title: Surgical treatment for pseudo-occlusion of the internal carotid artery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  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.
authors: Operative Unit of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, S. Bortolo Hospital, Vicenza, Italy al.desole@gmail.com.
authors: Alessandro
authors: A
authors: Desole
authors: Operative Unit of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, S. Bortolo Hospital, Vicenza, Italy.
authors: Francesco
authors: F
authors: Campanile
authors: Operative Unit of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, S. Bortolo Hospital, Vicenza, Italy.
authors: Federico
authors: F
authors: Tosato
authors: Operative Unit of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, S. Bortolo Hospital, Vicenza, Italy.
authors: Domenico
authors: D
authors: Milite
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000517:prevention & control; D002343:Carotid Artery, Internal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016894:Endarterectomy, Carotid / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D017052:Hospital Mortality / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D015996:Survival Rate; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018616:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Duplex / Q000379:methods
keywords: Carotid endarterectomy; Carotid pseudo-occlusion; Carotid stenosis; Cerebrovascular disease; Stroke prevention