Carotid artery hemorrhage and ligation in head and neck cancer.

During a 20-year period, 77 patients who underwent ligation of the common or internal carotid artery were analyzed for the site, side of hemorrhage and/or ligation, with incidence of rebleed, previous treatment (surgery and/or radiation therapy), the type of incision utilized for resection, the incidence of preoperative and intraoperative hypotension and hemiplegia. The immediate mortality and subsequent follow-up of the patients were also noted.