Abstract
For high risk patients, before a therapeutic occlusion of the internal carotid artery or an endoarterectomy, the balloon Matas test is often a necessary procedure. The balloon Matas test is particularly useful, since it allows measurement of the stump pressure during the temporary occlusion of the internal carotid artery. However, when ostial stenosis is involved, the direct insertion of a rigid pressure-measuring balloon catheter Into the internal carotid artery presents a significant risk. Therefore, so as to avoid any risk, the authors have employed the balloon Matas test using a double balloon catheter, and by simultaneously occluding both the external and common carotid arteries, they were thus able to measure the pressure at the carotid bifurcation. Thus, if the bifurcation pressure can be regarded as being equivalent to the stump pressure of the internal carotid artery, this double balloon catheter method can offer a safer way to measure stump Pressure when treating cases of ostial stenosis. They report their results and describe the design of this useful catheter.
