ABSTRACT
This is a right carotid endarterectomy in which there is an artery, a branch of the external carotid, intimately intertwined with the hypoglossal nerve, which has been isolated with the blue vessel loop. The digastric muscle has been cut for high exposure. This artery is called the “sternomastoid artery” by some surgeons. To achieve proper high exposure, it needs to be ligated and divided, so that the hypoglossal nerve can be further mobilized and adequate distal exposure achieved on the internal carotid artery. At the stage of the operation illustrated here, I consider the exposure to be inadequate for correct ICA control. There is, to my mind, no functional consequence to sacrifice of this minor ECA branch.
