ePlasty: Vol. 19
Management of a Spontaneous Carotid Artery Blowout
Shabaaz S. Sandhu, BS, Jake Laun, MD, Joshua B. Elston, MD, and Nicholas J. Panetta, MD

Department of Plastic Surgery, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa

Correspondence: jelston1@health.usf.edu
Keywords: carotid artery rupture, pectoralis major, neck dissection, reconstruction, radiation
Figure 1. On presentation of spontaneous carotid artery rupture after a remote history of neck dissection and radiation therapy. Note the dark spot at the rupture site.
Figure 2. Portion of carotid artery removed and ultimately bypassed with a vein graft. Note the corresponding black spot on clinical examination.
Figure 3. (a) After removal of ruptured carotid, interposition venous bypass grafting is performed and a flap is designed for coverage incorporating a skin paddle. (b) Myocutaneous pectoralis major dissected free. (c)  .......