Carotid Tumor Removal

The patient is positioned to grant access to the site of the carotid tumor. A transverse incision is made in the neck first with a scalpel and then continued with electrocautery. The anatomy is carefully dissected to preserve important structures and reveal the tumor. Retractors keep the surgical window open. The common carotid artery, the bifurcated division of the external and internal carotid arteries, and tumor are dissected away from surrounding anatomy to gain control of these structures. Feeder vessels that extend into the tumor are identified. Via electrocautery, these vessels are ligated in order to minimize bleeding as they are removed. Once all the feeder vessels have been ligated, blood no longer reaches the tumor. The tumor is separated from the adventitia of the external and internal carotid arteries. The portion of the tumor that rests in the bifurcation of the carotid is the last to be removed. After the tumor is resected, the incision is closed and sutures are placed.