PERCUTANEOUS PUNCTURE OF THE EXTERNAL CAROTID-ARTERY OR ITS BRANCHES AFTER SURGICAL LIGATION

PURPOSE: To describe the technique and results of percutaneous punctur e of the external carotid artery or one of its branches distal to a su rgical arterial ligation. METHODS: Forty-three patients underwent 64 e mbolization attempts by percutaneous arterial puncture distal to an ex ternal carotid artery ligation. The punctured arteries were the trunk of the external carotid artery in 31 patients, the internal maxillary artery in nine, the facial artery in nine, the lingual artery in eight , the occipital artery in four, and the superficial temporal artery in three. RESULTS: In 64 attempts 57 were successful in one session, six were successful in two sessions, and one failed. Puncture-related com plications were eight spontaneously resolving hematomas and six asympt omatic punctures of the internal carotid artery. CONCLUSION: After sur gical ligation of the external carotid artery or its branches, arteria l puncture above the ligation allowed selective catheterization and en dovascular occlusion of vascular lesions.