Autologous vein-covered stent repair of a cervical internal carotid artery pseudoaneurysm: technical case report.
OBJECTIVE
Stenting of a cervical internal carotid pseudoaneurysm is presented using a stent covered with saphenous vein. This procedure resulted in immediate exclusion of the aneurysm and maintained patency of the carotid artery.


METHODS
A gunshot to the neck resulted in airway obstruction and respiratory arrest with neurological injury in a male patient. Angiographic investigation revealed an enlarging cervical internal carotid pseudoaneurysm, possibly the source of a cerebral embolism. Anticoagulation had to be stopped because of bleeding complications. A decision was made to conduct definitive percutaneous treatment of the pseudoaneurysm.


METHODS
A Palmaz stent (JJIS, Warren, NJ) was covered with saphenous vein harvested from the patient's leg. Using standard technique and a simple innovation for stent construct introduction into the sheath, the vein-covered stent was placed across the opening of the aneurysm and dilated into position with a balloon.


CONCLUSIONS
Immediate exclusion of a cervical internal carotid pseudoaneurysm was performed using an autologous vein-covered stent. One-month follow-up confirmed continued exclusion of the pseudoaneurysm and carotid patency without stenosis.
Marotta
T R
TR
Department of Radiology, Vancouver Hospital and Health Sciences Center, University of British Columbia, Canada.
Buller
C
C
Taylor
D
D
Morris
C
C
Zwimpfer
T
T
D000328:Adult; D017541:Aneurysm, False / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D002533:Cerebral Angiography; D004867:Equipment Design; D005471:Fluoroscopy; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009333:Neck; D012501:Saphenous Vein / Q000637:transplantation*; D015607:Stents; D013382:Subtraction Technique; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous