Management of the internal carotid artery in tumors of the lateral skull base: preoperative permanent balloon occlusion without reconstruction.

Objective: To present our experience with permanent preoperative balloon occlusion of the internal carotid artery while dealing with different abnormalities of the lateral skull base and a comparison with the results mentioned in the literature.

Study Design: Retrospective case review.

Setting: Private neurotologic and skull base tertiary referral center.