Background and Importance: The location of the carotid bifurcation (CB) is highly variable, which makes precise
exposure of the cervical carotid artery difficult, especially in transverse incisions.
The method for preoperative localization of the CB is not well established. We used
the distance from the mastoid-hyoid (M-H) line to the CB, measured preoperatively
with computed tomography angiography, to localize the location of the transverse skin
incision. We describe and evaluate the accuracy of a method for preoperative localization
of the CB for cervical carotid exposure. Methods: The researchers retrospectively evaluated 16 patients with aneurysms arising from
the internal carotid artery (ICA) who had received cervical carotid exposure using
the localization method of incision and were retrospectively evaluated from February
2018 to November 2019. The method of measurement and localization of the skin incision
are described, and two illustrative cases are demonstrated. Results: Saccular aneurysms of the ophthalmic (C2) segment and communicating (C1) segment
of the ICA were found in 8 and 8 patients, respectively. Nine patients had left-sided
exposure, and 7 patients had right-sided exposure. The mean distance from the M-H
line to the CB was 2.1 cm (range 0.5–3.5 cm). The accuracy of this method was 93.8%.
No paralysis of the depressor anguli oris or the depressor labii inferioris was found
postoperatively. Conclusion: The distance from the M-H line to the CB can be used to estimate transverse skin
incisions for cervical carotid exposure.
Key-words:
Carotid bifurcation - cervical carotid exposure - mastoid-hyoid line - preoperative
localization