Collateral Circulation of the External Carotid Artery and the Internal Carotid Artery through the Ophthalmic Artery in Cases of Internal Carotid Artery Thrombosis
Occlusion or thrombosis of the internal carotid artery in the neck is being recognized more frequently. Gross (2), Johnson and Walker (4), and others have described this condition and all stress the importance of angiographic findings in diagnosis. Gurdjian and Webster (3) pointed out, in addition, the value of intraoral palpation of the artery in establishing the occlusion. Exploration of the internal carotid artery in the neck and, if feasible, section of the vessel offer the definitive diagnosis. It is known that in internal carotid artery occlusion, the defective cerebral circulation can be improved by collateral circulation through the circle of Willis. If this latter circulation is inadequate, due to under-development of the anterior and the posterior communicating artery, collateral circulation can be established through anastomosis of the branches of the external carotid artery, mainly the internal maxillary artery and the facial artery, with the ophthalmic artery. Marx (6) was the first to report...