Temporary bilateral external carotid artery clamping to reduce blood loss during removal of calvarial meningioma: a technical note.
OBJECTIVE
Large calvarial lesions may bleed extensively during their removal. The main vascular supply to such lesions is from branches of the external carotid arteries (ECAs). Bilateral ECA embolisation has been described to reduce the vascularity, and therefore blood loss of such lesions during their surgical removal, but it is expensive and not easily available in developing countries. In addition, it is associated with significant morbidity.


METHODS
A case of a large calvarial meningioma, extending across the midline is presented in which both external carotids were temporarily clamped to reduce blood loss. Blood loss was low and the complications of permanent occlusion of the arteries avoided.


CONCLUSIONS
This technique can be used for vascular calvarial lesions extending across the midline where embolisation is not feasible or has failed.
Mukherjee
Kanchan K
KK
Department of Neurosurgery, PGIMER, Chandigarh, India.
Salunke
Pravin
P
Chhabra
Rajesh
R
Adhikari
Sachin
S
Bharti
Neerja
N
D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000502:physiology; D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002342:Carotid Artery, External; D003250:Constriction; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008577:Meningeal Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000601:surgery*; D008579:Meningioma / Q000098:blood supply / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome