Anteposition of the internal carotid artery for surgical treatment of kinking

BACKGROUND Kinking of the extracranial portion of the internal carotid artery (ICA) requires surgical reconstruction when it causes neurological symptoms. We suggest a simple surgical reconstruction without arteriotomy. METHOD Anteposition of the ICA ventral to the digastric muscle has been performed in three patients. Kinks in the ICAs, proved by angiography, were thought to be responsible for clinical signs and symptoms. RESULTS The operations resulted in improvement, both clinically and radiologically. CONCLUSION The complications of arteriotomy can be avoided using the technique of ICA antepositioning described in this paper. (C) 2001 by Elsevier Science Inc.