[Arterial autograft reconstruction of the internal carotid artery after endarterectomy using the superior thyroid artery].

The author presents his experience with the technique of alternative plastic closure of longitudinal arteriotomy of the internal carotid artery (ACI) using an autoarterial graft from the ipsilateral arteria thyroidea superior (ATS) [1]. Autoarterial plastic operations were sued so far in eight patients, in six instances endarterectomy of a primary ACI stenosis with a narrow lumen was involved, and in this group in two instances a peripheral intimal step was involved. In two instances an autoarterial patch was used after resection of kinking of the thin ACI. The graft is collected from an incision commonly used in plastic operations of carotid endarterectomy and takes roughly 10 minutes. In all instances ATS provided enough material, although in two instances it had a rather thin lumen. The described plastic operation is rapid, effective, limited to one surgical field and easily performed. The favourable results of subsequent sonographic controls of the patency of the reconstructed ACI, implemented so far 1-2 years after surgery confirm that this technical solution is suitable.