TEMPORARY BALLOON TEST OCCLUSION OF THE INTERNAL CAROTID-ARTERY - EXPERIENCE IN 500 CASES

PURPOSE: To describe experience with 500 temporary balloon occlusions of the internal carotid artery, with particular emphasis on the techni ques and complications. METHODS: Temporary occlusion of the internal c arotid artery was accomplished endovascularly using various balloon-ca theter combinations. These temporary balloon occlusions were combined, when possible, with cerebral blood flow analysis with stable xenon-en hanced CT. RESULTS: Complications related to this procedure occurred i n 16 (3.2%) patients. Eight (1.6%) patients had asymptomatic complicat ions. There were 8 who experienced neurologic changes. Six (1.2%) of t hese were transient; two (0.4%) were permanent. There were no deaths. CONCLUSIONS: Temporary balloon occlusion of the internal carotid arter y, believed helpful in identifying patients at risk of stroke during a brupt carotid artery sacrifice, can be performed with an acceptably lo w complication rate.