An Experimental Analysis of Causative Factors and Protective Methods in Carotid Artery Rupture

Abstract

Speculation on the etiology of carotid artery rupture and the best method of protection still exists. A reliable experimental model was created by removing the vasa vasorum from a dog's carotid artery, leaving the vessel exposed in an open wound. This model was used to evaluate the relative importance of blood supply, infection, desiccation, and saliva as well as the protective effectiveness of the dermal graft and the muscle flap. Histological preparations were used to study the vascularization of the dermal graft and muscle flap, the reepithelialization of the dermal graft and the sites of rupture. In this experiment, blood supply and infection were the two most important etiologic factors in carotid rupture, and the dermal graft and muscle flap were equally effective in preventing carotid artery rupture.