How is a carotid aneurysm treated?

The mainstay of treatment of extracranial carotid artery aneurysms is surgical repair. The surgical repair entails the resection of that portion of the carotid artery that is involved with the aneurysm, followed by a bypass.

What is an extracranial aneurysm?

The carotid arteries are the two main blood vessels on either side of the neck that supply blood to the brain. An extracranial carotid artery aneurysm stretches out the walls of a portion of the artery in the neck like a balloon, causing the walls to become very thin.

What is extracranial carotid artery?

The carotid arteries are the two main blood vessels on either side of your neck that carry oxygen-rich blood to your brain. An extracranial carotid artery aneurysm is a bulge in the wall of one of these arteries. The bulge develops because the artery wall is weak in that spot.

What causes a extracranial carotid artery aneurysm?

It is caused when a portion of the artery wall weakens. Like a balloon, as the aneurysm expands, the artery wall grows progressively thinner, increasing the likelihood that the aneurysm will burst. Peripheral aneurysms affect the arteries other than the aorta, such as the carotid artery in your neck.

Is carotid artery intracranial or extracranial?

The internal carotid artery (ICA) is one of the two terminal branches of the common carotid artery (CCA) which supplies the intracranial structures.

What is the difference between intracranial and extracranial?

What is extracranial/intracranial vascular disease? Extracranial vascular disease refers to carotid or vertebral stenosis outside the skull. Intracranial vascular disease involves the arteries within the skull or at the base of the skull.

What kind of doctor treats carotid aneurysm?

Any individual diagnosed with carotid occlusive disease, or who has had a transient ischemic attack (TIA, or mini-stroke) as a result of carotid stenosis or carotid occlusion should be seen by an experienced neurosurgeon.

What is an aneurysm of the carotid artery?

What is an extracranial carotid artery aneurysm? An aneurysm is a bulging or ballooning in the wall of a blood vessel. It is caused when a portion of the artery wall weakens. Like a balloon, as the aneurysm expands, the artery wall grows progressively thinner, increasing the likelihood that the aneurysm will burst.