Carotid artery rupture

Abstract A carotid artery rupture should never occur. The figures presented strongly indicate that elective ligation of an impending rupture is the procedure of choice; however, this should seldom be necessary if nutritional deficiencies have been corrected; if pre‐operative radiation has been properly planned and timed, and if safe incisions are utilized with dermal graft protection, the carotid artery rupture should not occur, and an impending carotid rupture should become a rare event. The surgeon responsible for the patient must have the courage to resect electively an area of impending rupture and cover the region with a split thickness skin graft or with an adjacent skin flap.