Superficial temporal artery (STA) to middle cerebral artery (MCA) bypass surgery for
internal carotid artery (ICA) occlusive disease necessarily requires sufficient external
carotid artery (ECA) blood flow. Surgical bypass is therefore precluded if there is
common carotid artery (CCA) occlusion. Here we present two such cases: one patient
had a CCA occlusion and the other had an ICA occlusion and ECA stenosis. Both had
failed medical management, and were therefore treated with angioplasty and stenting
of the ECA, followed by STA-MCA bypass. We describe the clinical and radiologic outcomes
of these cases, and remark on the potential pitfalls associated with this novel approach.
Keywords
cerebral revascularization - extracranial–intracranial bypass - carotid artery occlusion
- cerebral ischemia - carotid stent