid Artery, Internal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002404:Catheterization / Q000295:instrumentation*; D002533:Cerebral Angiography; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D011300:Preoperative Care; D012307:Risk Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014980:Xenon Radioisotopes
D014980:Xenon Radioisotopes