Endovascular repair of carotid artery pseudoaneurysm after carotid endarterectomy with self-expanding covered stents-a long-term follow-up

Abstract

A 66-year-old Caucasian man with type 2 diabetes mellitus, peptic ulcer disease, peripheral vascular disease, and a 70% symptomatic carotid stenosis underwent a successful carotid endarterectomy with intraoperative shunting and Dacron patch closure in October 2000. Three months later, he developed a pseudoaneurysm at the site of the surgical repair. This was successfully treated with endovascular covered stents and has continued to remain patent at 9-year follow-up. Carotid artery pseudoaneurysms are secondary to trauma, infection, or previous surgery. Open surgical repair has been the treatment of choice for these pseudoaneurysms. However, open repairs are difficult and carry a high morbidity. Thus, endovascular therapy is a valid treatment for carotid artery pseudoaneurysm. Reviewing the published data, this is the first case report with successful endovascular covered stent placement for a carotid pseudoaneurysm with 9-year follow-up.