CAROTID-ARTERY RECONSTRUCTION FOLLOWING RESECTION DURING RADICAL NECKDISSECTION

From 1972 to 1991, 7 patients with advanced cancer of the head and nec k and nodal metastasis with capsular rupture underwent radical neck di ssection and sacrifice of the carotid artery. Vascular reconstruction was performed with either an autologous venous (8 cases) or arterial ( 1 case) graft, In all patients, the postoperative course was uneventfu l without neurologic complications. One patient is alive 4 years after the procedure. Six patients expired after a mean survival of 20 month s. The indications for vascular reconstruction are discussed.