An anatomic study for a modified technique for bypass of the external carotid artery to the proximal middle cerebral artery.

We aimed to evaluate whether bypass of the external carotid artery (ECA) to the middle cerebral artery (MCA) can be established by a short saphenous vein graft in order to increase the anastomosis patency. The method was performed to ten adult cadaver sides. We described a modified technique for bypass of the ECA to the M2 segment of MCA. The diameters of the vessels and graft length were measured by using an electronic micrometer. The mean diameter of the superior, middle, and inferior trunks of the MCA with trifurcation were 1.7 +/- 0.15, 2.2 +/- 0.25, and 2.0 +/- 0.2 mm, respectively, whereas the mean diameter of the superior and inferior trunks of the MCA with bifurcation were 2.1 +/- 0.2 and 2.3 +/- 0.3 mm, respectively. The mean diameter of the ECA was 3.75 +/- 0.4 mm. The mean length of the saphenous vein graft was 71.5 +/- 3.9 mm. The high-flow ECA to proximal MCA bypass using a short venous graft can supply enough blood flow to establish cerebral revascularization with a straighter route.