In the present study we evaluated cerebrovascular reserve capacity (CRC) during temporal occlusion of the internal carotid artery (Matas test) as a preoperative test in the selection of candidates for permanent carotid ligation from among patients with internal carotid cavernous giant aneurysms. Cerebral blood flow (CBF) during rest (resting CBF), the Matas test (Matas-CBF), and after administration of 1g of acetazolamide during the Matas test (acetazolamide-Matas-CBF) were measured using stable xenon-enhanced CT CBF technique (Xe-CT). This procedure was named as “Acetazolamide loading Matas test.”
The CRC during the Matas test (Matas-CRC) was calculated as the difference between the Matas-CBF and the acetazolamide-Matas-CBF.
In a case of 51-year-old male with left internal carotid cavernous giant aneurysm, CBF study showed resting CBF, Matas-CBF, and Matas-CRC within normal limits. The left internal carotid artery was surgically trapped without complication.
Among patients with internal carotid cavernous giant aneurysms, those with normal Matas-CRC in the“Acetazolamide loading Matas test”were found to be good candidates for a permanent carotid ligation.
