Post-traumatic pseudoaneurysm of the common carotid artery. Importance of echo-Doppler evaluation of the intimal damage.
Nonpenetrating traumas of the extracranial carotid artery are uncommon and frequently involve the carotid bifurcation. We report a case of asymptomatic post-traumatic pseudoaneurysm of the common carotid artery in a 32-year-old woman, detected by chance 12 years after a cervical injury. Of all the investigations, only echo-Doppler permitted the detection of an intimal tear at the level of the aneurysmatic dilatation. After aneurysmectomy, 8 mm PTFE graft replacement was carried out. We believe that routine use of echo-Doppler ultrasonography in all asymptomatic patients with a definite history of contusive cervical trauma should be recommended. In our opinion, the absolute surgical indication resulted from the local and neurological complications potentially stemming from the pseudoaneurysmatic dilatation.
Stella
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Department of Vascular Surgery, Azienda Ospedaliera E. Morelli, Via Zubiani 33, 23039 Sondalo (SO), Italy. renostella@tiscalinet.it
Rossi
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Catalano
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Udini
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D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D000328:Adult; D017541:Aneurysm, False / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler; D014911:Whiplash Injuries / Q000150:complications