IMPROVED TRANSDURAL EXPOSURE AND TEMPORARY OCCLUSION OF THE PETROUS INTERNAL CAROTID-ARTERY FOR CAVERNOUS SINUS SURGERY - TECHNICAL NOTE

Safe surgery for vascular and neoplastic lesions involving the caverno us sinus requires adequate proximal control of the cavernous internal carotid artery (ICA). Classically, control of the cavernous ICA has ne cessitated dissection and isolation of the cervical vessels. The autho rs describe an alternative method for obtaining vascular control via t ransdural exposure of the petrous ICA and the use of the Fogarty ballo on embolectomy catheter inserted extra-arterially into the carotid can al to provide temporary occlusion. This method is particularly well su ited for proximal ICA occlusion during short-segment petrous-to-paracl inoid ICA bypass procedures as it eliminates the need for a temporary proximal ICA aneurysm clip and increases the available working space f or completion of the anastomosis.