2、MATERIALS AND METHODS
This study was approved by the institutional review board of ***. Between July 2019 and January 2020, five patients with advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (AHNSCC) invading one side of the carotid artery, underwent intra-arterial covered stent placement of the CCA/ICA prior tumor resection at ***.
The preoperative angiography (Figure 1A ) were performed to assess the severity of extrinsic tumor compression to the carotid artery. Covered stent (GORE VIABAHN, W.L.Gore& Associates, lnc. USA) was placed intra-arterially at least 1 cm proximal and distal beyond the area of tumor involvement. Each patient was administered low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) 5000IU daily for 6-10 days. Oncologic tumor resection was performed 2 to 3 days after stent placement. The tumor and the involved carotid artery were resected en bloc , and pectoralis major flap transfer was utilized for coverage of the great vessels supported with intra-arterial covered stent.