The study on the use of cerebral angiography in carotidectomy

Objective To evaluate the significance of cerebral angiography in predicting the degree of cerebral blood circulation compensation before carotidectomy, and to observe its cllateral circulation.MethodsWe used both method of Matas test and cerebral angiography simultaneously before carotidectomy. That is: While occluding the common cervical artery of the ill side by finger pressing, the vertibral angiography and the contralateral cervical artery angiography were performed respectively. The image of the internal cirvical artery and its branches at the ill side was observed to predict the results of postperative cerebral blood circulation compensation before carotidectomy.Results The carotidectomy without vessel reconstruction was performed by above method on three patients,and there was no cerebral ischemic complications in them. The superiorities of our method may predict results after carotidectomy, and may image the compensatory cerebral collateral circulation and the Willis circle.Conclusions In our experience, the predictive method is reliable and relatively esay. After a cervical artery has been occluded, the cerebral hemisphere receives compensatory blood supply mainly through the Willis circle. The specific ways are following:①by the arteria communicans anterior,②by the arteria communicans anterior and the arteria communicans posterior,③by the arteria communicans postereor.