Mycotic carotid pseudoaneurysm: staged endovascular and surgical repair.

Mycotic carotid pseudoaneurysms are rare and challenging to manage. Traditional surgical approaches are technically demanding and can be associated with a high morbidity and mortality. The use of endovascular stents in infected fields remains controversial, and long-term efficacy has not been fully clarified. We describe a case where a combined staged endovascular and open surgical approach was used to successfully manage a mycotic carotid pseudoaneurysm that developed following dental extraction. A covered endovascular stent was used to temporarily exclude the infected pseudoaneurysm, before proceeding to early definitive surgical management. We suggest that staged endovascular therapy followed by early surgical repair should be considered for this difficult surgical problem. Copyright 2009. Published by Elsevier Ltd.