Cranial Nerve injuries

✍ Scribed by Louis W. Welsh; John J. Welsh; Anthony J. Maniglia

• Book ID: 102232746
• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1991
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 120 KB
• Volume: 13
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1043-3074
• DOI: 10.1002/hed.2880130615

✦ Synopsis

I wish to comment on the article' by Maniglia and Han. I have reviewed the data which indicate a 13.5% damage rate during carotid endarterectomy and consulted with our colleagues in vascular and neurosurgery who perform similar operations. Our combined opinion is that this is a disproportionately high percentage of injury and certainly well beyond the range of our experience. Certainly the involved surgeons should reconsider their techniques to minimize neural damage.

Long-term follow-up as suggested by the authors may have a modicum of value although in our review the periodic observation of the cranial nerve deficits is not particularly advantageous to the patient. Whether the problem can be minimized by a specialized team as suggested in the article or by proper technique remains a moot point as well.