Surgical management of total carotid artery occlusion. An update.

Fourteen operations were performed in 13 patients with total carotid artery occlusion. All patients had symptoms ranging in duration from a few hours to several months. Flow wa reestablished in 10 of the 14 arteries operated on, a success rate of 74 percent. Complication included one operative death and one permanent neurologic deficit. An aggressive approach to the surgical management of patients with total carotid artery occlusion is recommended.